AUSTRALIA’S FIRST ARMENIAN MAYOR GEARING UP FOR POSITIVE CHANGE
By: ARTHUR HAGOPIAN
Noyan Tapan
26.11.2010
He was only two years old when his feet first trod upon the distant
shores of the “lucky country”, marking the end of a traumatic trek
that had dragged the family all the way from the land of the Pharaohs,
but Artin Etmekdjian has never looked back.
And now, a lifetime later, as he sits in his new office, at city hall,
contemplating the culmination of a dream he has long held, Artin is
gearing up to meet a new challenge.
As the newly elected mayor of the City of Ryde, near Sydney, Artin
will have his work cut out for him. He is the first Armenian in
Australia to hold such a position, but he has no time to sit on his
laurels. His in-tray is already overflowing with “things to do.”
Artin’s election bolsters the growing strength and prestige of the
Armenian entity in the Australian political arena where Joe Hockey
(deputy leader of the Federal opposition party), Gladys Berejiklian
(New South Wales shadow state transport minister) and fellow town
hall councillor Sarkis Yedelian, have ventured, with the cheers of
the electorate resounding in their ears.
Acutely conscious of his Armenian heritage, Artin nonetheless considers
himself a true blue Aussie, proud citizen of a free country that
has received him in open arms and that has provided a safe haven for
hundreds and thousands of lost seekers of greener fields.
“I acknowledge my place of birth; however I am very grateful to my
parents for selecting Australia as the family’s eventual home and
therefore consider myself as a proud Australian of Armenian heritage,”
he tells me.
Artin is confident that his election will impact on Armenians in
Australia, especially young people, by encouraging them to be more
involved in community life, and that “no matter where an individual
may come from, success in Australia can be achieved – through hard
work, patience and persistence.”
He is brimming with confidence, determined to usher new winds of
change and best serve the community that has accorded him the honour
and privilege of mayor.
“I have always been driven by a desire and passion to serve the
community and be an agent for positive change,” he says.
With his cheerful countenance and avuncular bearing, Artin comes out
as approachable and amicable but the appearance of docility does not
mask the steel will that has seen him propelled to the seat of power
he now occupies.
“Any community leader position will always require tough decisions,
but most importantly the decision maker must stand on principle,
and be fair and equitable in making the final decision,” he says.
His constituents include 6,000 to 8,000 Armenians, scattered among
a colourful multicultural mosaic made up mostly of Chinese, Koreans
and Vietnamese, with about 40% of them immigrants and some 60% with
at least one parent born overseas.
For Artin, it is of paramount importance that the ethnic consciousness
adapt to the values of the Australian way of life, and for the
community to “work harmoniously and achieve greater integration and
assimilation.”
Many migrants promptly change their names upon arrival in Australia,
opting for anglicized versions that come closer to the ethnic
original, although most stop short at attempting to transmogrify
their patronymics or family names.
But Artin has eschewed this expedient.
“I believe your name is sacred, at that it actually shows your heritage
and should never be tampered with unless one’s life is threatened,”
he stresses.
Although it is generally acknowledged that Armenians tend to vote
Labor in Australian elections, Artin is convinced that they are
ready to cross the floor to throw their support behind a compatriot,
regardless of their political views.
The number of Armenians in Australia, mainly immigrants from the Middle
East, has risen to 40,000. Of these, more than three quarters have
settled in New South Wales. The ingathering has been propelled by the
unsettled political and military situation in the Arab world. Here in
Australia, on the verdant shores and among the hospitable true blues,
they have found a second home where they can sleep deep o’nights,
without the fear of being the random target of a sniper or a suicide
bomber.
In their newly adopted home in this State, Armenians have created
a vibrant nucleus, complete with youth clubs and Saturday schools,
concentrated mainly around the capital city, Sydney’s, verdant north
shore, with the City of Ryde attracting a faithful following.
Artin has grand plans aimed at further helping develop Ryde, making
it more attractive as the place to work and live in. He cites as an
example a recently opened multi-stage shopping centre that ranks as
one of the most ambitious in the region.
>>From time to time, despite his preoccupation with his current mayoral
mandate and the demands of his job, Artin’s thoughts hover around the
city of his birth, Cairo. And although he was too young to remember
life there, he still feels a strong kinship with Egypt, and has been
back there twice to visit with members of his extended family.
Perhaps, one day, when times are more auspicious, city hall might
even envision strengthening the ties between Australia and Egypt,
with some sort of twinning agreement, a “sister city” relationship.
But such a step would require careful consideration.
“My belief is that any relationship of this nature must be dealt
with caution – firstly, due to the costs involved and ultimately,
the importance of the relationship being beneficial to both parties.
If the occasion arises that the above is satisfied with an Egyptian
city, the matter would be considered,” he says.
Right now, he has more compelling tasks at hand. Championing
accountability and transparency, he intends to be a team player,
his aim in life to be able “to live a full life and give more to the
community than I have been given myself.”
Artin makes it a practice to speak Armenian at home with his wife
Nora. But will his children do the same?
“Whilst I and Nora have not been blessed with children and we
must acknowledge the diversity of the Australian community, the
main factor for young couples is that they love, respect and enjoy
each-others company, as well as acknowledging their respective cultural
backgrounds,” he notes.
Artin agrees that the Armenian church continues to act as the ultimate,
unquestionable bond that unites all Armenians, all over the world.
“As the first nation to accept Christianity as a State Religion, the
church has played an enormous and important role in the life of all
Armenians. I strongly believe that to be the case, and will always
fully support the Armenian church,” he declares.
And the exquisitely rich and diverse culture, history and traditions of
his people, add just the extra pinches of spice that gives Armenians,
the ultimate survivors, their everlasting presence.
From: A. Papazian