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The United Australian Lebanese Movement’s

Australia Day Award Ceremony 2015

By Marcelle Mansour

The United Australian Lebanese Movement (UALM) held its 17th Annual Australia Day Award Ceremony 2015, on the evening of Thursday 22 January at the Holroyd Centre in Sydney, in conjunction with the Australia Day Council of N.S.W, recognising and honouring the outstanding achievements of Australian Lebanese for their contribution to Australia.

Mrs. Eva Melham performed the Master of ceremonies (MC), in the presence of His Excellency Bishop Antoine – Charbel Tarabay, Bishop of Maronite NSW Award Recipient ;  Clr Tony Dib  JP Victoria, Mayor of Maroondah City Council, Award Recipient ;  Hon Julie Owens MP, Labor Member for Parramatta in the Australian Parliament and His Excellency Consulate-General of Lebanon Mr George Bitar Ghanem ; Clr Greg Cummings, the Mayor of Holroyd and a number of heads of organizations, distinguished guests , media representatives and community supporters.

Speeches were delivered by Mr. Robert Bekhazi UALM Federal President,  Professor George Melhem Representative of UALM NSW,  Mrs. Maggie Nakhoul UALM NSW Representative,  The Hon. Phillip Ruddock MP representing Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister of Australia,  Dr. Tony Rizk UALM Vice President,  Dr. Karin Sowada Australia Day Ambassador who is Honorary Associate Archaeologist at Macquarie University New South Wales,  Mr. Jonny Merheb UALM Media Representative, Legatee Dennis Zalunardo Chairman of the Parramatta Division Of Sydney Legacy.

In his speech, the Honourable Phillip Ruddock, MP acknowledged the traditional owners of this land and spoke on behalf of the Hon. Tony Abbott MP of what does being an Australian mean. He stated: being Australian means being a good citizen in respecting the law and the other within the Australian cultural diversity. To celebrate Australia day is not only about barbeque, bushes, beaches and sunbakes, it is about respecting human rights, sanctifying human life and respecting the idea of simply that we humans have the right to live.

His Excellency Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay – NSW Award Recipient – delivered a magnificent massage. In his own words, ”Thinking in our country Australia and thinking about what is happening these days, especially in the world of terrorism and fanaticism and what we see around, I am having a symbolic image here…this land is the land of ours, we have worked together and the people around us …the way we celebrate Australia is celebrating the values of this country, laws are made to us and we are here to respect the law of the land …This land is the land of values…where we have to work together and the people are united, it is in this way that we have to celebrate Australia day by celebrating the values of this country…The laws are made by people and for people as well and we are here as communities respect the law of the land.”

Those two invaluable speeches – I believe – were the highlight of the event, conveying very significant messages to us as Australian citizens who immigrated from various origins and are adapting to our lucky country Australia, at this terrible horrible time that we living in.

The UALM gave many thanks to all who contributed and to all the supporters who attended. The evening concluded with the extending the cocktail party that had begun prior to the awards ceremony where attendees socialising and having memorable photographs of this wonderful ceremony which was very successful.

Congratulations to both his Excellency Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay and to Clr Tony Dib, Mayor of Maroondah City Council, for receiving the Australia Day Award from the UALM. Congratulations also to the UALM who is proud to pay tribute to the successes of their Australian Lebanese achievers and to annually celebrate Australia Day with dignity, honour and pride.

By Marcelle Mansour

H.E. Izzat Abdulhadi in a cheerful farewell dinner for the Palestinian Football Team in Canberra, January 21, 2015

These striking impressive photos transfer the big event of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup into a truly memorable spectacle.

H.E. Ambassador Abdulhadi and the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, together with the crowd of Palestinians in Australia appear joyful and proud to achieve winning the political victory, in asserting the Palestinian identity and the existence of Palestine, regardless of the results in lacking scoring goals. Raising the flag and singing the Palestinian anthem in the Australian stadiums and in front of the world is, in reality, confronting the world. They all appear to have mixed emotions of happiness, enthusiasm, confidence optimism and hope for ending the occupation and determination of return to homeland Free Palestine.

Palestinians still remember that the Palestinian national football team was historically the first Arab team to take part in the Asian World Cup qualifiers and they are nowadays optimistic to achieve success in winning a championship in the future when the State of Palestine will take Place.

By Marcelle Mansour

“Celebrating & Marking the 2014 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, a UN Organized Observance.”

29 November 2014 was an evening of celebration of the International both day and year of Solidarity with Palestinian People 2014, Held by the Australian Palestinian Club, The General Union of Palestinian Workers and the Australian Palestinian Professionals at the Cedrus Lebanese Restaurant.

In the presence of His Excellency Izzat Abdulhadi, Ambassador, Head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific; Ms Julia Dean, UN the National Information Officer on behalf of His Excellency Christopher Woodthorpe the Director of the UN office in Australia, The Hon Senator Lee Rhiannon Greens NSW MP; The Hon Amanda Fazio, MLC Member of the Legislative Council Opposition; The Hon David Shoebridge Greens NSW MP; The Hon Shaoquett Moslemane MLC MP, and Bankstown Councillor Khal Asfour, distinguished guests, journalists; members of the Palestinian community, Lebanese Jordanian, Syrian, Egyptian and other Australian Arabic speaking communities who all attended the dinner.

Community members present were: Dr Moustapha Almeddin, Dr Mamdouh Matar, Dr Emad Berro (PHD), Professor Ahmad Shboul AM and Dr Nijmeh Hajjar (PHD Sydney), Dr Bassam Dally (PHD Adelaide), Dr Abraham Qadan (Lecturer Sydney); Mr Adel El Hassan, Mr Karim Abiad, Mr Mohd Hammouri, Mr George Hasham; Mr Abbas Mourad (Writer), Mr Mamdouh Sukkarieh (Director at the World Observer); Mr Saleh Saqqaf (SBS journalist); Mr Akram Al Mughawash (Journalist); Mr Issa Shaweesh; Mr Henry Wahhab, Mr Abdel Kader Karanouh; Mr Sameer Musalam, Mr Jamil Batshon, Miss Mona Abu Zalaf, Miss Jennine Abdul Khalik, Mrs Sawsan Wahhab; Mr Reda Haddadeh; Ms Farah Fayyad, Mr Hilmi Dabbagh, Mr Maurice Mansour and the writer of these words Marcelle Mansour.

It is worth mentioning that the date of 29 November was chosen because of its significance to the Palestinian people, both day and year being UN observed. This day is marked in accordance with mandates given by the General Assembly in its resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, and subsequent resolutions adopted by the General Assembly on the question of Palestine. On 29 Nov 1947, the General Assembly adopted the 181 (II) Partition Resolutions that provided for the establishment in Palestine of a “Jewish State” and an “Arab State”, with Jerusalem as a corpus separatum under a special international regime. Of the two States to be created under this resolution, only one, Israel, has been established as Independent State.

The evening included a few words of the speakers, Mr Izzat Abdulhadi, Ambassador and Ms Julia Dean, who both highlighted the importance of the event to Palestinians for it provides an opportunity for the world nations to focus on the question of Palestine that is still unresolved, and that Palestinians have the right to national independence and the right to return to their occupied homeland. This was followed by the speech of the 18 years old Australian born Mona Abu Zalaf whose grandfather was displaced from Jaffa. Mona elaborated on the fact that how the new generation’s cause and identity still live through them despite the exodus and Diaspora.

The program was highlighted by the live music of the performer of Oud Mohammad Yousef, and the talented singer Phil Mansour who dedicated his first song to the people in Gaza and their resistance, then followed by Trivia and contribution awards.

Awards were presented to three personalities in recognition of their contributing work and commitment over the years towards serving the Palestinian cause. Ms. Jennifer Killen was presented an award by Mr. Sameer Mousalam from the Australian Palestinian Club; the second award was presented by Mr. Jamil Batshon, the president of the Australian Palestinian Club, to Dr. Marcelo Svirsky; a Jewish Israeli Activist and Politics Lecturer at the University of Wollongong.  The third award was presented to Professor Jake Lynch, an Associate professor at the University of Sydney and the Director of the Centre for Peace. This award was delivered by Mr. Hilmi Dabbagh from the Australian Palestinian Professionals and was received by Dr. Abraham Qadan on behalf of Professor Jake Lynch.

Mrs. Farah Fayyad the MC concluded the event by thanking the organisers, the guest speakers and all the supporters who contributed in celebrating and making the event a successful night of cultural music, trivia, solidarity, and unity.

By Marcelle Mansour

The International Day of Solidarity Day with Palestinian People was celebrated on Thursday evening 27thNov 2014 at the Arab Council Australia Hall, held by both the General Union of Palestinian Workers & the Australian Palestinian Club (APC). Mrs. Wafa Jeha Deputy Chairperson of the Arab Council welcomed the place with an opening speech out of the Arabic Communities in Australia. Mr. Jamil Batshon, the president of the Australian Palestinian Club used his speech to encourage lobbying the Palestinian Rights in returning to their occupied homeland Palestine.

Distinguished guest speakers included; Professor Emeritus Stuart Rees AM, Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation. Professor Rees AM spoke about the Palestinian’s resistance to the occupation of their land for decades, the current international protest against Israel’s constant violation of human rights and calling for contributing in peace-building initiatives at national and international levels.  In his speech, Professor Peter Manning Sociologist journalist; stated that today, we have the majority of the Australian people (57%) supporting the Palestinian cause and they are in solidarity with Free Palestine, so as other nations around the world. The rest of speakers included Peter Boyle Australian Malaysian; Mr. Raul Basel Australian Argentinian, Sheikh Mohammed Amin, South African, all showed a real optimism towards the future State of Palestine.

The program included a video showing the historical solidarity with Palestine since the past world leaders such as Nelson Mandela, The South African President (1994 to 1999) and anti-apartheid revolutionary politician and philanthropist. One of his famous quotes was: “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”   Another important remarkable leader was Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of Egypt who served from (1956- 1970) until his death. Abdel Naser proved to be the controversial leader of the Arab world, for he understood that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was the cause of inter-Arab disputes. Not to forget the historical Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat with his famous Quote: “I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter’s gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.”

The video also showed the rich talent of the young Palestinian singer of “Arab Idol”, Israeli citizen Manal Moussa.

Mr. Saleh Saqqaf, the SBS journalist performed the MC and concluded the event by thanking the organisers, the attendees, and all the supporters including The Revered Fr Fadi Nemme who always offers his fantastic work in sound engineering which with no doubt added to the success of the event.

PICTURED:

• Mr. Jamil Batshon, the president of the Australian Palestinian Club
• Professor Emeritus Stuart Rees AM, Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation
• Professor Peter Manning Sociologist journalist UTS and APAN Secretary
• A group of attendees include Professor Peter Manning, The Rev Fr Fadi Nemme, and Marcelle Mansour