SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) held its Annual Banquet on Friday, naming NSW MP Jonathan O'Dea as the community's Friend of the Year and earning a ringing endorsement from international guest of honour, Ken Hachikian of ANC America.
The fundraiser, held at the Kirribilli Club in Sydney, was the final event of ANC Australia Advocacy Week and raised in excess of $70,000 for 2011 activities.
ANC Australia Advocacy Week has seen over 1,500 community members unite under the ANC Australia banner at events including
Armenian Family Day, Q & A with Ken Hachikian and the Banquet.
ANC Australia also officially opened its full-time office in the presence of Hachikian.
Earlier in the week, an ANC Australia delegation headed to Canberra to advocate for Armenian issues in the Federal Parliament. As a result of these visits,
Paul Fletcher MP became the first Federal Australian parliamentarian to speak on the rights to self-determination for the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh.
Jonathan O'Dea, the NSW Member for Davidson, was the first Australian legislator to speak in a Parliament on the rights of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh; a feat which earned him the prestigious Friend of the Year award at the Banquet.
O'Dea said: "The Armenian National Committee of Australia does a tremendous job of educating us legislators on your issues of concern. When I was explained about the issues Armenians face in Nagorno Karabakh, I decided it was time to act."
He added: "I am honoured by this acknowledgement as your community's Friend of the Year."
Ken Hachikian, the Chairman of ANC America delivered
the keynote address on Friday, and was glowing in his praise of ANC Australia.
Hachikian said: "The Armenian National Committee of Australia represents an All-Star in our Hai Tahd world."
"You are, here in Australia, at the cutting edge of the Armenian Cause."
"Building upon years of tireless work by your community's founders, a young generation has taken your work to new heights."
He added: "With your support, we shall persevere, we shall progress, and we shall prevail."
ANC Australia Executive Director, Varant Meguerditchian thanked Hachikian for his presence during Advocacy Week.
He said: "The Annual Banquet, and the keynote by our guest Ken Hachikian, was a fitting end to ANC Australia Advocacy Week. Mr. Hachikian has added much to our cause here in Australia and we look forward to welcoming him, and his wife Gloria, to our community again in the future."
Along with the donations collected, ANC Australia signed up two more sponsors to its "ANC Australia Partner" program.
Community Relations Officer, Stephen Abolakian said: "We are humbled by the support of our community and are determined to continue representing their interests on the public stage."
The ANC Australia Annual Banquet opened with
a video wrap of 2010 activities, titled
"ANC AUSTRALIA IS YOUR VOICE". See video below:
