SYDNEY COMMUNITY IN SHOCK AT LOSS OF ‘VIBRANT’ SIBLINGS
Arjun Ramachandran

Sydney Morning Herald
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July 21 2009
Australia

Eight years ago the Apcarian family left Iran for Sydney, fearing
for their lives and convinced – as Christians of Armenian heritage –
they had a better chance of achieving success in Australia than in
the Islamic republic.

The move was paying off. As young adults, the family’s two youngest
children, Arin and Ani, were fulfilling their family’s dreams.

But their lives were cut short last week in a cruel twist of fate.

The siblings were among 168 people killed last Wednesday when Caspian
Airlines Flight 7908 crashed in north-west Iran, soon after take-off
and bound for Armenia.

Arin and Ani – both in their 20s – had planned to take a bus, only
to change their plans at the last minute on advice from a doctor,
a friend said.

Arin had just undergone laser eye surgery in Iran, and his surgeon
advised him against a dusty bus trip because of the infection risk.

The pair, born and raised in Tehran but of Armenian heritage, were
travelling to Armenia to "enjoy the motherland" for the first time,
a family friend and Armenian community leader, who did not wish to
be named, said.

Their parents were in "very deep mourning" over the deaths of the
youngest two of their three children, he said.

Arin, the older of the two, was a well-respected medical researcher
and PhD student at Sydney University.

His research leader at the Westmead Millennium Institute, Dr Russell
Diefenbach, said Arin was instrumental in the group’s research into
molecular viral transport.

"Our research involves looking at how viruses move around in cells
… to come up with better treatments," he said.

"Arin was an exceptional student, very conscientious, hard working
and always willing to learn."

Arin’s work – focusing on herpes simplex virus – had the potential to
help large numbers of people, particularly in Third World countries
where people with herpes simplex virus were at greater risk of
contracting HIV, he said.

"We’re all shocked and devastated, and were in a state of denial for
a number of days.

"For someone so young and in the prime of life …. it’s just so hard
to comprehend."

Arin was also heavily involved in the social side of post-graduate
life, and was president of a student researchers society.

A society colleague said: "[Arin was] one of the most selfless people,
just a real gentleman. He was the first one to volunteer for things."

A close friend who met Arin at school six months after he arrived
in Australia said Arin’s intelligence was apparent in the speed with
which his English skills improved.

But he was always humble about his academic achievements, he said.

"Sometimes I wished he was louder so more people would have got to
know him," he said.

In addition to his full-time studies, he worked on weekends at a
service station and occasionally played indoor soccer, he said.

His younger sister, Ani, was just one term short of completing her
university studies, and had been achieving good marks, a family
friend said.

She was studying child care, community website armenia.com.au said.

She was also a volunteer teacher at the Toumanian Armenian School in
Ryde, teaching Armenian to children, another community leader said.

"She was adored by her students and respected by parents and staff,"
he said.

"She was also actively involved in other aspects of community work
including assisting with [the monthly community newsletter].

"Their passing will certainly will felt by the strong Sydney Armenian
community of over 40,000."

Stephen Abolakian, community relations officer of the Armenian
National Committee of Australia said the Armenian community had
"lost two vibrant members" of the community.

Another community spokesman said there were four other Armenian
families in Sydney who had also lost relatives in the crash.

The Apcarian family – from Sydney’s Hills district – left Tehran
eight years ago, concerned at how minorities were treated in the
Islamic Republic of Iran, a family friend said.

They were still struggling for closure as Iranian authorities worked
to identify bodies from the crash and return them to the families,
he said.

The Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection at Chatswood has
arranged a memorial for tomorrow night to remember Arin and Ani.