| _ _ _ _ _ | | | | family in freedom and prosperity… but |
| | | | when we arrived in 1987 we were told that |
| For Photos,please | | | | this used to be the lucky country. My first |
| | | | thought was "goodness we have missed the |
| VISIT>>> | | | | boat", but I am here to tell you that this is |
| | | | still the lucky country". |
| VISIT>>> | | | | |
| | | | The Hon Fran Bailey MP later commented, "The |
| _ _ _ _ | | | | Australian Government is proud to be |
| | | | associated with the Ethnic Business Awards. |
| The Ethnic Business Awards were created 18 | | | | These Awards recognise achievements of people |
| years ago by Mr Joseph Assaf, to recognise | | | | born outside of this country and who have |
| the contribution of migrants to Australian | | | | come here and made a significant contribution |
| Business. They have since become one of the | | | | to our country. As Small Business Minister, I |
| longest running awards in Australia, which is | | | | congratulate all of tonight's winners and |
| a testament to their success and prestige. | | | | finalists on their vision and initiative at |
| This year's winners were migrants from Italy, | | | | achieving this success." |
| Sweden, South Africa and Macedonia, who all | | | | |
| now proudly call Australia home. | | | | Group Managing Director of Telstra Business, |
| | | | Deena Shiff, said Telstra's ongoing support |
| The Sydney Opera House set the stage last | | | | of the Awards recognised the contribution |
| night for the 18th Ethnic Business Awards | | | | that migrants had made to the success of many |
| (EBA). His Excellency Major General Michael | | | | Australian businesses. "The courage and |
| Jeffery AC CVO MC joined other distinguished | | | | determination needed to move to another |
| guests at the annual Gala presentation, where | | | | country are also essential to build and run a |
| immigrant business owners were recognised for | | | | successful business - our winners have |
| their outstanding contribution to the | | | | clearly demonstrated the characteristics |
| Australian economy. | | | | needed to compete and win in a highly |
| | | | competitive marketplace and Telstra |
| Accepting the Medium/Large Business Award, Mr | | | | congratulates them on their efforts." |
| Silvio Pitruzzello of Pantalica Cheese | | | | |
| Company attributed the win to his father | | | | In a country where approximately 20 per cent |
| Sebastiano. | | | | of the population speak a language other than |
| | | | English at home the Ethnic Business Awards |
| "The success of our business comes from the | | | | has grown to become a most anticipated annual |
| hard work and passion of my father. He came | | | | event. |
| to Australia from Sicily in the 1960's with a | | | | |
| suitcase and a dream, and now 33 years on, | | | | In his speech last night founder of the |
| the Pantalica Cheese Company is a thriving | | | | Awards and Chairman of Etcom, Mr Joseph Assaf |
| business." Mr Pitruzzello said. | | | | commented on the positive impact of |
| | | | multiculturalism to Australian society, a |
| Representing an assortment of cultural | | | | strength reflected in the Ethnic Business |
| backgrounds and covering a broad range of | | | | Awards. |
| industry sectors the EBAs has welcomed over | | | | |
| 6,000 entries since its inception. | | | | "In Australia, diversity is a fact of life |
| | | | and because of that, multiculturalism is a |
| The following businesses were presented with | | | | way of life. It is a way of life that enables |
| an award: | | | | Australia to harness and promote the |
| | | | ingenuity, vision and enterprise that |
| Large Business Award: Pantalica Cheese | | | | characterises many of its new citizens." |
| Company - received by Mr Silvio Pitruzzello | | | | |
| from Italy. | | | | George Frazis, Executive General Manager of |
| | | | Business and Private Banking at the National |
| Small Business Award: kikki.K Pty Ltd - | | | | Australia Bank (NAB), said: "NAB is as |
| received by Ms Kristina Karlsson, Managing | | | | extensive as the community it serves. The |
| Director, from Sweden. | | | | myriad of services available to our clients |
| | | | are as broad as the backgrounds from which |
| Initiative Award: Skybury Coffee Pty.Ltd - | | | | they come. We pride ourselves in taking the |
| received by Mr Ian MacLaughlin, Company | | | | time to understand and connect with our |
| Director, from South Africa. | | | | clients. That's one reason why we sponsor |
| | | | these awards, to help recognise great |
| Women in Business Award: The Education Group | | | | business." |
| - received by Ms Neda Morris, Director, from | | | | |
| Macedonia. | | | | The Awards will be televised on SBS at 1pm on |
| | | | Thursday, November 30 and repeated at 1pm on |
| Accepting the Special Initiative Award, | | | | Saturday, December 2, 2006. They will be |
| presented by Fran Bailey MP, Minister for | | | | aired twice on Australia Network to an |
| Small Business and Tourism, Mr Ian | | | | estimated 10.1 million homes across 41 |
| MacLaughlin, who set up Skybury Coffee with | | | | countries, and replayed by 155 broadcasters |
| his wife Marion said, "Australia was a place | | | | throughout the region, seen in 200,000 hotel |
| where we thought that we could bring up our | | | | rooms. |