Stepan Kerkyasharian papers, ca. 1976-1989

MLMSS 9003
VT 2830-VT 2832

fonds

ca. 1976-1989

Textual Records, Moving Images, Nonmusical Sound Recordings

402316

8.5 metres of textual material (26 boxes), 3 videorecordings

Stepan Kerkyasharian (1943– ) was born on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus in 1943 where his parents had settled as refugee survivors of the genocide of the Armenians in 1915. In 1967 he migrated to Australia where he involved himself extensively and in a volunteer capacity in community work. His contribution included the education of young migrants through Saturday community Schools.

In 1976, he assumed responsibility for the establishment of the Armenian language radio program on experimental Radio Station 2ED. In 1979 he was appointed as manager of Radio Station 2EA by the newly established Special Broadcasting Corporation. From, 1980 to 1989 he was Head of SBS Radio with responsibility for its Radio Operations which included Radio 3EA in Melbourne. He worked very closely with ethnic communities and the then public Broadcasting Association of Australia to provide support for the establishment of radio stations 4EBI in Brisbane, 5EBI in Adelaide and in other centres. He was a major catalyst in the professionalisation of ethnic broadcasting which has come to symbolise Australia’s commitment to the acceptance of cultural diversity as a valuable national resource.

He was one of the foundation members of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of New South Wales, becoming its Chairman in 1989. He made a significant contribution development of public policy in New South Wales to ensure the participation of immigrants from diverse ethnic, linguistic, racial and religious backgrounds in the life of the state. Some examples of public policy areas included planning regulations for the building of places of worship; migration laws and regulations relating to marriages sourced from overseas countries; policies for a multicultural society; anti-discrimination issues; the use of interpreters; and settlement of refugees.

Stepan Kerkyasharian was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1992 and a Fellow of the University of Technology Sydney in 1995

References:
DEEWR, http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/kerky,9141.html (accessed 24 June 2013)
University of Sydney – Honorary Awards http://sydney.edu.au/senate/HonKerkyasharian.shtml (accessed 24 June 2013)

Includes records, correspondence, reports, minutes, printed newsletters, newspaper clippings, and audiovisual material relating to Kerkyasharian's career in ethnic broadcasting, later SBS from 1976-1989, relating to government, public broadcasting, multiculturalism, ethnic groups and individuals

BOXES 1-2
Documents concerning the death of Brenda Kerkyasharian obtained under Freedom of Information Act, ca. 1988-1993

Lever Arch file of Radio 2EA letters and press releases, 1976-1978

Submission to Commonwealth Department of Communications for Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, 1982-1983

Lever Arch File Radio 2EA Armenian broadcasts, 1976-1979 (English and Armenian);

Papers of State Ethnic Broadcasting Advisory Committee, 1976-1981

Miscellaneous personal papers

BOXES 3-5
Papers relating to the establishment of Radio 2EA (memos in "green copies"), Aug. 1979-Dec. 1982.

BOXES 5-7
"Green copies" carbons of Radio 2EA correspondence, Feb. 1983 - Dec. 1985

BOXES 7-10
"Green copies" carbons of Radio 2EA correspondence, Jan. 1986 - Feb. 1989

BOXES 10-12
Records and correspondence of SBS including memos and minutes, 1981-1987

BOXES 12-15
SBS Board papers, 1983-1986, including internal newsletters, newscuttings of SBS, 1980-1987

Miscellaneous papers dealing with multicultural broadcasting issues, 1979-1986

BOXES 16-19
Minutes of meetings of SBS, August 1979 – February 1989 including records and correspondence relating to SBS multicultural broadcasting issues, 1979-1988.

BOX 20
Papers relating to ethnic broadcasting including reports and proposals for SBS ethnic broadcasting 2EA Radio sub-committee papers and records of various board meetings, 1972-1988

Government publications on multiculturalism, ca. 1981-1988

BOXES 21-22
Records of SBS board meetings, 1981-1988

BOX 23
Notebooks, ca. 1980-1989

Papers relating to community languages in Australia, socio-linguistics and BBC Multicultural Curriculum Support Service in association with BBC School Radio teaching materials, ca. 1979-1984

BOXES 24-25
Records and minutes of SBS Board meetings 1982-1989, including correspondence relating to radio 2EA, ca. 1979

BOX 26
Policy discussion papers relating to multicultural broadcasting and plans for the development of SBS television, ca. 1980-1988

Annual reports SBS, ca. 1979-1983

Printed newsletters ‘Inside 2EA’, ca. 1981-1983

Reports, records and correspondence relating to ethnic broadcasting associations, ca. 1978-1984

SOUND RECORDINGS
53 audio film reels of radio broadcast interviews in Maltese and English, ca. 1971-1985 (formerly the property of the late Mrs Josephine Zammitt)
Includes interview with Josephine Cuomo about Angel Fish Swimming Club at Galaxy Complex Corinthia Hotel, J.Z.C. and P. Abela and Maltese Concert at the Opera House, father C.J. Sciberas , Giuseppe Nercieca, Peter Manche, J. Mirabitur

52 sound cassettes of recordings broadcast by Radio 2EA relating to multicultural issues, ca. 1980-1991
Not to be issued - master tape only. For access please contact the Curator of Oral History’

MOTION PICTURES
Motion picture betacams (VT 2830-VT 2832 )

English, Armenian, Maltese

Partly restricted: - 1 January 2015- 7-19, 21-22, 24-25

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2012-2013