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Armenian National Committee of Australia
259 Penshurst Street
Willoughby NSW 2068
Contact: Mr Varant Meguerditchian
Phone: 612 9419 8264
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.anc.net.au
ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AUSTRALIA
5th MAY 2006
MEDIA RELEASE: ANC AUSTRALIA MOURNS THE LOSS OF GENOCIDE SURVIVOR MRS
SEVLI KRIKORIAN
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) was
saddened to learn that Mrs. Sevli Krikorian, a survivor of The Armenian
Genocide passed away in Sydney on April 25 this year, aged 95.
Sevli Krikorian was 4 years old when the genocidal deportations
started. Overcome by chicken pox and unable to walk, her mother
placed Sevli in the care of a friendly Turkish woman. Unwelcome by the
lady's family, she was taken back to the caravan of Armenian deportees,
finally arriving in Aleppo, Syria. Separated from her family, like many
other displaced children, Sevli Krikorian, ended up at an Armenian
orphanage. One day at the orphanage she recognised her mother in a
photo held by another young girl. That young girl holding the photo
was Sevli Krikorian's sister and so she was reunited with her family.
Throughout her life's journey, Sevli Krikorian was an active supporter
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakstutiun) and its
sister organisations. She was a cherished member of the Armenian
Relief Society (Hom) and the sports and scouts group (Homenetmen).
Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are active members
of the Armenian Community in Australia and the U.S.A.
Krikorian was a dear friend of ANC Australia and honoured guest at the
Armenian Genocide Commemorations held in Sydney. Mr. Vicken Kalloghlian
of the ANC Australia, in addressing Sevli Krikorian's family, relatives
and many friends at her funeral, noted "Her death brought an end
to our annual tradition. Sevli would insist that I drive her to the
April 24 commemoration every year however this year she was unable
to attend due to the pneumonia that would eventually take her life".
The ANC Australia was privileged to have Mrs Krikorian present and to
place a wreath at the New South Wales Parliament's Armenian Genocide
Memorial each year since the Memorial was erected. Mrs Krikorian
was determined to be present, and watched from the public gallery of
the New South Wales Parliament with tears of joy, when the historic
Armenian Genocide Commemorative Motion was unanimously passed by the
Parliament. Speakers addressing the Armenian Genocide Motion noted
her presence in the gallery.
Her passing was solemnly marked at this year's Memorial Ceremony at
the New South Wales Parliament and, in her absence this year, her
great-granddaughter Alisha Nercessian, who continues the tradition
of being a member of Homenetmen, placed the wreath at the Memorial
with Genocide Survivor Mr Arshag Badelian.
Thankfully, Sevli Krikorian's testimony of her experience of the
Armenian Genocide is preserved for future generations as a result
of video documentation undertaken by ANC Australia in the late 1970s
and early 1980s.
The ANC Australia mourns the loss of Sevli Krikorian and wishes
to express its sincere condolences to her family members and loved
ones both in Australia and around the world. In her memory the ANC
Australia reaffirms its struggle for the universal condemnation of
the Armenian Genocide and its denial, as well as the final and just
resolution of this crime against humanity.
259 Penshurst Street
Willoughby NSW 2068
Contact: Mr Varant Meguerditchian
Phone: 612 9419 8264
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.anc.net.au
ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AUSTRALIA
5th MAY 2006
MEDIA RELEASE: ANC AUSTRALIA MOURNS THE LOSS OF GENOCIDE SURVIVOR MRS
SEVLI KRIKORIAN
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) was
saddened to learn that Mrs. Sevli Krikorian, a survivor of The Armenian
Genocide passed away in Sydney on April 25 this year, aged 95.
Sevli Krikorian was 4 years old when the genocidal deportations
started. Overcome by chicken pox and unable to walk, her mother
placed Sevli in the care of a friendly Turkish woman. Unwelcome by the
lady's family, she was taken back to the caravan of Armenian deportees,
finally arriving in Aleppo, Syria. Separated from her family, like many
other displaced children, Sevli Krikorian, ended up at an Armenian
orphanage. One day at the orphanage she recognised her mother in a
photo held by another young girl. That young girl holding the photo
was Sevli Krikorian's sister and so she was reunited with her family.
Throughout her life's journey, Sevli Krikorian was an active supporter
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakstutiun) and its
sister organisations. She was a cherished member of the Armenian
Relief Society (Hom) and the sports and scouts group (Homenetmen).
Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are active members
of the Armenian Community in Australia and the U.S.A.
Krikorian was a dear friend of ANC Australia and honoured guest at the
Armenian Genocide Commemorations held in Sydney. Mr. Vicken Kalloghlian
of the ANC Australia, in addressing Sevli Krikorian's family, relatives
and many friends at her funeral, noted "Her death brought an end
to our annual tradition. Sevli would insist that I drive her to the
April 24 commemoration every year however this year she was unable
to attend due to the pneumonia that would eventually take her life".
The ANC Australia was privileged to have Mrs Krikorian present and to
place a wreath at the New South Wales Parliament's Armenian Genocide
Memorial each year since the Memorial was erected. Mrs Krikorian
was determined to be present, and watched from the public gallery of
the New South Wales Parliament with tears of joy, when the historic
Armenian Genocide Commemorative Motion was unanimously passed by the
Parliament. Speakers addressing the Armenian Genocide Motion noted
her presence in the gallery.
Her passing was solemnly marked at this year's Memorial Ceremony at
the New South Wales Parliament and, in her absence this year, her
great-granddaughter Alisha Nercessian, who continues the tradition
of being a member of Homenetmen, placed the wreath at the Memorial
with Genocide Survivor Mr Arshag Badelian.
Thankfully, Sevli Krikorian's testimony of her experience of the
Armenian Genocide is preserved for future generations as a result
of video documentation undertaken by ANC Australia in the late 1970s
and early 1980s.
The ANC Australia mourns the loss of Sevli Krikorian and wishes
to express its sincere condolences to her family members and loved
ones both in Australia and around the world. In her memory the ANC
Australia reaffirms its struggle for the universal condemnation of
the Armenian Genocide and its denial, as well as the final and just
resolution of this crime against humanity.