Stepan Kerkyasharian Retires

STEPAN KERKYASHARIAN RETIRES

Neos Kosmos (The Hellenic Perspective) , Australia
Dec 19 2013

Ethnic, religious and community leaders gathered at the Le Montage
Function Centre in Lilyfield in Sydney to celebrate the achievements
of Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian AO

19 Dec 2013

Ethnic, religious and community leaders gathered at the Le Montage
Function Centre in Lilyfield in Sydney a few days ago to celebrate the
achievements of Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian AO, the retiring Chairperson
of the NSW Community Relations Commission. The special guests on the
evening were the NSW Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor
Dominello and Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, representing the
Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Stepan Kerkasharian, of Armenian descent, was born in Cyprus and
arrived in Australia in 1967 via England. His contribution to
multiculturalism in this country span over a period of more than
30 years.

He was associated with the Armenian community firstly in Melbourne
where he taught in their community language school. Then in radio
through SBS where he was a key player in helping to establish SBS
television.

In 1989 he was appointed to the Chair of the Ethnic Affairs Commission
which evolved into the Community Relations Commission (CRC). Stepan
Kerkasharian served seven state premiers and numerous ministers over
the years.

The Community Relations Commission under his leadership took a
leading and proactive role to ensure that racism has no place in
today’s multicultural society in NSW and in Australia. Importantly,
he helped enshrine in law the principles of multiculturalism. He,
along with his fellow commissioners, assisted communities with the
grants program administered through the CRC. He also established
an inter-faith dialogue amongst the various religious organisations
in NSW.

http://neoskosmos.com/news/en/Stepan-kerkyasharian-retires