Mike Zafiropoulos

Mike Zafiropoulos came to Australia as an 18-year-old computer science student in 1967.

“My intention was to return back when I finished my studies but as it happens with a lot of people, with the exception of Ulysses, I ended up staying here, and I haven’t regretted that decision,” he says.

Having held many positions along the way, he is now a board member of Channel 31 and a lifetime Australia Day Ambassador.

And he thinks he knows what it means to be Australian.

“It means that you belong to a family.

It means that you are committed to that family. You plan with the rest of the family the direction you will take, you care for the country, you work hard to help other members of the family and you share with them the skills and the other benefits that you enjoy.”

“So it’s a sharing experience, it’s an experience of pride and loyalty, it’s an experience of pride that you’re a member of the nation,” he says.

Zafiropoulos’ Australia Day message this year to those gathered at a ceremony in Berwick will be that as Australia continues to grow, it must also continue to successfully manage its cultural diversity.

And as an Australia Day Ambassdor he will continue to encourage newly arrived people to become Australian citizens.

“If people come here and they intend to stay and settle and raise a family then it would be unwise not to become a citizen.”

“My advice to them would be to become part of the family, be an equal member of the family, enjoy the privileges and advantages that citizenship gives you, and not only the rights but the responsibilities that you have as a citizen.”

“It’s a good thing that you display through that symbolic conversion to membership of the family that you are willing to be a contributing member of the nation,” he says.

George Lekakis

George Lekakis is Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, and an Australia Day Ambassador.

“This is the greatest country in the world,” he says.

Lekakis was born in Australia to Greek parents and was twelve years old when he watched them take their citizenship oath. He says it was one of the proudest days of his life.

“It was a big honour for my parents to become Australians and I was extremely proud that they had taken that step. It was good for them to feel that they were part of the Australian community, and to feel that they were equal citizens with everybody else.”

“I think that’s the greatest thing that citizenship allows you to participate regardless of who you are and where you come from,” he says.

This Australia Day Lekakis will be speaking at a gathering in Rosedale, 90 minutes east of Melbourne.

His Australia Day message will be one of awe and inspiration:

“I love this country more than any other. It is my home, and some of the great things about Australia are its people, and its history, and of course its great geography and all its natural beauty.”

“It’s a unique experience (to be an Australian) because you are enriched by so many different cultures and what they have to offer,” he says.

Stella Kariofyllidis

Stella Kariofyllidis came to Australia in 1969, aged 14.

Thirty-one years later she became the first Greek-born female mayor in Australia, and after a break was re-elected in December 2009.

“Being the first female migrant mayor is important not only for me as an individual getting to that point, but I think that it’s important because I represent all those women that came from Greece on the plane or on the ship, full of dreams to have a better life. I feel really privileged that I represent that community,” she says.

Having been naturalized herself at age 17, this Australia Day she will bestow citizenship on 80 of her constituents in the City of Moreland.
“It is really heartwarming to see the people, they are really proud when they do it.”

“The people that decide to become naturalized feel really good about it and all want to take photos with the mayor, and they are really proud that they have taken that step,” she says.

And her message this Australia Day is that Australian citizenship is something to be respected and cherished:

“Enjoy it, it is the best country in the world as far as I am concerned.”

“Be proud to be Australian, work hard and you will achieve,” she says.