FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 13/01/2017

The United Australian Lebanese Movement (UALM) is disappointed that the Lebanese who first arrived to Australia in the 1870’s and contributed as much as and worked as hard as any community in Australia seems to only make it into the media in a negative manner.

The 2017 Australian Lamb advert is to be commended; it portrays the beautiful mosaic of Australia brilliantly in a smart, cheeky and charming manner. Of course The UALM appreciates a two and a half minute advertisement cannot list all of Australia’s communities, however the Dutch, British, French, Germans, Chinese, Italians, Greeks, Serbians were given a nod while many others were alluded to.

The Lebanese arrival to Australia preceded some of the above mentioned nationalities and the Lebanese community is larger than some of those mentioned.

Most important however, the Lebanese come from a culture that pioneered the cuisine and consumption of lamb thousands of years ago. Let’s be honest, is it really possible to portray the richness and deliciousness of lamb without featuring a Lebanese Lamb Shawarma?

The UALM wonders if this perceived reluctance to mention the Lebanese community in the broader media would be so prevalent if it was in reference to an Australian who is in hot water and whose grandparents came to Australia from Lebanon decades ago?