She received the honour, for her significant service to the multicultural community of South Australia. Ms Karanastasis resides from Hawthorne (Adelaide) and her parents migrated from the island of Zakynthos.
Shortly after the official announcement about the awards she spoke to our program. She was asked to entail about her work with the multicultural communities.
“For almost 40 years, I have been working with the communities of South Australia. I have also worked for the Office of Multicultural Affairs, when Bob Hawke was Prime Minister. My work has to do with multiculturalism. That means recognizing what the various ethnic communities have offered to Australian society and that when they come here, we need to offer them whatever help we can so they can become part of our society. To be Australians, to have a future and to start a new life”.
“It means a lot”
As to what this award highlights for her, she said that “ti means a lot”. It means that after so many years, the work I have done has value. It is a recognition that my work has helped the communities. That, for me, is great. It was something I did not expect and I was very happy when I was informed. I have great respect for the communities and the work they do. I know that when the Greeks first arrived to Australia, the things they built, what they achieved, they did so without help. They did it through their own work. So I respect the communities that came but also the generations that will follow”
