Recognition for Effort and Work as a Celebration of Preserving Croatian Identity
By Katica Perinac
On 24th March, the ‘Top Scorers’ ceremony was held at the official premises of the Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in Melbourne, honouring the most successful graduates who took Croatian language at VCE level in 2024.
This year’s award recipients are:
Stjepan Bilić, Ava Kombol, Mikela Gashi and Anna Žanić.
Not only did they successfully complete Croatian language in Year 12, but they also achieved the highest results. “Your dedication, effort and passion for the Croatian language have truly paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder,” highlighted the Croatian Language Teachers’ Association in Victoria via social media.
Graduates Recognised
On behalf of the Consulate General, the Consul General of the Republic of Croatia, Joseph Gene Petrić, addressed those gathered, offering warm words of support to students, parents, teachers and guests. On this occasion, he personally presented awards to the students, further elevating the significance of this event.
Tomislav Butković, President of the Croatian Community Centre, was also present at the ceremony, proudly representing this important community institution. The President of the Croatian Language Teachers’ Association in Victoria, Katica Perinac, emphasised in her speech the importance of working together: “This ceremony is not only a recognition of their efforts, but also a celebration of our commitment to preserving language and identity.”
Special thanks were extended to: parents, grandparents who raised their children and grandchildren in the Croatian spirit and sent them to Croatian language classes; the top Croatian language graduates; Croatian language teachers who work tirelessly, often without their own space, holding meetings in clubs, caf̩s and homes; as well as sponsors Рthe Central State Office for Croats Abroad, I&D Group, Croatian Community Centre Geelong, Harcourts Geelong, Croatian Cultural Association, Loaram Construction, and HKUD Lado.
All awarded students received: a gift voucher worth $150, the cookbook “My Mother’s Kitchen” (a gift from the Croatian Cultural Association), an Arthur Nalis award and plaque, and a certificate of recognition from the Croatian Language Teachers’ Association in Victoria.
Thanks to the Croatian Community Centre Geelong, participants enjoyed food and drinks that further enriched the event.
Congratulations to our graduates – your achievements inspire future generations to continue preserving the Croatian language and culture!
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