Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

[by video link] I would like to thank the member for Berowra for introducing this private members' motion to the House, which gives me the opportunity to speak about three of my local constituents who received Australia Day honours this year. Our Order of Australia awards recognise those who give extraordinary service to Australia. I certainly know how important they are to the recipients, their families and their communities.

I want to begin my congratulating Greenvale resident Michael Panormitis Pakakis AM, Member of the Order of Australia, who was recognised for significant service to STEM education in Victoria. Michael is the director of the Victorian Space Science Education Centre at Strathmore Secondary College and works closely with the education heads of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to develop STEM teaching resources.

Michael is a child of the post Second World War nation-building migration program. His parents migrated to Australia from the island of Rhodes in Greece when he was 13 months old. In fact, Michael and I may have come to Australia in the same year. Certainly our families came here for similar reasons: a better future for their children.

As an only child Michael spent many hours watching science fiction TV series and reading. Both parents were at work, his mother a seamstress and his father a tool maker. This is a very familiar migrant story. Michael had an interest in science and recalls that on the day the Americans landed on the moon, 20 July 1969—who could forget that—he told his dad that he wanted to do something related to science. He loved acquiring knowledge but he also wanted to impart this knowledge so he became a teacher. Michael has been teaching since 1985. Reflecting on his service and contribution, Michael says:

During my first years in teaching, I taught disadvantaged kids from migrant and refugee backgrounds, often with poor English and learning difficulties. I used to tell them that I am a migrant too and they can achieve anything they dream of, if they put some effort in. I wanted to be a role model for them.

Michael's motto is one that NASA instils in its astronauts: 'Failure is not an option. Perseverance is the only option.'

Greenvale resident Mrs Samia Baho OAM received a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to refugee welfare for the African community of Victoria. Samia came to Australia as an Eritrean refugee 30 years ago. She too shares the enduring story of refugee settlement in Australia. From an early age she had to overcome challenges by being resourceful and visionary. She spoke seven languages and quickly learned English, and she went on to obtain a social work degree, a master's degree and a postgraduate diploma in women's health at the University of Melbourne as well as a certificate in cultural practice, law and health at La Trobe University. Samia became the founding member of the Centre for African Australian Women's Issues. Her experience of being a refugee has pretty much shaped her advocacy work and drives her determination to help those refugees who come here. She has led on issues related to racism and sexism, working to ensure that there are appropriate and equitable services available for African women.

In the past five years Samia has worked on projects associated with sexual and reproductive health improvement for Sahel African women and is the statewide coordinator for the Productive Rights Education Program. She conducts important work in addressing perceptions about African women and family violence. Samia is very passionate about helping people find a job, especially women. As she says, 'If you get employment, your life will change in a lot of aspects.' Samia has set up a specialised centre in Melbourne's west, whose main goal is to help people into employment. She connects with a wide network of other services and people who are sympathetic to her cause and who work together to make it happen. Samia is a great woman, and I want to congratulate her especially.

Craigieburn resident Kevin O'Neill is one of four Cricket Australia scorers who officiated for their club in Victoria's premier cricket competition to receive an OAM. Kevin is the Carlton Cricket Club's scorer and has held the first grade scorer's chair since 1971. He has been appointed scorer in 33 test matches, 63 one-day internationals, 186 first-class matches and 39 list A matches. Since his first match, Kevin has been Carlton's first grade scorer in 596 matches. And what a good club Carlton is! Kevin and I obviously share an association with Carlton.

Congratulations, therefore, to my three constituents—Michael, Samia and Kevin. You represent the breadth of the Australian story and are rightly recognised by our Australia Day awards, and I want to congratulate you very warmly.

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