In love with the lucky country

DANDENONG North’s Peter Jabbour doesn’t just love Australia.
“I’m in love with this country,” he said.
“If you want to know how lucky we are, go outside Australia.
“You see the difference in the countries, you will come back and you’ll know the value of your country here.
“We are in the dream land.”
The grandfather was among 379 people to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours List for service to this dream land through multicultural and charitable organisations.
“This award, it made me really proud,” he said.
“This is spiritual. It’s made me feel different.”
Mr Jabbour was born in Jerusalem and raised in Lebanon and Europe. He settled in Dandenong when he arrived in Australia in 1976 and wouldn’t live anywhere else.
“I’ll never leave Dandenong,” he said.
“Since I came, it’s become part of me.
“There’s no answer for me for Dandenong’s love inside my heart.”
It was in Dandenong that he met Eric Wilson, husband of state MP Jan Wilson and a 2004 Greater Dandenong Living Treasure.
“He was very active with a lot of charities,” Mr Jabbour said.
“I practised with him, I learned.”
His encouragement led Mr Jabbour to found the Australian Arab Multicultural Association in 1995 and contribute to groups and charities including the South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre committee, Australian Albanian Community Association, Redeemed Christian Church of God in Dandenong, SBS Radio’s Arabic Youth Power Awards, Foodbank Dandenong, and The Royal Children’s Hospital.
Mr Jabbour also co-founded Saints Peter and Paul Melkite Catholic Church in Hampton Park.
The City of Greater Dandenong named him a Living Treasure in 2005, acknowledging the lasting impact his contributions have had on the city.
He said his achievements would not have been possible without his family.
“My wife was a good supporter of me,” he said.
“If someone doesn’t have a good partner, I don’t think they can go too far.”
His two sons and daughter live nearby with their families. His eldest son, 29, is an SES volunteer and has assisted in bushfire and flood relief efforts.
“He’s following in my footsteps,” Mr Jabbour said with pride.
Amale Jabbour is incredibly proud of her humble husband’s achievements.
“This award it means a lot to us and we bow for this award and we say ‘thank you, Australia’,” she said, taking a bow.
“He never stops. If somebody needs help, he doesn’t hesitate.”
Mr Jabbour, now close to 70, said he still wanted to do “everything”.
“I don’t want to retire. I will stop when I go down,” he said.
“Retirement it makes the person sick in the body and the brain.”
He hopes his attitude and award serve as inspiration for future generations to look after the nation he loves so much.
“We have to protect Australia, not only just eat and sleep,” he said.
“We have to fight for our country to keep Australia safe and beautiful.”