Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Sunday, over 100,000 Australians of Macedonian descent celebrated the independence of North Macedonia after the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991. This independence day honours the resilience of Macedonian people and culture, which flourished despite centuries of foreign rule. From the Ottoman-era streets of Bitola to the ancient beauty of Lake Ohrid, your country continues to inspire admiration across the world.

As the chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the Republic of North Macedonia, I have worked closely with Ambassador Biljana Stefanovska-Sekovska to promote Macedonian culture in Australia. This includes supporting Macedonian language schools, which play a vital role in keeping Australian-born Macedonian children connected to their heritage.

I have had the privilege of visiting your country twice since being elected to parliament, seeing its beauty firsthand. Each destination I visited revealed a unique aspect of Macedonia's beauty, blending history, nature and culture into an unforgettable experience. To all Macedonians in Australia and around the world: happy independence day!