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PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
9 September 2008
A COMMEMORATION EVENT ORGANISED BY ARMENIANS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Last weekend, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand made his
biannual pastoral visit to the Armenian Community of Adelaide. However,
this was to be markedly different from other visits with the first-ever
event of Armenian culture and identity to an Australian audience in the
capital of South Australia, which was also a commemoration event for
Australia's first international relief effort to help survivals of the
Armenian Genocide.
The event was held on Friday, 29 August at the Pilgrim Uniting Church in
Adelaide. It was organised by the Armenian Cultural Association of South
Australia Inc. (ACASA) and in his welcome address, President of the
Association, Mr Gevik Abedian remarked, "Tonight is truly a dream-come-true
for most of us in our community as we had always been thinking of such an
event where we could introduce Armenia and Armenians, effectively ourselves,
to our fellow Australians."
As Australia supports the policy of multiculturalism, encouraging Australian
citizens of ethnic backgrounds to maintain and embrace their cultural
heritage, traditions and beliefs, it was important for the small and
faithful Armenian Community to share their cultural identity with the
broader community in which they live.
The commemoration was attended by a list of dignitaries made up of
government and consular officials, church representatives and community
organisations. Master of Ceremonies for the evening was The Reverend Dr
Brian Philips. The program commenced with an introduction about Armenian
migration to Australia and specifically to South Australia by Secretary of
ACASA and former long-serving President, Mr Alec Balayance who also told his
own story and experiences of arriving in Adelaide.
Cultural performances included an English translated recitation of Baruyr
Sevag's "Kich Enk, Payts Hay Enk" ("We Are Few But We Are Armenian") by Anya
Martirosyan as well as traditional Armenian musical items presented by
pianist Janna Gousian and a string quintet compromising of Minas Berberyan
(director and violin), Erina Berberyan (violin), Michael Robertson (viola),
Cameron Waters (cello) and Jacky Chang (bass). Vocalist, Gevik Abedian
accompanied by the string quintet performed two Armenian songs, "Im Anoush
Tavigh" and "Cilicia".
Speeches were given by ACASA executive committee member, Mrs Shaghik
Atakaramians about Armenia and its people and by Ms Vini Ciccarello MP on
behalf of the Honourable Michael Atkinson MP, Attorney General, Minister for
Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs who represented the Premier
of South Australia, the Honourable Mike Rann. The Honourable David Ridgway,
Assisting the Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, delivered the
speech of the Opposition Leader.
The guest speaker of the evening was Mr Vicken Babkenian, member of the
Australian Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies of the University of
NSW who addressed the audience on Australia's first major international
humanitarian relief effort and in particular the good deeds of the late
Reverend James Edwin Cresswell of the Congregational Church of South
Australia in reaching aid to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
A photographic exhibition entitled "An S.O.S. From Beyond Gallipoli" on the
relief effort was also presented in the adjacent hall.
Before the closing of the program with Archbishop Baliozian's final address,
in recognition of Mr Alec Balayance's immense contribution to the Armenian
Community of South Australia, namely Adelaide since the inception of ACASA
Inc. in 1965, he was tributed for his valuable years of service and was
presented with a gift of appreciation.
The weekend long pastoral visit continued over Saturday and Sunday providing
opportunity for the community to come together in the company of the
Archbishop.
On Sunday morning, the Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Chapel
of the Christian Brothers College, which is made available by Christian
Brothers College in Adelaide in the spirit of brotherly love and kindness
for the Armenian congregation to worship in, whenever the Archbishop visits
the mission parish.
Following a memorable weekend, Archbishop Baliozian farewelled Adelaide and
returned to his residence in Sydney on Monday evening having been rewarded
by the enthusiastic and patriotic spirit of the Armenians of Adelaide.
For information on the Armenian community of Adelaide, contact the President
of the ACASA, Mr Gevik Abedian at [email protected] or the Secretary,
Mr Alec Balayance at [email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
9 September 2008
A COMMEMORATION EVENT ORGANISED BY ARMENIANS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Last weekend, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand made his
biannual pastoral visit to the Armenian Community of Adelaide. However,
this was to be markedly different from other visits with the first-ever
event of Armenian culture and identity to an Australian audience in the
capital of South Australia, which was also a commemoration event for
Australia's first international relief effort to help survivals of the
Armenian Genocide.
The event was held on Friday, 29 August at the Pilgrim Uniting Church in
Adelaide. It was organised by the Armenian Cultural Association of South
Australia Inc. (ACASA) and in his welcome address, President of the
Association, Mr Gevik Abedian remarked, "Tonight is truly a dream-come-true
for most of us in our community as we had always been thinking of such an
event where we could introduce Armenia and Armenians, effectively ourselves,
to our fellow Australians."
As Australia supports the policy of multiculturalism, encouraging Australian
citizens of ethnic backgrounds to maintain and embrace their cultural
heritage, traditions and beliefs, it was important for the small and
faithful Armenian Community to share their cultural identity with the
broader community in which they live.
The commemoration was attended by a list of dignitaries made up of
government and consular officials, church representatives and community
organisations. Master of Ceremonies for the evening was The Reverend Dr
Brian Philips. The program commenced with an introduction about Armenian
migration to Australia and specifically to South Australia by Secretary of
ACASA and former long-serving President, Mr Alec Balayance who also told his
own story and experiences of arriving in Adelaide.
Cultural performances included an English translated recitation of Baruyr
Sevag's "Kich Enk, Payts Hay Enk" ("We Are Few But We Are Armenian") by Anya
Martirosyan as well as traditional Armenian musical items presented by
pianist Janna Gousian and a string quintet compromising of Minas Berberyan
(director and violin), Erina Berberyan (violin), Michael Robertson (viola),
Cameron Waters (cello) and Jacky Chang (bass). Vocalist, Gevik Abedian
accompanied by the string quintet performed two Armenian songs, "Im Anoush
Tavigh" and "Cilicia".
Speeches were given by ACASA executive committee member, Mrs Shaghik
Atakaramians about Armenia and its people and by Ms Vini Ciccarello MP on
behalf of the Honourable Michael Atkinson MP, Attorney General, Minister for
Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs who represented the Premier
of South Australia, the Honourable Mike Rann. The Honourable David Ridgway,
Assisting the Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, delivered the
speech of the Opposition Leader.
The guest speaker of the evening was Mr Vicken Babkenian, member of the
Australian Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies of the University of
NSW who addressed the audience on Australia's first major international
humanitarian relief effort and in particular the good deeds of the late
Reverend James Edwin Cresswell of the Congregational Church of South
Australia in reaching aid to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
A photographic exhibition entitled "An S.O.S. From Beyond Gallipoli" on the
relief effort was also presented in the adjacent hall.
Before the closing of the program with Archbishop Baliozian's final address,
in recognition of Mr Alec Balayance's immense contribution to the Armenian
Community of South Australia, namely Adelaide since the inception of ACASA
Inc. in 1965, he was tributed for his valuable years of service and was
presented with a gift of appreciation.
The weekend long pastoral visit continued over Saturday and Sunday providing
opportunity for the community to come together in the company of the
Archbishop.
On Sunday morning, the Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Chapel
of the Christian Brothers College, which is made available by Christian
Brothers College in Adelaide in the spirit of brotherly love and kindness
for the Armenian congregation to worship in, whenever the Archbishop visits
the mission parish.
Following a memorable weekend, Archbishop Baliozian farewelled Adelaide and
returned to his residence in Sydney on Monday evening having been rewarded
by the enthusiastic and patriotic spirit of the Armenians of Adelaide.
For information on the Armenian community of Adelaide, contact the President
of the ACASA, Mr Gevik Abedian at [email protected] or the Secretary,
Mr Alec Balayance at [email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress