Nationalities united in great Australian dream
- EVONNE BARRY
- HERALD SUN
- JANUARY 01, 2014 12:00AM
- 1 COMMENTS
(From left to right) Vishesh Muralia, 12, Taylah Collins, 11, Liam Collins, 7, Steffi Kordatos, 11, Samantha Ferraro, 14, Abitharany Chandran, 9, Sam Wenn, 10, Rizmi Rameez, 9, Michael Jiang, 8, and Lauren Nguyen. Picture: Tony Gough Source: News Limited
THEIR origins can be plotted across the globe, but these faces represent Victoria's future.
Ten children and teenagers who represent the 10 most common nationalities in our state have come together to celebrate the new year.
Most were born overseas, and have decided to call Australia home.
Others are second-generation migrants, grateful for the decisions made by their parents before them.
Many have already lived in several countries across the world, and say that helps them appreciate what Down Under has to offer.
Legalising gay marriage and cleaning up the environment were among the top national priorities for this worldly group of Victorians, while an abundance of personal opportunities - and the broad mix of cultures - made Victoria a great place to call home.
Sam Wenn, who was born in Melbourne like his parents, Andrew and Claire Wenn, hopes to see one of his mates become prime minister one day.
10 kids share their hopes and dreams for 2014. Source: HeraldSun
Abitharany Chandran, whose parents migrated from Sri Lanka, dreams of becoming a doctor and a horse trainer.
"I like Australia because there's peace and quiet and equal rights," said Abitharany, in grade 4 at Narren Warren P-12 this year.
"I want to study more so I can know a lot of things."
Siblings Taylah and Liam Collins, aged 11 and 7, were born on opposite sides of the planet - in England and New Zealand - and now call Blackburn South home.
Taylah, a state level swimming champion, dreams of representing Australia in the Olympics.
"Libby Trickett is my idol," she said.
Steffi Kordatos, 11, also hopes to land a spot in Australia's Olympic team - as a high jumper.
Rizmi Rameez, son of Malaysia's Consul-General in Melbourne, Dr Mohamad Rameez Yahaya, has lived in Timor, Malaysia and the UK, and now attends Canterbury Primary School.
He says that meeting people from all over the world is the best part about living in Melbourne.
People born in the UK still make up the biggest percentage of overseas-born Victorian residents (4 per cent), closely followed by those born in India (2.1 per cent), China (1.8 per cent), New Zealand (1.5 per cent), Italy (1.4 per cent), Vietnam (1.3 per cent), Greece (0.9 per cent), Sri Lanka (0.8 per cent) and Malaysia (0.7 per cent). Melbourne is home to people from more than 140 nations.
evonne.barry@news.com.au