CELEBRATE AUSTRALIA DAY IN THE YASS VALLEY

Yass Tribune
Jan 21 2009
Australia

Monday will once again see the ever popular Australia Day celebrations
take place in Coronation Park. Commencing with the traditional Rotary
breakfast, plus tea, coffee and orange juice supplied by the CWA
ladies, the celebration will commence just after 6.30am.

Local musicians are all set to entertain the crowd with their
selection of Aussie songs until the official proceedings get underway
at about 8am.

Following the official welcome and presentation of the official
party, Mayor Nic Carmody with Deputy Mayor Judith Williams will
confer Australian Citizenship awards and announce the Yass winners
of Citizen of the Year along with awards for Lifetime Community
Service, Young Citizen of the Year and Senior Citizen of the Year. The
official ceremony will then conclude with an address by Australia Day
Ambassador, Mr Stepan Kerkyasharian AM (pictured above), sponsored
by Woolworths.

Mr Kerkyasharian was born in Cyprus of Armenian background, before
immigrating to Australia in 1967 where he has undertaken extensive
community work both in the Armenian and broader multicultural
communities.

As Head of SBS Radio from 1980, Stepan was a major catalyst in the
establishment and professional development of the service. In 1989 he
was appointed as Chairman of the Ethnic Affairs Commission of New South
Wales (later the Community Relations Commission for Multicultural NSW).

Stepan received the Gold Cross in the Order of Merit of Poland in
May 1990, was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1992 and
in September 2000 the International Olympic Committee conferred upon
him the Olympic Order.

Renowned as an interesting and witty communicator, Stepan joins a
long list of illustrious speakers Yass has been proud to host at
their annual Australia Day celebrations.

So bring your friends, family and neighbours to Coronation Park on
Monday and celebrate Australia Day in the Yass Valley.