SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) held its Annual Banquet at the Willoughby Concourse Reception Centre on November 25, naming Federal MP Paul Fletcher as the community's Friend of the Year and earning a ringing endorsement from ANC World Council Chairman, Hagop Der Khatchadourian.
The fundraiser, which attracted a stellar cast of Australian politicians and prominent Armenian-Australians, was the premier event of ANC Australia Advocacy Week and raised in excess of $70,000 for 2012 activities.
Fletcher, the Federal Member for Bradfield, who was amongst the seven federal legislators to call for Armenian Genocide recognition in Canberra during Advocacy Week, was bestowed with the ANC Australia ‘Friend of the Year Award 2011’.
Fletcher told the gathered: "The Armenian National Committee of Australia is relentless in its pursuit of Armenian issues and does a tremendous job of educating us legislators. The Armenian community is very well represented on the matter of Armenian Genocide recognition and Nagorno Karabakh self-determination.”
He added: "I am honoured by this acknowledgement as your community's Friend of the Year."
ANC Australia’s international guest of honour for Advocacy Week, Hagop Der Khatchadourian, the Chairman of ANC World Council, delivered the keynote address on Friday. Der Khatchadourian, while outlining the major issues confronting Armenians, was glowing in his praise of ANC Australia.
Der Khatchadourian said: "The Armenian Cause not only encompasses the Genocide recognition process, but also the question of strengthening Armenia as an independent state, solving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue based on the right to self determination, helping our brothers and sisters in Javakhk and keeping our Diaspora committed and energised."
"I am here today to pay homage to the important work and successful projects that The Armenian National Committee of Australia has undertaken to address each of these important issues."
"The Armenian-Australian community can proudly state today that it has a growing group of dedicated young professionals leading an active Armenian National Committee."
"With your support, ANC Australia will prosper and progress your cause further.”
ANC Australia Executive Director, Varant Meguerditchian thanked Der Khatchadourian for his presence during Advocacy Week.
He said: "The Annual Banquet, and the keynote by our guest Hagop Der Khatchadourian, was a fitting end to this year's ANC Australia Advocacy Week. Mr. Der Khatchadourian has added much to our cause here in Australia and we look forward to welcoming him, and his wife Anahid, to our community again in the future."
Along with the donations collected for advocacy activities, ANC Australia also signed up Mr Heros and Mrs Kate Dilanchian as the major sponsor of its research and education project, the Armenian Genocide Education Website which was launched on the night.
Community Relations Officer, Stephen Abolakian said: "We are humbled by the support of our community and are determined to continue representing their interests both at the state and federal levels."
The ANC Australia Annual Banquet opened with a video of 2011 activities, entitled ‘We are Your ANC’. See video below:
