They fought for many rights that Australians enjoy today.
The CEO of the Australian Academy of Science, Anna-Maria Arabia, paid tribute to these pioneers during her acceptance speech for the Knight of the Star of Italy – a civilian honour reserved for Italian citizens and foreigners who, abroad, have acquired particular merits in the promotion of friendship and collaborative relations between Italy and the country in which they operate.
She also dedicated the prestigious award to her parents, for having made many sacrifices to give her the gift of education.
“If I may, I’d like to honour my parents and sister; while they are not physically with us anymore, I know they would be very proud to see my achievements recognised by the Italian government, as they were fundamental in my upbringing and in helping me to gain a deep and rich understanding of my Italian cultural heritage,” she said.
“They supported me in every way possible and in all aspects of my life.
“My father left his family and trade in Aprigliano ... in the region of Calabria, in 1955 to travel to this faraway land to create a better future for himself and his family.
“And indeed, he did – this award is testament to that.
“Together with my mum they gave their everything so I could be educated.
“There is nothing I have achieved today that could have been possible without their effort and determination and without their gift of education.”
With the love and support of her family, Arabia laid the foundations of her brilliant career.
“I grew up in an environment where I could really explore my interests, even though I always leaned towards science and medicine,” she said.
“I remember my mum telling me to go and study when I wanted to help her with the housework.
“Today, I try to do the same with my son Alessandro, so that he understands how important education is.
“I was recommended to study science at the University of Melbourne when I was in Year 12.
“The idea of understanding and discovering what no one else had yet seen really intrigued me, as well as using knowledge for the greater good.”
Anna-Maria Arabia (right) with her parents
Arabia boasts over 20 years of experience in the field of science, having represented Australia in major international organisations and contributed to raising awareness of science itself and promoting scientific literacy.
She was awarded the Knight of the Star of Italy for maintaining a strong bond with Italian culture and having actively contributed in a concrete way to strengthening the ties and friendship between the two countries.
“Her excellent professional profile, the prestige she enjoys in the vast Australian and international scientific community, her constant commitment to promoting the role of science in society, her determination in encouraging the access of young people to scientific careers, while pursuing a gender balance, make her extremely worthy of receiving the recognition of the Italian Republic,” Ambassador of Italy to Australia Francesca Tardioli said.
During her acceptance speech, Arabia highlighted the impact that the late Giovanni Sgrò had had on her personally and society at large.
“Unfortunately, he was discriminated against and was refused Australian citizenship for years because of his political beliefs,” she said.
“It was not until the election of the Whitlam government that he was granted citizenship.
“That time also saw the abolition of the White Australia policy.
“Giovanni went on to become Victoria’s first Italian-born parliamentarian and delivered his first speech in the Victorian parliament in Italian.
“These were critical moments in the history of not just the Italian community in Australia, but the entire community.
“Giovanni Sgrò was instrumental in encouraging and enabling my active involvement in multicultural affairs in Australia and in encouraging me to consider lending my voice to assist others.
“His efforts exemplify the importance of becoming involved in community activities, in volunteering and in working collectively to create and advance a nation that reflects us all.
“It was Giovanni Sgrò who enabled me to undertake scientific research in Italy in 1997.
“It was the first time my interest in community affairs dovetailed with my desire to create knowledge through scientific research.
“I undertook a short two-month collaboration at the Centro Nazionale di Ricerca (CNR).
“Professionally, this was akin to having a placement at CSIRO in Australia.
“Upon my return to Australia, it was Sgrò who asked me to join politics in representative roles with the Committee of Italians Abroad (Com.It.Es) and the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE).”
Arabia’s first professional experience in Italy was also deeply meaningful on a personal level and allowed her to reconnect with her roots.
“I lived with my aunt in my parents’ hometown, Aprigliano,” she explained.
“Daily I caught a train to work – the same train my father and grandfather had taken decades before me.
“I understood their land, my origins and myself in a way I could have never imagined.”
In a society where our economy is increasingly knowledge-based, Arabia believes that all of the most pressing global issues require a science- and technology-based solution, and that the majority of our future industries will need STEM-skilled professionals.
“Indeed, at the core of every future-focused endeavour is science,” she said.
“Our national security, our sovereignty, and our ability to create knowledge and advance our society relies on it.
“Facilitating international scientific cooperation is critical; it is an important tool of diplomacy and peaceful engagement.”
Arabia praised the international effort in the research and development of the COVID-19 vaccine, for example.
“Countries came together to focus on a single problem and scientific barriers were overcome,” she said.
Events in recent months have spurred Arabia on in her fight against scientific illiteracy and disinformation regarding the vaccination campaign.
“I spoke with hundreds of first-generation Italo-Australians who were hesitant about getting vaccinated,” she said.
“It is not that they were ‘anti-vaxxers’, but they were simply concerned about their health.
“I listened to them with empathy and provided them with accurate information; in the end, they all got vaccinated.”
While accepting her award, Arabia spoke of her “greatest achievement”: her seven-year-old son, Alessandro.
“[He] keeps me balanced and reminds me every day why it is critical to reduce our footprint on this planet,” she concluded.
“I hope I am instilling in him the values of education, respect, courage, equality and kindness.
“I also hope he can continue to explore his cultural heritage and be as enriched by it as I have been.”
