Veteran SBS journalist, Wilson Younan, is being remembered as a migrant who dedicated more than three decades to informing and serving the Assyrian community in Australia.
He joined SBS in 1993 as the Executive Producer of the Assyrian radio program following a stellar career in Iraq.
As a leader of a team of radio and digital producers, his work was recognised in 2010 with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Assyrian community.
In 2017, he was named Assyrian Australian of the Year by the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and the Assyrian Australian National Federation which recognised his professionalism and approach to coverage of news and current affairs in Australia and internationally.
Wilson Younan ran the SBS Assyrian program from Sydney. Source: SBS Assyrian
"He wished and asked that people not only remember Wilson as a memory but to also educate the new generation to follow him as an example and role model," James Younan said.
His close colleague at SBS Assyrian, Ninos Emmanual said: “Wilson’s departure caused an emptiness in my patriotic soul. I always believed that his way of thinking would have made an impact on our social and political behaviour.”
Born in Iraq, Mr Younan graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 1979 and worked in Iraqi television for two years before immigrating to Australia in 1981.
He continued his studies in his new homeland by completing a postgraduate course in Journalism at the University of Wollongong.
Away from SBS, Mr Younan built a successful commercial cleaning business that employs hundreds of people.
SBS Audio and Language Content Director, Mandi Wicks, said Mr Younan's passing was a "huge loss to the SBS family".
“He was passionate about his community and, from my conversations with him, it was clear he felt a deep sense of responsibility to serve his fellow Assyrian Australians and a deep pride in helping to foster their culture and language in Australia,” Ms Wicks said.
“Wilson was sincere, warm-hearted, a man of integrity, and always had time to stop and say hello and ask how others were going.”
Program Manager of SBS Assyrian, Andrew Bolton, described Mr Younan as a “wonderful, positive and committed person”.
“It is a big loss for his family, friends, the Assyrian community and SBS. Always a smile and a kind word is how I will remember him. He will be greatly missed,” Mr Bolton said.
Former colleague, Maurizio Pascucci, paid tribute to Mr Younan's abilities to communicate across cultures.
“He succeeded in having an excellent relationship with both the churches, which define much of the cultural activity and social debate in the community. A perpetually positive man filled with enthusiasm, who would smile while not taking no for an answer, and able to pour unlimited energy into his work,” Mr Pascucci said.
Tributes have also been received from Assyrians in Australia and community leaders via Facebook.
A commentator on the SBS Assyrian Facebook page, Shmoni Hawil Younan, recalled how she wrote a letter to the program in 2004 commending Mr Younan's "outstanding service, considering the challenges and complexity of our language and dialects".
"Wilson read part of my letter in his program, (and) afterwards, he called me pleasantly surprised," she said.
"But this was a small contribution in recognition of his dedication and commitment towards his work for the Assyrian community."
Hermiz Shahen, the President of Assyrian Universal Alliance Australian Chapter, said: "It's very sad news losing such a talented Assyrian journalist and a person so passionate about his profession. He will be remembered as being serious at work and cheerful otherwise."
"His career over many decades took him across the globe wherever Assyrians are living, by bringing news from America to Russia, the Middle East, and Europe. We pray that our Lord rest his soul in peace and rewards him with eternal paradise."
Mr Younan is survived by his wife, Asmar, and three children, Maria, Tania and George.
