Hundreds of teachers who keep community languages alive in New South Wales gathered in Sydney for the annual dinner of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools, drawing warm praise from both sides of politics.
The Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib, spoke with the ease of someone who has lived the work. “As an educator prior to becoming an MP I know the contribution these teachers make and I have long been a supporter of the work they do to celebrate our diverse community.”
He joined teachers, students, families and Federation leaders, calling the event “an incredible night of celebration, recognition and joy.” He said he has “always believed that learning a language is not just about the words, but the culture, spirit and identity, we all have within us.”
It was also the first major outing for the newly elected NSW Opposition Leader, Kellie Sloane, who began her tenure by acknowledging the communities that shape the state. “I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my first day as NSW Liberal Leader than celebrating the multicultural communities that make our state great.”
She described the teachers and volunteers she met as “hardworking, aspirational and inspiring” and said her party had supported the sector in government because “we recognised the vital role they play in keeping children connected to their family, culture and heritage.” She added that she was “truly touched by the warm welcome” and hoped to return annually.
One of the evening’s most moving moments was the honouring of Mrs Soula Tsilimos, a Modern Greek educator whose service spans 47 years. She received the Medal of Service from both the Minister and the Opposition Leader.
Mrs Tsilimos reflected with modesty and warmth. “I am humbled and deeply honoured to receive this award. I wish my late husband, Michael Tsilimos, could be here to celebrate this achievement with me. I know he would be so proud.”
Federation CEO Michael Christodoulou paid tribute to her lifelong contribution. “Soula’s dedication, passion and warmth have shaped the lives of countless students. Her influence reaches far beyond the classroom, she has built bridges between language, culture and our diverse community in NSW.” He also noted the scale of the annual gathering, describing it as the largest event of its kind in the sector.
The Federation represents more than 220 after-hours community language schools, teaching 72 languages across 460 locations with the help of 2,700 teachers and volunteers. More than 29,000 students attend these classes each week, forming one of the country’s most diverse education networks. The dinner served as a reminder of how strongly this work is supported across the political spectrum, and how central these schools have become to the cultural life of NSW.
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