SYDNEY: New South Wales Minister for Multiculturalism and Seniors, the Hon. Mark Coure MP and Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport, the Hon. Rob Stokes MP visited Hamazkaine Arshak & Sophie Galstaun College, partaking in a school assembly and touring the picturesque campus, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
The visit to Sydney’s largest bilingual, co-educational Armenian day school was facilitated by the Armenian National Committee of Australia at the request of the Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure.
Minister Coure was accompanied by his parliamentary colleague and local Member for Pittwater, Rob Stokes on Tuesday 23rd August, when they addressed the student and staff body during assembly.
College captains Karni Boghossian and Serly Boujekian welcomed the NSW Government Ministers to their school and thanked the NSW Parliament for their consistent and ongoing support of the Armenian-Australian community.
Principal Mr. Edward Demirdjian also welcomed the guests and highlighted the important role Galstaun College plays in providing students with an opportunity to excel academically whilst fostering and preserving the Armenian culture and traditions in New South Wales.
Minister Coure, who is also the Member for Oatley, noted the importance of getting involved in the Australian political system, having young voices heard and becoming active members of the local community.
Minister Stokes touched upon his personal connection to the Armenian diaspora and the assistance provided to his family by an Armenian refugee, who survived the Ottoman-committed Armenian Genocide.
Galstaun students showcased the rich and vibrant cultural traditions of the Armenian-Australian community, with several musical performances from high school students, Hagop Levonian and Aram Dermesropian.
Following the Assembly, Ministers Coure and Stokes toured the campus, visiting the Smoky Dawson Pavilion––named after the legendary former owner of the iconic property, as well as walking through the library and meeting with students from several primary school classes.
Their visit concluded with a private meeting discussing the ongoing needs of the school community and students at Galstaun College, including ways to enhance academic opportunities and infrastructure.
ANC-AU Executive Director, Michael Kolokossian thanked Ministers Coure and Stokes for taking the time to visit Galstaun College and highlighted the importance of Sydney’s Armenian day schools to the greater community.
“Galstaun College is the beating heart of the Armenian-Australian community. With over 320 students from all across Sydney walking through the College gates daily, this ‘little Armenia’ is one of our community’s most vital institutions,” said Kolokossian.
Leaders of the several Armenian-Australian community organisations were also present for the official visit including, Mr Heros Grigorian, Member of the Central Executive Board of Armenian Cultural and Educational Society (Hamazkaine) and Mr Hagop Gulumian, Representative of the Armenian Cultural and Educational Society in Australia (Hamazkaine Australia), as well as College Board members Khajaque Kortian and Vache Kahramanian.
Hamazkaine Arshak and Sophie Galstaun College is a co-educational, non-selective school located in Sydney’s Northern Beaches for students from Reception to Year 12. For more information about Galstaun College visit their website here.
