World Lebanese Cultural Union
At the invitation of the Regional Council for Australia and New Zealand, the World President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU), Mr. Roger Hani, accompanied by the World Secretary-General, Mr. Georges Abi Raad, conducted an official visit to Australia from 9 to 15 of October 2025. During this visit, they took part in various meetings and celebrations organized by the WLCU across several Australian states, aiming to strengthen the ties between Lebanon and its diaspora, to reinforce the WLCU’s role as a vital bridge connecting Lebanese communities abroad with their homeland, and to support expatriate initiatives in cultural, social, and national fields.
Among the main topics addressed during the visit was the encouragement of the Lebanese community to register for participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections, while emphasizing the importance of ensuring that expatriates take part fully by voting for all 128 members of the Lebanese Parliament — not only for the six seats currently allocated to expatriates. The delegation stressed the need to amend the existing electoral law to guarantee equal representation and full political participation for both resident and expatriate Lebanese citizens.
The delegation also reminded attendees of the importance of registering births and marriages at Lebanese consulates, reclaiming Lebanese citizenship for those who have lost it, and encouraging businesspeople to prepare for investment in Lebanon once stability returns to the country. They also explained the benefits of the “Lebanese Diaspora Card” launched by the WLCU, which grants Lebanese expatriates privileges through business partners.
During meetings with several parliamentarians, the delegation expressed gratitude to the Australian government for its continued support of Lebanon in asserting state authority over all its territory and for its principled stance calling for weapons to remain solely in the hands of the Lebanese Army and legitimate security forces.
Accompanying the delegation throughout their tour were Mr. Antoine Karam, President of the Regional Council for Australia and New Zealand, and Sheikh Michel Douaihy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
In New South Wales, they were joined by Dr. Shane Geha, President of the State Council, along with members Paul Shalhoub (Vice President), Petra Fakhry (Secretary), and Richard Melki (Treasurer). Other participants from the Regional Council included Ibrahim Khoury (Vice President), Pierre Sakhn (Treasurer), Mireille Chidiac (Media), Raffoul Rahmeh (Social Affairs), and Carine Khoury (Electoral Affairs Committee), in addition to Sheikh Joe Arida, former President of the Rgional Council, and Abdullah El Hani (Queensland State Council Representative).
In Canberra, they were joined by George Salloum (State Council President), Paul Khoury (Vice President), Khalil Farah (Secretary), Dany Khoury (Treasurer), and Mrs. Wadad Rahmeh (Regional Council Social Affairs Advisor).
In Victoria, the delegation were joined by Rami Eid (State Council President), Mohamed Al-Mustafa (Vice President), former State President Mukhtar Milad Halabi, Media Officer Mounif Mitri, and members Pierre Al-Khissi and Nabil Khneisser.
The visit included meetings with Lebanese consuls, visits to the Parliaments of New South Wales and Victoria, and several encounters with business leaders, representatives of Lebanese political parties and associations, religious leaders, journalists, and media outlets. The delegation also participated in the Sydney branch’s event “From Tyre to Tripoli.” They laid a wreath at the Australian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited the Lebanese Army Martyrs’ Memorial at the Lebanese Youth Club in Melbourne. The delegation was also hosted at several receptions organized by prominent community members, reflecting the warm hospitality of the Lebanese diaspora.
During the visit, the President and Secretary-General presented honorary shields to several Lebanese community leaders in Australia in recognition of their efforts to serve the diaspora and project the best image of Lebanon abroad, as well as to those who contributed to the success of the visit.
The program included a series of events and meetings across the Australian states, beginning in Sydney and continuing in Canberra and Melbourne. Highlights included:
• Visit to the Lebanese Consul General in New South Wales
• Meeting with Lebanese business leaders at the office of Dr. Shane Geha, President of the New South Wales State Council
• Press conference in Sydney
• Annual dinner of the New South Wales State Council in honor of the visiting delegation, entitled “From Tyre to Tripoli”
• Radio interview with Mrs. Suzanne Hourani on “Sawt El Ghad”
• Official visit to the Parliament of New South Wales
• Luncheon in Sydney hosted by Mr. Wally Wehbe in honor of the delegation
• Visit to Bishop Robert Rabbat, Eparch of the Melkite Catholic Church in Sydney
• Visit to Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, Eparch of the Maronite Diocese of Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania
• Discussion session at the Bsharri Association headquarters in Sydney
• Closing dinner hosted by the Regional Council of Australia and New Zealand, honoring prominent media and social figures in Sydney
• Social gatherings,
including a tribute to Mr. Anwar Harb, Dean of the Lebanese Community and publisher of “Annahar Australia” newspaper,
reception hosted by Mr. Raffoul Rahmeh,
reception hosted the Kataeb Party in Sydney (by Mrs. Laudy Farah and Mr. Georges Haykal),
and a farewell breakfast hosted by Dr. Shane Geha and his wife in Sydney.
• Wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Canberra
• Dinner at the residence of Mr. George Salloum, President of the Canberra State Council
• Visit to the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne
• Visit to the Lebanese Consul General in Melbourne
• Visit to Saint Charbel Monastery in Melbourne honoring father Charle Hitti
• Consultation meeting hosted by the Victoria State Council of the Union
• Dinner at the residence of Mr. Rami Eid, President of the Victoria State Council
• The world delegation of the WLCU concluded its visit to Australia by laying a floral wreath at the Lebanese Army Martyrs’ Memorial at the Lebanese Youth Club in Melbourne.
