Queensland’s Multicultural Achievers
Published Sunday, 12 October, 2008 at 06:30 AM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Communities and Multicultural Affairs Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr has today announced this year’s Multicultural Achievers.
They are:
• Mr Steve Ackerie — Multicultural Achiever (Business)
• Ms Tatiana Grigorieva — Multicultural Achiever (Sports)
• Mr Vasilini Lolo — Multicultural Achiever (Arts)
• Ms Adele Rice — Multicultural Achiever (Education and Technology).
“The Multicultural Achiever title has been awarded to four of Queensland’s most remarkable citizens from non-English speaking backgrounds,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“They are all inspirational.
“Steve, Tatiana, Vasilini and Adele are all shining examples of the way people who leave their homeland to start new lives in Australia are able to embrace the opportunities our country offers and turn opportunity into success.
“In the case of Steve Ackerie, our Stefan, the Business Multicultural Achiever title recognises the long career of a migrant who has set an outstanding example of supporting young people through training and career mentoring.
“The choice of Tatiana Gregorieva not only recognises her achievements as an outstanding Australia-based athlete from a culturally diverse background, but also recognises her advocacy for such programs as the Queensland Government’s Queensland Roars Against Racism campaign and young people’s charities.
“Apart from being an extremely talented young musician, 15-year-old Vasilini Lolo has established himself away from his country of origin to become a much sought-after performer, including this weekend’s Multicultural Festival.
And generations of immigrant students have successfully integrated into Queensland thanks to Adele Rice, the founding Principal of Milpera State High School, who has been delivering English language and settlement services to newly arrived immigrant and refugee students for more than 30 years.”
The 2008 Queensland Multicultural Achievers will be formally recognised at the presentation of the Queensland Multicultural Awards in November.
The Queensland Multicultural Awards celebrate, recognise and thank individuals, groups and organisations for their outstanding contributions to multiculturalism in Queensland.
Award categories include: Individual, School, Community-based Organisation, Business and Government.
Media Contact: Harry Landman 0407 637 510.
Background — Steve Ackerie, Multicultural Achiever (Business)
The grandson of a hairdresser, Steve Ackerie moved to Australia from a small town in North Lebanon more than 35 years ago to ply the family trade. By day he worked cutting hair, by night he took English classes and on weekends he cut hair in hospitals. In 1964, Steve opened his first salon in Longreach and today, 55 salons and 500 staff later, he runs the largest hair dressing organisation in the history of Australia. Steve’s company is one of the largest private employers of apprentices in Queensland and he has previously been named Employer of the Year by the Queensland Government.
Background — Tatiana Grigorieva, Multicultural Achiever (Sport)
Tatiana Grigorieva took up the sport of pole vaulting when she migrated to Australia in 1997. Within 12 months of picking up a pole, she had become one of the world's best, placing third in the 1998 Goodwill Games. In her first appearance at the World Championships in 1999, she won bronze. At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Tatiana jumped her personal best to win a silver medal. Tatiana continued her sporting career on a high, equalling her personal best at the 2001 World Championships and winning gold and silver, respectively, at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games. Tatiana retired from the sport in 2007 and formed her own foundation ‘Gift for Dreams’, which aims to inspire disadvantaged young Australians through sporting and recreational programs.
Background — Vasilini Lolo, Multicultural Achiever (Arts)
Vasilini Lolo, aged 15, is a member of an outstanding family of migrant musicians from the Czech Republic, who has already given acclaimed performances at festivals and concerts throughout Australia. In addition to classical conservatorium training, Vasilini is a natural virtuoso, equally at home performing traditional East European dance music, gypsy style music, classical music from the Czech and Slovak Republics and elaborate jazz improvisations.
Background — Adele Rice, Multicultural Achiever (Education and Technology)
Adele Rice is the founding Principal of Milpera State High School, serving in the position since 1984. Adele was born in India, the daughter of an Irishman serving in India with the Belfast Army and a mother who came from an old Calcutta family with Irish, English and some Dutch roots. Her family had to leave India after Independence and arrived in Australia by ship on 26 January 1948. In 1984, Adele was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and established a teacher training program which equipped a generation of specialist teachers in Queensland. With Adele as Principal, Milpera State High School has developed dozens of partnerships with community agencies, established a thriving volunteer community and provided every kind of support to a generation of immigrant students and their parents.
They are:
• Mr Steve Ackerie — Multicultural Achiever (Business)
• Ms Tatiana Grigorieva — Multicultural Achiever (Sports)
• Mr Vasilini Lolo — Multicultural Achiever (Arts)
• Ms Adele Rice — Multicultural Achiever (Education and Technology).
“The Multicultural Achiever title has been awarded to four of Queensland’s most remarkable citizens from non-English speaking backgrounds,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“They are all inspirational.
“Steve, Tatiana, Vasilini and Adele are all shining examples of the way people who leave their homeland to start new lives in Australia are able to embrace the opportunities our country offers and turn opportunity into success.
“In the case of Steve Ackerie, our Stefan, the Business Multicultural Achiever title recognises the long career of a migrant who has set an outstanding example of supporting young people through training and career mentoring.
“The choice of Tatiana Gregorieva not only recognises her achievements as an outstanding Australia-based athlete from a culturally diverse background, but also recognises her advocacy for such programs as the Queensland Government’s Queensland Roars Against Racism campaign and young people’s charities.
“Apart from being an extremely talented young musician, 15-year-old Vasilini Lolo has established himself away from his country of origin to become a much sought-after performer, including this weekend’s Multicultural Festival.
And generations of immigrant students have successfully integrated into Queensland thanks to Adele Rice, the founding Principal of Milpera State High School, who has been delivering English language and settlement services to newly arrived immigrant and refugee students for more than 30 years.”
The 2008 Queensland Multicultural Achievers will be formally recognised at the presentation of the Queensland Multicultural Awards in November.
The Queensland Multicultural Awards celebrate, recognise and thank individuals, groups and organisations for their outstanding contributions to multiculturalism in Queensland.
Award categories include: Individual, School, Community-based Organisation, Business and Government.
Media Contact: Harry Landman 0407 637 510.
Background — Steve Ackerie, Multicultural Achiever (Business)
The grandson of a hairdresser, Steve Ackerie moved to Australia from a small town in North Lebanon more than 35 years ago to ply the family trade. By day he worked cutting hair, by night he took English classes and on weekends he cut hair in hospitals. In 1964, Steve opened his first salon in Longreach and today, 55 salons and 500 staff later, he runs the largest hair dressing organisation in the history of Australia. Steve’s company is one of the largest private employers of apprentices in Queensland and he has previously been named Employer of the Year by the Queensland Government.
Background — Tatiana Grigorieva, Multicultural Achiever (Sport)
Tatiana Grigorieva took up the sport of pole vaulting when she migrated to Australia in 1997. Within 12 months of picking up a pole, she had become one of the world's best, placing third in the 1998 Goodwill Games. In her first appearance at the World Championships in 1999, she won bronze. At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Tatiana jumped her personal best to win a silver medal. Tatiana continued her sporting career on a high, equalling her personal best at the 2001 World Championships and winning gold and silver, respectively, at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games. Tatiana retired from the sport in 2007 and formed her own foundation ‘Gift for Dreams’, which aims to inspire disadvantaged young Australians through sporting and recreational programs.
Background — Vasilini Lolo, Multicultural Achiever (Arts)
Vasilini Lolo, aged 15, is a member of an outstanding family of migrant musicians from the Czech Republic, who has already given acclaimed performances at festivals and concerts throughout Australia. In addition to classical conservatorium training, Vasilini is a natural virtuoso, equally at home performing traditional East European dance music, gypsy style music, classical music from the Czech and Slovak Republics and elaborate jazz improvisations.
Background — Adele Rice, Multicultural Achiever (Education and Technology)
Adele Rice is the founding Principal of Milpera State High School, serving in the position since 1984. Adele was born in India, the daughter of an Irishman serving in India with the Belfast Army and a mother who came from an old Calcutta family with Irish, English and some Dutch roots. Her family had to leave India after Independence and arrived in Australia by ship on 26 January 1948. In 1984, Adele was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and established a teacher training program which equipped a generation of specialist teachers in Queensland. With Adele as Principal, Milpera State High School has developed dozens of partnerships with community agencies, established a thriving volunteer community and provided every kind of support to a generation of immigrant students and their parents.