Photos: NSW Federation of Community Language Schools ( NFCLS) Annual Dinner

L-R: NFCLS Pres.Albert Vella, Clarissa Bock, CRC Chair Stepan Kerkyasharian, Hon. Victor Dominello MP, PCFS Principal Marie Bandayrel, PLCAA Pres. Dr. Alexis Leones and
PLCAA Project Coordinator Dodee Leones.

Clarissa Bock, with students from Thai School.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO THE ETHNIC MEDIA OUTLETS
NSW Federation of Community Language Schools Annual Gala Dinnner 2011Cyprus Community Club, Stanmore NSW
Sydney, NSW 2 August 2011

The Event

The NSW Federation of Community Languages Schools held its Annual Dinner last Saturday evening, 30 July at the Cyprus Community Club, Stanmore.

Over 23 language groups were represented and performances were given by the Filipino, Thai, and Greek language students. Special guests included the Hon. Victor Dominello MP Minister for Communities, Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chair of the NSW Community Relations Commission, Shadow Minister for Citizenship the Hon. Robert Furolo, Stefan Romaniw Executive Director Community Languages Australia, Professor Ken Cruickshank from the Faculty of Education and Community, University of Sydney, Community Relations Commissioners, and a host of diplomatic representatives.

Three hundred and thirty people gathered in the Cyprus Community Function Centre in Stanmore in Sydney last Saturday evening for a night of entertainment and community collegiality organised by the NSW Federation of Community Languages schools for its member associations.

The evening’s proceedings were hosted by Ms Lucia Tavares Johns, Federation Vice-President and a prominent figure in Sydney’s Brazilian community. The night was highlighted by the first edition of the Community Languages Students’ Short Film competition: the first short film competition held for community languages students from around the state of NSW. The children were given the opportunity to express themselves in the language they study at their community language school by means of a 2 minute short film. All entries showed the remarkable talent NSW students have for language study but the key point about this kind of language exercise is not only the element of language and cultural learning but that of community identity and that of enjoying the language learning process. The first prize winners for the 3 age categories for the 2011 Short Film Competition are the students from the NSW Skola Maltija Maltese School 5-8 year age group, the Hunter Japanese School 9-12 age group, and the Thai Buddharangsee School for the 12 to 18 age group.

Minister Dominello, expressed his congratulations and good wishes to the excellent performances and short films in this year’s program. Even after a full day of events and on his birthday, the Minister, Mr Dominello expressed his delight in staying on all evening spending time with the Community Languages representatives. Mr Dominello was shown displays by the languages students and showed genuine appreciation for the high standard of work carried out by the students and the parents, teachers and community organisation members were all very glad to spend time speaking to the Minister who took it upon himself to take the time to speak with everyone during the function.

During a motivating speech, the Minister mentioned the importance of language learning as being not just for cultural but for reasons relating to the broader learning process: language learning, he stated, is vital for general understanding not only of other cultures but that of their own Australian culture. The Minister wished the Federation, its members and the community language school children even greater success for this year and reiterated the State Government’s pledge to support community languages as it has done since entering into Office. Mr Dominello later took part in handing out prizes to the winners of the short film competition as well as to the many dedicated teachers for their long service to Community Language Teaching.

Background: The NSW Federation of Community Language Schools was established in Sydney in 1978 when members from different communities took the initiative to form a representative body which would unite all Community Language Schools so they could all collaborate to obtain more benefits and recognition for their students. Membership has increased over the years. Today, approximately 350 schools with more than 350 locations state wide and 30,000 students are represented by the Federation.