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Posted by Elizabeth Cannatelli on 15/6/2007, 8:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Congratulations Eddy-Order of Australia Award"
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Eddy Abraham by Elizabeth Cannatelli of Whittlesea Weekly dated 12 June 2007
(Article reproduced from the Whittlesea Weekly)
Eddy Abraham's ability to communicate in many forms has earned him a Medal of the Order of Australia.
The Bundoora resident's years of voluntary work for migrant communities was recognised as part of this week's Queen's Birthday Honours.
Mr Abraham, who speaks English, French and Mauritian Creole, has tutored various communities since he migrated to Australia.
Born in Madagascar, Mr Abraham moved with his parents to their native Mauritius when he was six.
He studied primary school teaching and worked for eight years in government schools before migrating in 1971 with wife Brigitte and son Jean-Dominique.
"We thought Australia would have better opportunities for our son growing up," he said.
Mr Abraham started teaching English as a second language at Ardeer's Mother of God Catholic Primary School and then completed a Graduate diploma in inter-ethnic studies at the former Melbourne State College.
In 1989, he was the first person to introduce Mauritian Creole on Australian airwaves through community radio station 3ZZZ, and presented French and Mauritian-creole programs.
A Catholic, Mr Abraham has been a member of the Catholic Archidiocese of Melbourne's Commission on Migration and administrator of the Victorian Mauritian Pastoral Council where he organised Masses in French for the Mauritian Community.
He has also taught English to adult migrants at Kangan-Batman TAFE in Broadmeadows and through Adult Migrant Services.
Retirement hasn't held Mr Abraham back. He still teachesEnglish as a second language to adult migrants at Lalor Learning and Living Centre and French to members of the University of the Third Age.
"It keeps me busy and the mind still working. I'm not bragging, but I really have have committed myself to the Mauritian and mainstream Australian Community."
Mr Abraham was "pleasantly surprised" to received the OAM.
" Australia has been very good to me so now I feel I can give something back."
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