Source: by Haig Kayserian - from the desk of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation
As Sydney Harbour was emblazoned with fireworks when the
clock struck midnight and welcomed us to 2015, many Armenians in Australia -
like our brothers and sisters around the world - would have spared at least a
passing thought to what this year would herald for our battle for justice for
the Armenian Genocide. The 24th of April, 2015 marks 100 years since the
beginning of the still-unpunished crime of the Armenian Genocide - a century
since over 1.5 million of our ancestors were massacred by the Ottoman Turkish
government and its successor State, in an attempt to wipe out the Armenian
race.
The Centenary of the Armenian Genocide presents an
opportunity for Armenians to remember, to mourn, to commemorate, to advocate,
and to celebrate our survival against all odds.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Australia (ARF
Australia) is at the forefront of these efforts, and the purpose of this column
is to reveal some of the work that has been going on within our community in
preparation for this 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as well as
pass on information of some of the key events and projects that
Armenian-Australians can participate in during 2015.
Activities in 2013-14
In 2013, ARF Australia helped form the Armenian Genocide
Centenary Commemoration Committee, which includes the Armenian Apostolic
Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian Evangelical Church. It
also includes ARF Australia, the Hunchakian Party, the Ramgavar Party, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), and Hamazkaine.
This Committee's charter was to organise the key joint
events and projects in commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centenary, as
well as sponsor all the events and projects being undertaken by the sister
organisations, committees and sub-committees of the member organisations.
The Committee organised a launch event in October 2013,
which was a Lecture Evening at Galstaun College featuring U.S.-based Genocide
scholar, Professor Richard Hovannissian. In 2014, a similar lecture was
organised featuring Mkhitarist Monastery researcher, Father Vahan Ohanian, as
well as a Lecture by a Director from Manning Clarke House on a project to
restore the Djulfa Cemetery in Nakhichevan.
In 2014, the Committee also formed several sub-committees
to organise events and projects that will be discussed in the upcoming events
section below, and also launched an Online Calendar which will display all
events organised and sponsored by the Armenian Genocide Centenary Commemoration
Committee.
A similar Joint Committee was formed in Melbourne to
ensure the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide is also commemorated as expected
Also in 2014, the ARF Australia Tro Gomide organised a
Conference, which included the participation of the peak public affairs body of
the Armenian-Australian community, the Armenian National Committee of Australia
(ANC Australia), as well as the Armenian Youth Federation of Australia (AYF
Australia), Hamazkaine, Homenetmen and the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).
This Conference split the over-50 participants into
workshops to discuss possible events and projects each group can conduct in
commemoration of the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, and the Conference's
resolution formed the basis of the events and projects the mentioned
organisations have been organising for 2015 (some of which will be mentioned
below).
Already, ANC Australia has held an Exhibition titled
"A Journey To Armenia" at the NSW State Parliament House, dedicated
to the Armenian Genocide Centenary, and Hamazkaine has held a Literary Evening
dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide Centenary.
Upcoming Events and Activities in 2015
The Armenian Genocide Centenary Commemoration Committee,
along with its sub-committees, has jointly organised the following key projects
and events for 2015:
A Cultural Evening dedicated to the history of Armenia,
to be held at The Concourse on March 14th with the participation of many
artists and groups within the Armenian-Australian community;
The National Armenian Genocide Commemoration Evening, to
be held at the Sydney Town Hall on April 24th, and will feature a very special
international guest of honour to keynote the event;
The Melbourne Commemoration Evening organisation is also
in the final planning stages and information will be revealed in due course;
A Photography and Documentary Exhibition in commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide;
The publishing of a Memorial Book, detailing key
historical information and personal memories of descendants of Armenian
Genocide victims and survivors;
The constant updating of the Online Calendar of events
dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, at www.armenia.com.au/100;
Among other activities and events to be released in due
course.
The ARF Australia-organised Conference has ensured ANC
Australia, AYF Australia, Hamazkaine, Homenetmen and the ARS will also bring
their participation through several events dedicated to the Centenary of the
Armenian Genocide in 2015. Here are a few we can already publish:
ARF Australia will be releasing details of social
campaigns to drive awareness of the Armenian Genocide and ensure maximum
participation from the community;
The ARS will be hosting a Blood Donor Drive in February
2015, where Armenian-Australians will be asked to donate blood in memory of the
1.5 million who perished during the Armenian Genocide;
ANC Australia, AYF Australia, Hamazkaine, Homenetmen and
the ARS will again jointly organise the Armenian Festival in March 2015, which
will celebrate the survival spirit of Armenians 100 years after the Armenian
Genocide;
Hamazkaine will host a dedicated event to honour the
intellectuals who were massacred during the Armenian Genocide;
Hamazkaine will also host a Photo Exhibition dedicated to
the Armenian Genocide Centenary;
AYF Australia has released its 2015 Calendar, which
featured 12 Lost Cities from Western Armenia, and is dedicated to the Centenary
of the Armenian Genocide;
Homenetmen sporting teams, along with AGBU sporting
teams, will be wearing specially-released black armbands during all matches in
2015;
ANC Australia has begun an "On This Day" social
media campaign, bringing to life articles that were published in Australia
while the Armenian Genocide was taking place;
ANC Australia and AYF Australia, along with Hamazkaine,
are also working on educational programs for students, which will be detailed
in coming months;
There is also work under way by ANC Australia and Armenia
Media to publish books and release multimedia dedicated to the Armenian
Genocide Centenary;
ANC Australia is working on political advocacy in all
Australian States, and the Federal government, to spread awareness of this key
anniversary.
These are just some of the activities either completed or
under way, which we are able to reveal right now. More events and projects,
within the categories of "advocacy", “education” and
"legacy" will be revealed in due course.
The community's leaders have taken initiatives over the
last 18 months to ensure the Armenian Genocide Centenary is noted in a
deserving way in Australia - both in the lead-up to 2015 and during 2015. The
success of these and other projects and events will depend on the widespread
participation of the Armenian-Australian community, which we believe will
definitely ensue.
We are also involved and across the international legal
efforts that are being accelerated to ensure justice is served. We will ensure
to keep you updated on all these developments through Armenia Media's channels
- Armenia Online (armenia.com.au), Armenia Mobile (see Apple App Store and
Google Play Store), Armenia TV Australia (YouTube), Armenia Magazine and
Armenia Radio.
2015 will be a Happy New Year for Armenians in Australia,
and around the world, if the Armenian Genocide Centenary is treated as an
opportunity to renew our collective oath to honour the memory of those who
perished in 1915, and take fundamental steps towards achieving justice for this
unpunished crime committed against our ancestors.
Please Like the ARF Australia Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/arfaustralia to remain updated.
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