By Marcelle Mansour OAM
The Hon. Shoaquett Moslemane MLC, Opposition Whip in the Legislative Council honored the SBS Arabic24 Executive Producer Marie Myssy at NSW Parliament House, Jubilee Room, on Thursday the 2nd of May 2019, in recognition of 40 years of service to Journalism.
The celebration was attended by a crowd of community activist members, Artists, Poets, friends, relatives, and media representatives: Editor-in-Chief of Al-Nahar Australian Newspaper-Anwar Harb AM, Australian Maronite Community Network’s President (AMCN) Ghassan Awit, SBS Program Manager-Andrew Bolton, representing SBS, together with SBS broadcasters Heba Kassoua and Stephanie Andary, Journalist Akram El Mogawish, Dr Rosemary Suliman and Adele Nouh from Mirath in Mind, George Myssy, Mark Algie, Director at RM Gregory PromoPrint-Hassan Moussa, Artist-Joe Mezher, Anthony Mezher and his wife, Marcelle & Maurice Mansour and the Senior Advisor of Sen. Moslemane office-Louay Mustapha.
The ceremony was emceed by the former SBS journalist of Arabic program, Saleh Al-Saqqaf. And the speakers were: Sen Shoaquett Moslemane MLC, Majida Abboud Saab, Sylva Mezher, Chadia Gedeon-Hajjar, and Marie Myssy.
Sen. Moslemane spoke about the reasons for the establishment of the Multicultural and Indigenous Media Awards since 2012, which he holds annually in the NSW Parliament to honour its recipients in the field of journalism. He congratulated Marie Myssy on her outstanding achievements and expressed his pleasure to accept this honor.
Majida Abboud Saab, the former Executive Producer of Arabic programs at SBS, praised Marie Myssy for her remarkable achievements since she began working with her as a presenter in 1980 when there were only 8 ethnic languages in Sydney and 9 in Melbourne. Marie was able to maintain her career seriously and work diligently with perseverance. She covered many issues in the Middle East, interviewed prominent personalities, bridged the gap between generations, and played an active role in the development of Arabic programs. Marie also demonstrated her superior skill in facing challenges and showed her leadership abilities as the Executive Producer for the Arabic program with confidence and success.
Sylva Mezher, who was officially appointed as “SBS Arabic24” current Executive Producer, talked about her enjoyable career and friendship with Marie Myssy for twenty years, and her gratitude for the opportunities offered by SBS.
Chadia Gedeon-Hajjar, Journalist, Educator and Founder Mirath in Mind, spoke about cultural assimilation and adapting to the Australian multicultural society.
Marie Myssy, the recently retired SBS Arabic24 Executive Producer gave a significant inspirational speech. She talked about her biography since her departure from Beirut, Lebanon, where she was born, and her arrival to Sydney Australia in1975. She joined SBS in1980 and made considerable achievements in her professional career throughout the years, developing from a part-time contributor to an executive producer. Throughout the years, Marie was able to face the challenges and overcome the problems she met to achieve success in her enjoyable career that she loved despite the difficulties she faced mainly as a compassionate devoted mother and wife. Therefore, Marie urged women who have a hard career not to feel guilty and she called working mother to always needs the constant support of her husband and partner to be able to balance between motherhood and career success. Marie thanked her husband Mr. George Myssy for his presence and constant support, and she also thanked all her friends and relatives for their love and appreciation.
Sen. Moslemane congratulated Marie Myssy and presented, her a certificate of appreciation for her services in journalism for four consecutive decades. Then she was presented by the artist and painter Marcelle Mansour – writer of these lines – a personalized meaningful gift of her artwork on canvas and poem that she wrote on her retirement.
Congratulations to the highly regarded Australian Lebanese woman Marie Myssy on receiving her honour wishing her health and happiness for the beginning of a new life journey.