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Multicultural Awards honour outstanding South Australians

Governor's Garden Party Winners Group

Back row, left to right: Ms Anisa Yaser, Refugee Services, Families SA, Dr Borhan Saaid, Mr Derrick Casey, Commercial Cookery and Hospitality Team TAFE SA, Dr Henry Kristall, Chairperson, Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre, Ms Cristina Descalzi, Chairperson, Ethnic Broadcasters Inc (5EBI), Dr Zheng De Han and Mr Brian Hayes QC. Seated, left to right: Ms Anamta Mahmood (representing her father Dr Mohammad Afzal Mahmood), His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR, Governor of South Australia, Ms Claudia Cream, Ms Lara di Fabio (representing Mr Andrew Antenucci).

Six outstanding individuals and four organisations have won 2009 Governor’s Multicultural Awards.

The Governor of South Australia, His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR, presented the Awards at a reception in the Government House grounds yesterday evening. The Awards honour outstanding contributions to promoting social harmony and inclusivity and the positive influence of cultural diversity in the community.

Outstanding Individual Achievement Award – Ms Claudia Cream. Ms Cream has devoted herself to the promotion of multiculturalism for the past 26 years, and her achievements and contributions can only be described as outstanding. During this time, Ms Cream has been: President of the Overseas Chinese Association; a founding member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce; an advisor to the Federation of Chinese Organisations of South Australia; a member of the South Australia Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission; and a board member of the Australian Day Council. She is currently on the International Women’s Day Committee of South Australia. In June 2008 she was placed on the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll, and last year she was made a member of the Panda Mania Fundraising Committee.

Volunteer Award – Dr Borhan Saaid. Dr Saaid, a stalwart of the Kurdish community, has been active in bringing together Middle Eastern communities, and fostering respect and understanding across religions, most notably through “Project Abraham”, which celebrates the common threads of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian religions.

Public Sector Award (Joint Winners) – Commercial Cookery and Hospitality Team, TAFE SA and
Refugee Services, Families SA
. The Commercial Cookery and Hospitality Team at the TAFE S.A. Regency International Centre has seen significant growth in international student numbers in recent years, with many becoming permanent residents, and in addressing skill shortages and labour gaps in the hospitality industry.

Refugee Services provides support to people in new and emerging communities to overcome trauma, find suitable accommodation in South Australia, and develop leadership and job-seeking skills, through a range of activities, including sport, recreation, education and training.

Private Sector Award – Mr Brian Hayes QC. Mr Brian Hayes Q.C. is the national Chair of the Australia India Business Council, the South Australian Special Envoy to India, and the Council for International Trade and Commerce’s International Business Ambassador of the Year.

Community Sector – Individual Award – Dr Mohammad Afzal Mahmood. Dr Afzal is secretary of the Pakistani Australian Association of South Australia and has led fundraising appeals for displaced people of the Swat Valley in Pakistan. Dr Afzal helps produce a multicultural music program, and he provides support to the Rotary Club of Morialta for health and welfare work among people of different cultural backgrounds.

Community Sector – Organisation Award – Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre. The Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre runs exhibitions, forums and workshops promoting multiculturalism. In the past two years, Nexus has engaged audiences and artists from communities of Middle-Eastern, Asian, African, Mediterranean, Arabic, Muslim, Greek, Turkish, Indian, Indigenous and Anglo-Celtic origin in performances and art exhibitions.

Youth – Individual Award – Mr Andrew Antenucci. Mr Antenucci is a founding member of It.sa, the peak body for Italian youth in our State. His strong leadership qualities, and the pursuit of his Masters Degree in International Studies, make Andrew an inspirational young man.

Media – Individual Award – Dr Zheng De Han. Dr Han has given more than 30 years of dedicated service to local and national media outlets. As a broadcaster with Radio 5EBI, a special correspondent for S.B.S. Radio, and a contributor to Adelaide’s Chinese newspapers, he has helped keep the Chinese-speaking community informed and engaged in matters of local and national importance.

Media – Organisation Award Radio 5EBI For 34 years, the volunteer radio station 5EBI has made an enormous contribution to the multicultural texture of our society. Broadcasting in 47 different languages each week and catering to the interests of a diverse population, it has succeeded in providing a valuable service to the South Australian community.

Lieutenant Governor and South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission Chairman, Hieu Van Le A.O., said the awards, judged by an independent panel appointed in consultation with the Governor and with the Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia, were an opportunity to acknowledge exceptional achievements. They would also encourage all South Australians to recognise cultural diversity as a positive influence in the community and to promote multiculturalism and community harmony.

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