S.Sudanese born community leader receives Australian national award
August 8, 2013 (CANBERRA) – South Sudanese-born Australian Paul Mabior Garang has received national recognition for his dedicated work with Australia’s South Sudanese community.
Garang was recognised as part of the annual Celebration of African Australians National Awards, which aims to showcase the contributions that African-Australian communities bring to Australian life.
He was among 100 African-Australians to receive awards at the event.
Garang’s work in Australia’s South Sudanese community was also recognised in 2011, when he became the first African-Australian winner of the Queensland state minister’s Multicultural Encouragement Award.
Garang was among the 20,000 ‘lost boys’ of Sudan, who were forced to flee their homes when Sudanese government troops attacked southern villages in 1983.
His story of hardship was among 10 included in ‘Walking to Freedom’ – the first book of South Sudanese refugee stories which was later read out in the Queensland state parliament.
Garang currently works for the Queensland African Communities Council and is actively involved in youth programs supporting African-Australians.
Garang returned to South Sudan last Christmas, where he served in the South Sudanese army (SPLA) from 1989 to 1991 as part of the logistical stores department in the headquarters of the late South Sudanese leader John Garang.
The department was responsible for maintaining SPLA supplies later destined for military training centres and conflict zones such as Bonga, Bilpam, Dima, Boma, Reet and Panyidu.
Garang is now based in the south-east Queensland city of Toowoomba, where he is combining his community work with South Sudanese youth while studying for his Master’s degree.
Australia’s minister for multicultural affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, said the awards recognised the artistic, sporting, economic, political and community contributions African Australians make to the growth and prosperity of Australian society.
“Occasions such as this provide an opportunity for the wider community to understand and celebrate first-hand the contributions and achievements of African Australians”, Lundy said.
The event was attended by prime minister Kevin Rudd and other high level dignitaries, as well as business leaders, international ambassadors and representatives from service organisations.
According to the 2011 census, 337,881 African-born people live in Australia; an increase of about 20 per cent from the 2006 figure.
(ST)