Lebanese-Australian Receives Queen Elizabeth’s Honors

Queen Elizabeth II has honored Lebanese-Australian activist Tony Yacoub for his service to the Lebanese community.

He recently received a Medal of the Order of Australia from the queen.

Yacoub, 63, has been the World Lebanese Cultural Union Australian and New Zealand president since 2011 and between 2004 and 2009.

“I’m really, really proud and honored to receive the Order of Australia medal for my service to the Lebanese community, not only in Victoria but all of Australia and New Zealand,” Yacoub told Melbourne-based newspaper The Herald Sun in remarks published on Monday.

“We’re proud of Australia. I am Australian but we will never forget the country that we are born,” he said.

The Herald Sun said that Yacoub underwent seven operations between March and November 2014, but continued in his role as WLCU president to organize events, festivals, and award ceremonies to celebrate Lebanese emigrants.

“I was running all the activities from my mobile phone from text messages and emails,” he said.

Yacoub emigrated to Australia in 1974 with his parents and siblings, and worked at picture frame shops for 33 years.

G.K.

H.K.