Tuesday, 2 May 2023

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:35): (159) For my adjournment today I would like to raise the important issue of the Armenian Australians, who last week commemorated the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Remembrance Day, when 1.5 million Armenians and over 1 million Syrians and Greeks were killed. I call on the Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the other place to share with me in acknowledging the need to provide a framework of structured support for the Armenian community and in doing so to speak with the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition to develop a bipartisan position for Victoria on the Armenian genocide. I would like to pay tribute to the Armenian community as the elected upper house member for the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region and acknowledge the many Armenians who live in the south-east and throughout Victoria, of which several are descendants of the people who fled for their lives after the killings, which were recorded to have taken place between 1915 and 1923.

Since entering Parliament I have liaised with the Armenian National Committee of Australia. They have shared their history and informed me of the unique connection between Victorians and the Armenian people. At Frankston Mechanics Institute, which is in my electorate, we have a key location for gathering resources from many generous Victorians, and an instance of this took place in 1925. These donations were shipped to Armenia to aid people in desperate need. A significant gathering was spearheaded by a prominent professor, who dedicated his time in 1925 to raising awareness of the plight of the Armenians, which led to the raising of much-needed funds. Today there are an estimated 50,000 Armenian people who primarily reside in Sydney and Melbourne. The Armenian community have received support from many countries, including the USA, France and Canada, and these countries have recognised the killings as an official Armenian genocide.

Family tradition suggests I have my own very old Armenian heritage dating back to the 4th century. My grandfather taught me family history from the time I was a child and explained the symbols on our family crest throughout the centuries, dating back to the 4th century. Many of these symbols signify the memory of Saint Blaise, an Armenian bishop of whom I am said to be a direct descendant. I look forward to working with elected candidates to advance the public acknowledgement of our multicultural communities. In my capacity as a member of the upper house of Parliament I look forward to providing the Armenian community with a much-needed voice, particularly in my electorate. It is an honour to remember with gratitude the generosity of Australians and the courage of the Armenians who have made Australia their home and to remember the many lives that have been so tragically lost. I had the opportunity to acknowledge what happened to the Armenians for the 108th anniversary, and I look forward to seeing the discussions that will take place.