The Power of
Dreams
Acceptance
Speech for Victorian Australian of the Year 2009
(Because Dr.
Berhan Ahmed was overseas when his award
for Victorian Australian of the Year 2009 was announced, it was accepted on his
behalf by Mr. Gebre-Selassie, deputy chairperson of the African Think Tank).
1) Acknowledgments 2)
Introduction 3) Power Of Dreaming 4) Dream Fulfilment 5) Berhan Ahmed 6) My
Dream 7) Conclusion
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
·
The Governor of
·
Distinguished Guests
·
Nominees and their families
·
Sponsors and supporters
·
Ladies and Gentlemen
INTRODUCTION
·
Good evening.
·
My name is Haileluel
Gebre-selassie and I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to say a few words
today on behalf of the Victorian of the Year for 2008, my good friend and
colleague – Dr Berhan Ahmed.
·
Before I begin, I’d like to
acknowledge the original custodians of this land, and pay my respects to any elders
past and present.
·
I’d also like to make a special
acknowledgement of the tremendous work that Governor de Kretser has done, and
continues to do, on behalf of all Victorians – and especially those of migrant
background like himself.
·
He has been a fine ambassador and
inspiration for the best that our state’s cultural diversity has to offer.
·
I’d also like to commend and
congratulate the organisers of this award and thank everyone for taking the
time to be with us today.
·
Awards such as this are vital for
communities such as the small minorities and under-represented groups here in
·
In a lasting, tangible way, they
can serve as a powerful impetus to increase and better recognise existing participation
in the broader Australian society.
·
And on that note, I’d like to add
my own personal word of congratulations to Dr Berhan Ahmed, who as my
compatriot and co-founder of the African Think Tank in
·
It is unfortunate that he could
not be here to receive the award in person due to commitments overseas, but if
he was here he’d be the first to say this award continues a remarkable
dream-like period for those of us with ties to
POWER OF DREAMING
·
For myself, I have always strongly
believed in the power of dreams and dreaming.
·
And I am not alone.
·
Everywhere you look, dreams hold a
special place in society.
·
They are pivotal to the Christian
faith as well as many other beliefs and philosophies.
·
Not to mention countless cultures
and traditions around the world
·
From our aboriginal brothers and
sisters comes a strong connection with dreams …
·
… to the grandson of Abraham, Jacob,
whose dream is believed to reveal the Prophecy of the Incarnation.
·
To perhaps the most poignant and resonant
dream at the moment.
·
That one put forward sixty years
ago by a dynamic young preacher named Martin Luther King Jr who dreamed of a
better, brighter future for
DREAM FULFILMENT
·
Much has been said recently about
the type of dream Dr King presented to the world.
·
Specifically, how to find the
right balance of generating inspiration – Yes We Can – without creating
unrealistic expectations.
·
Or at least exacerbating tensions
and resentment about when, how, and who will be the one responsible to see that
dream fulfilled.
·
In a way, it has become an
unfortunate trend to attach a shorter and shorter timeframe to our wishful
thinking.
·
To be increasingly impatient once
the seed has been planted, to see the final outcome in full bloom and revel in
its benefits.
·
But as the wonderful Indigenous
expression DreamTime reminds us, dreams don’t always run according to our
timetables.
·
More often than not, they have a
lifespan all their own.
·
For example, in the Bible, Jacob’s
dreams took thousands of years to be fulfilled by the birth of Christ.
·
And the dream of Martin Luther
King took decades to be fulfilled by the election of Barack Obama – a son of
Kenyan migrant.
BERHAN
·
Which brings me to the life of Dr
Berhan Ahmed who spent many years moving between different countries such as Sudan
and the Middle East after fleeing the then Ethiopia as a refugee ...
·
… before reaching his dream land
of opportunity –
·
I have known Dr Berhan over 16
years as a friend and a great advocate for refugee communities, human rights
and the environment.
·
I believe he is a fitting and
timely choice for the award of Victorian of the Year.
·
As a former tram conductor and
current academic from the
·
Just as we talk excitedly now
about the “audacity of hope”, this award represents the “validity of dreams.”
MY DREAM
·
For myself, I have two dreams to
reveal today – they are short term and long term.
·
In short term, I am not
embarrassed to share a dream to see Dr Ahmed nominated as Australian of the Year
…
·
which I’m sure would exceed the wildest
dreams of a man awaiting the chance of a new life from his cot in a Sudanese
refugee camp.
·
The long term dream is even more
significant, and possibly a little controversial considering our surroundings.
·
To see the full reconciliation of
indigenous and non- indigenous Australians...
·
… and then – if you’ll forgive me
Governor – the nomination of an Indigenous person to be the Head of State for the
future Republic of Australia.
·
I’m sure even Her Majesty would
indulge me this dream.
·
I realise of course that such a
scenario may take years or decades to achieve.
·
But I believe that one day it will
happen!
·
The same way an African American
now had the honour of occupying the highest office in the
·
I might add that back in April
last year, the African Think Tank received a call from the Office of Senator
Obama after we had invited him to speak at our African Resettlement Conference
in
·
Unfortunately, his office advised
that the then Presidential hopeful was too busy in his historic run for office to
join us.
·
Considering the outcome, we’re
willing to accept his apology with no lingering hard feelings.
·
Because if nothing else, his
triumph in the recent American elections proves that my dream is not a wistful
one.
·
That one day, there will be no “black
·
No “first settlers
·
But an
·
As a migrant myself, I have nothing
but the greatest admiration for all Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians
...
·
And the greatest sympathy for the
prices paid …
·
… and deepest gratitude for the
sacrifices made in bringing the nation to where we are today.
·
For heroic Aussie spirit that
fought through the First and Second World Wars …
·
… to those still serving in the
peace-keeping missions of today to secure peace and stability for people in our
region and around the world.
CLOSING
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In our home here in the southern
hemisphere, we are a nation borne of and built by dreams from peoples of every
culture, colour and creed imaginable.
·
In truth, if you want proof of
the “validity of dreams,” all you need to do is look around, listen, learn …
and love.
·
Let us hope that we can ensure
that current generation of dreamers, and the next one, and one after that, can
continue to build upon that legacy – that dream of nation building that has
promised so many so much.
·
And given those like Dr Berhan
Ahmed so much more than he could have dreamed.
·
Once again, I’d like to thank you
all on behalf of Dr Berhan Ahmed, and extend my warmest congratulations and
best wishes to him for the nomination for the Australian of the Year award.
·
Thank you for making Dr Berhan’s
dream becomes reality.