The founder of the Australian Afghan Hassanian Youth Association (AAHYA), Mr Karimi said their group had done “a lot of community work” during the pandemic including distributing food and hygiene packs, as well as checking on isolated and elderly community members.
“I have been living in Australia for 20 years and I have never seen hardship like this for the people,” he said.
Along with the Auburn Football Club’s Adam Manna, three other AAHYA volunteers, Faria Moosawi, Nargis Karimi and Umar Khiyam, were also finalists for the Cumberland’s Local Young Citizen of the Year, which was awarded to Mr Khiyam.
Other award winners included Irene D’Souza who received the Individual Community Pride Award for her efforts on a ‘Whimsical Garden’ during the pandemic, while the Group Community Pride Award went to Guildford Public School.
As part of the Australia Day celebrations which were also live-streamed, the council also welcomed 40 new Australian citizens in a Covid-safe ceremony at the Granville Centre and hosted an outdoor concert with fireworks at the Holroyd Gardens.
Mayor Steve Christou described it as “a day of celebration, acknowledgment and togetherness for our community”.
“It was a pleasure to lead the way this year and be the only major council across NSW to hold a full Australia Day events program by marking one of the most important days in our calendar,” he said.
