SYDNEY: Roseville Golf Club was the venue for the 2009 ANC Australia Annual Banquet, which welcomed international guest of honour, His Excellency Ara Papian, and honoured South Australian Attorney General, the Hon. Michael Atkinson MP with the 'Friend of the Armenian-Australian Community' award.

Mr. Atkinson, the chief sponsor of the South Australia's Legislative Assembly motion which recognised the genocides of the Armenians, Pontians and Assyrians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and acknowledged Australia's relief effort to victims of these genocides, was honoured to receive the award that has previously been won by the likes of Joe Hockey, John Watkins, Bob Carr, Colin Tatz and Peter Collins.

Over 200 dignitaries, sponsors and guests were in attendance for what marked the end of ANC Australia Advocacy Week, which included the ANC Australia Day picnic, a three-day trip to Canberra to meet with legislators and a Panel Discussion about the Armenia-Turkey Protocols.

A participant in all of these events was former Armenian Ambassador to Canada, Professor Papian, who praised ANC Australia for their professional approach to dealing with issues of concern to the Armenian community, while also praising the community members for backing their peak public affairs body towards the achievement of their collective goals.

Friday's Banquet raised much-needed funds to assist ANC Australia towards the realisation of its goals in 2010.

"Tonight, we were able to review the year that was with members of our community, and they responded by digging deeper than ever to help us better represent their public affairs interests in 2010," said ANC Australia President, Mr. Varant Meguerditchian.

A highlights video of the ANC Australia Annual Banquet can be viewed below or by clicking here.

The ANC Australia video 'With your support, we are ANC' can be viewed below or by clicking here.

Pictures of all ANC Australia Advocacy Week events are available by clicking here.