SYDNEY: The City of Ryde Council has unanimously passed a motion reaffirming the local government area body's calls for Australian Federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide, ahead of the council’s annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration on 10 May 2025 2:30pm at Meadowbank Park.
During a council meeting on Wednesday 30th April 2025, the Mayor of Ryde, Clr Trenton Brown, moved a Mayoral Minute which stated that Council: “Call upon the Commonwealth Government to formally recognise the genocide of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek peoples of Europe during the period of 1915-1923.”
The motion, which was introduced in light of the 110th Anniversary of the Genocides, also notes the City of Ryde’s Armenian Genocide Memorial, which will take place on 10th May, 2025, at 2.30pm at Memorial Park, Meadow Crescent, Meadowbank.
The motion reaffirms Ryde Council’s longstanding recognition of the 1915 Genocide which was first adopted in 2005 and notes the contribution that the Armenian-Australian community has made in the municipality.
Upon passage of the motion, ANC-AU Executive Director, Michael Kolokossian, remarked: “Whilst our nation’s leaders on either side of the aisle still refuse to accurately characterise the events of 1915 as a genocide, it’s encouraging to see local leadership continue to support truth and recognition at the grassroots level.”
In a letter to all City of Ryde councillors, Kolokossian said: “We are deeply grateful to each of you for your enduring support of our community on this fundamental issue and are hopeful that our leaders will one day follow in your footsteps.”
The City of Ryde Council motion reads:That Council:Recognises the contribution of the Armenian community in the City of Ryde.Call upon the Commonwealth Government to formally recognise the genocide of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek peoples of Europe during the period of 1915-1923.Note the City of Ryde’s Armenian Genocide Memorial being held on 10 May 2025 at 2.30pm at Memorial Park, Meadow Crescent, Meadowbank.Observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.
