SYDNEY: Mr. Arshag Badelian, one of the Armenian-Australian community’s last living survivors of the Armenian Genocide, passed away aged 100 on Thursday, attracting messages of condolences from Armenians globally.
A regular at Sydney Armenian Genocide Commemoration events each year until very recently, the loss of Mr. Badelian will be felt by all as April approaches in 2010.
“We send our deepest condolences to the Badelian family on behalf of all Armenian-Australians and Armenians the world over,†said Mr. Varant Meguerditchian, President of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia).
“Mr. Badelian was an Armenian-Australian icon; a true survivor that we have had the pleasure of knowing since his arrival from Lebanon in 1980. He will be remembered.â€
Mr. Meguerditchian added: "In his memory, 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."
Mr. Badelian was born in 1909, in the then-Western Armenian district of Kharpert, beside the Euphrates River. He lived in the rural village of Anchrti until 1915, when he and his family were driven out of their ancestral homes by the orders of the Young Turks.
Mr. Badelian survived various attempts by Turkish soldiers who drowned many Armenian children in the Euphrates River after kidnapping them from their parents. Mr. Badelian always credited his mother's intelligence and tenacity for his “miraculous escapeâ€.
After World War I, and defeat of the Ottoman Empire, Mr. Badelian joined the few Anchrti -Armenians who returned to their village, and he lived there until 1927. At this time, the new governor of Kharpert evicted all Armenians, sending Mr. Badelian on a journey to Aleppo Syria, then Beirut Lebanon, where he worked as a tailor.
In 1944, Mr. Badelian married Gadar Aharonian, and they were blessed with 4 children; Sarkis, Elo, Loosin and Hrair. In 1980, the Badelians migrated to Australia and settled in the suburb of Fairfield.
Mr. Badelian was a passionate Armenian; a regular listener to Armenian radio bulletins, an avid reader of Armenian newspapers, the Holy Bible and Armenian books. He always dreamed of returning to his village and seeing an independent Armenia, which he managed to do recently.
Mr. Badelian was a constant mentor to his 9 grandchildren and always reminded them of the importance of preserving the Armenian language and culture. He also had the privilege of seeing 4 great grandchildren and blessed them in his prayers. Mr. Badelian also sponsored three Armenian orphans as part of the Armenian Relief Society's program.
His funeral will be held at the Armenian Apostolic Church at 10am, on Monday, 8th of March.
