2011 NSW Premier’s Lebanese Community Awards Profiles of winners

Trade and Industry

Michael Rizk

Michael Rizk has been a director of the Australian Lebanese Chamber of Commerce for twenty four years and is recognised as an outstanding promoter of trade and cultural links between Australia and Lebanon.

Michael has championed the significance of Lebanon as a small but unique nation in the Middle East and maintained a business presence in both nations for thirty years.

He has organised several trade missions to Lebanon and several Lebanon and Middle East Trade and Cultural Exhibitions in Sydney as well as being the founder of MAKTABA, the first Arabic Cultural Venue in New South Wales.

Arts and Culture

Majida Abboud-Saab

Majida Abboud-Saab is a true pioneer of multicultural and multilingual broadcasting in Australia. Majida has been part of SBS Radio and Television since 1975 and is recognised for her long contribution to broadcasting.

For the past eighteen years she has managed the Arabic Radio service, presenting fourteen programmes a week for Australians from twenty-two different Arabic-speaking backgrounds. Earlier Majida made her name as a television journalist, on programmes such as SCOOP and VOX POPULI.

Community Harmony

Sheikh Malek Zeidan

Sheikh Malek Zeidan is recognised for his personal contribution to the development and maintenance of community harmony in New South Wales.

As a senior religious figure, he has used his position to promote a message of peace, tolerance, compassion and love for all. Sheikh Zeidan strongly argues the benefits of living in Australia and the obligation of all Australians to give back to the wider community. He has played a particularly important role in calming community anxiety following the Cronulla riots of 2005.

He has campaigned relentlessly to correct misunderstandings relating to Islam, to encourage community harmony and to urge members of his congregation to be respected and valuable citizens of Australia.

Community Service

Faten El Dana

Faten El Dana is recognised for the tremendous level of community service she gives both inside and outside the Muslim community in New South Wales.

As a talkback host on Muslim Radio 2MFM, she delights in giving listeners with a poor command of English an opportunity to express their views on current issues.

She has been involved in the Swim Safe programme for women who are unable to swim, the Early Intervention Info-line for families with children suffering delayed development or a disability and International Hepatitis C Week.

Lifetime Achievement

Father Antoine Tarabay

Father Antoine Tarabay is recognised for a lifetime achievement in drawing his community together across religious and political divides to meet the needs of those less fortunate.

Dr Tarabay works well beyond his parish duties inspiring others to willingly help the growth and progress of major projects at St Charbel’s Church that greatly benefit the wider community.

Father Antoine also leads a committee from across the Lebanese community to raise funds for charitable works including caring for the hundreds of children of Lebanese army soldiers who need to clothed, fed and educated.