Key points
- Receiving the award
- Contribution to the community
- Sacrifices made to achieve the aim
SBS interviewed Mrs Najiba Homeh, widow of John Homeh, who received the award on behalf of her late husband.
She said that when John's name was called as a recipient, his picture appeared on a big screen, followed by photos of his works, I got very emotional and started crying from happiness.
She says her happiness was not for John only, but she was also happy that Assyrian name was mentioned and included among other communities.
She thanked Ms Dina Yako, who was the force behind getting John's candidacy received and accepted for this award.
When asked about her support to her late husband in fulfilling his dreams and completing his projects, Mrs Homeh said that she supported him because she saw in his work, a contribution to the Assyrian nation.
She says that she sacrificed and supported John because like him, she also believes in serving the Assyrian children, to increase their awareness about their nation.
She believes that the sacrifices of her late husband's and her's, paid off because they saw the impact of John's projects and movies on Assyrian children.
"My happiness was not for John only, but I was also happy that Assyrian name was mentioned and included among other communities."
Since the arrival of John and his family as migrants to Australia from Syria, He started writing and producing short films depicting the sufferings of the Assyrians from massacres, deportations and injustice.
His first work was a film co directed with Shmoel Youanis, another Assyrian artist and writer.
John started his video production business, mainly for weddings and concerts. His videography business also helped him produce his own projects for the community.
His reputation started spreading as a videographer and artistic creator when he collaborated with Assyrian singer, Juliana Jendo.
In 1988, Juliana Jendo toured Australia to perform concerts in Sydney and Melbourne. He made video clips for three of her songs.
The video clips gained so much popularity and liking among the Assyrians in Australia and abroad.
His artistic journey with Julian Jendo continued throughout the years. Together they made a feature film, a collection of children songs, short movies about Assyrian history.
All these works had a big success among Assyrians around the world.
John has been awarded for his work to the Assyrian community on many occasions and by many Assyrian organisations in Australia and overseas.
John suffered from a rare disease that stopped him from continuing his work in the past three years.
John Homeh passed away on 6th May 2020
