By JASON TURNER
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AFTER almost 40 years in Australia, Dandenong’s Peter Jabbour says his Medal of the Order of Australia is a sign of his adopted country truly accepting him.
The Dandenong businessman was recognised on Saturday for his work with multicultural and charitable organisations, locally and around Australia.
Mr Jabbour said he was deeply honoured by the award. ‘‘It means a lot. When I decided to get first involved in charities, I never thought about getting something like this. I did it because I feel it from inside.’’
Originally from Lebanon, Mr Jabbour has worked and donated money to countless charitable causes, including Dandenong’s Foodbank and the Dandenong Historical Centre.
One of his most prominent involvements was the founding of the Australian Arab Multicultural Association in 1995, a group focused on linking the diverse cultures of Arabic-speaking people of all nationalities.
Mr Jabbour described it as ‘‘for all Arabic-speaking Australians’’, and a non-political and non-religious based organisation.
Since migrating in 1976, Mr Jabbour has always lived in Dandenong and married his wife Amale at Dandenong North’s St Gerard’s church, almost a year after moving to Australia.
He said Australia was his ‘‘promised land’’ and he felt it was important to help in any way he could.
‘‘This country opened the door for us and gave us what we needed. We should be honest and give the country what it deserves.’’
He said generosity had always been in his
personality but it was not until he met Dandenong identity Eric Wilson — the husband of
the then state MP Jan Wilson — that he realised the scope of charitable work he could get involved in.
‘‘He did a lot of charity work and I learnt a lot from him,’’ he said.
Mr Wilson and Mr Jabbour spent time with Dandenong’s FoodBank program and the Australian Arab Association.
