Sydney – 23 March, 2015
The Assyrian community in Sydney celebrated the Assyrian New Year Festival on Sunday 22nd March 2015 at Fairfield Showground. This was the first time that the Assyrian community of Australia celebrated the festival in the presence of a Prime Minster of Australia. The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife Mrs Margie Abbott. Mr Abbott was welcomed in a customary Assyrian manner with traditional dancers leading the way before him. He was greeted by thousands of community members as he joined dignitaries from Local, State and Federal Government, together with special guests from overseas and representatives from different community organisations.
In his address the Prime Minister highlighted the current atrocities facing Assyrians, the original people of Iraq and Syria. “We will never stop helping the persecuted people in other parts of the world; your struggle is our country’s struggle; your struggle is the world struggle” Mr Abbott said.
Other guests were Senator the Hon. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Parliamentary Secretary officially representing the Honourable Scott Morrison, Minister for Social Services. & the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection; the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Federal member for McMahon representing the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the opposition.; Mr. Craig Kelly MP; Federal member for Hughes, Mr. Chris Hayes MP, Federal member for Fowler, Shadow Opposition Whip ; Clr. Frank Carbone, Mayor of Fairfield City Council; Rev The Hon. Fred Nile MLC, President, of the Christian Democratic Party ; Mr Andrew Rohan, MP, Member for Smithfield, representing The Hon. Mike Baird, MP, Premier of New South Wales; The Hon. David Clarke MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice; Mr. Guy Zangari MP, State Member for Fairfield, Shadow Minister for Citizenship & Communities, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Representing The Hon. Luke Foley MLC, Leader of the Opposition; Mr. Nick Lalich, MP, State member for Cabramatta; Dr. Hugh McDermott, Labor Candidate for Prospect; Mrs Maria Diep New candidate for Cabramatta; Mr Edward Royel, CDP candidate for Fairfield; Mr Sam Georgis, CDP candidate for Prospect and Superintendent Peter Lennon, Fairfield Local Area Commander.
All parliamentarians extolled the efforts of the Assyrian Universal Alliance – Australia in its continued deliberations and meetings with the Australian government concerning the plight of Assyrians in the Middle East. They voiced the certainty of the Assyrian people obtaining their full rights and freedom in Iraq and Syria.
Before the conclusion of the official opening program two major awards were presented. The Friend of Assyria award was presented to Senator the Hon. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, for her substantial contribution, advice and support to the Assyrian Universal Alliance, and for her extensive efforts in conveying the needs of the Assyrians to the Federal Government. The Australian Assyrian of the Year award was presented to Mr Khamis Gewargis Khamis, in recognition of selfless devotion and courage in providing moral support to the Assyrian self-sacrifices “DWEKH NAWSHA who are guarding our liberated towns in Assyria.
For the fourth successive year, The Donny George Exhibit was organised by The Young Assyrians of the Assyrian Universal Alliance. In years past, the exhibition highlighted Assyrian contributions to the advancement of civilization. However this year, the exhibit displayed a timeline of Nineveh, from its establishment as a city to the future aspirations of an Assyrian homeland, highlighting major periods of history in between. As years past, homage was paid to individuals who have served the Assyrian nation. This year the individuals selected were: Mar Benyamin Shimun XXI (1887-1918), Ashur Yuusif (1858-1915), Sir Stanley George Savige (1890-1954), Yousip Toma Hermis (1951-1985), Youbert Benyamin Shlimon (1954- 1985), Youkhana Esho Jajo (1946-1985), Margaret George Shello (1941-1969).
At 6:00 PM a dramatic arts piece based on Assyrian historical records of the New Year’s Festival in ancient times was performed by a collaboration of Assyrian youth groups. The theatrical piece simulated the arrival of the King and Queen of Assyria from the remote past to bless the festivity.
The Assyrian New Year Festival has been successfully hosted by the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA), and the Assyrian Australian National Federation (AANF) for the last ten years.
The New Year Festival was aired live on the internet so that Assyrians and non-Assyrians alike can watch it live or on delay, across the globe.
Assyrian Universal Alliance
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Media Contact: Mr. Hermiz Shahen: Mobile: 0407 235349