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12 JUNE, 2024
Houli awarded OAM By Gerald Lynch Being recognised this King’s Birthday with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), is Altona North’s Bachar Houli, a renowned figure in AFL history. He has been awarded the honour for his service to Australian rules football, multiculturalism, and the Islamic community. Houli, who has a Lebanese background, was born in Australia and grew up in Melbourne’s west, in Altona North and Tarneit. He attended high school at Al-Taqwa College in Truganina, and played his junior football with Spotswood, before being called up to play for the Western Jets. Houli’s career is an extremely decorated one, with 232 career games, three premierships, and an all-Australian jacket. However, his career started in a difficult manner. After four seasons with Essendon where he played just 26 matches, Houli decided to find a new home, and never looked back. “Essendon is a great football club and Kevin Sheedy was such a great leader, but unfortunately after he left, the environment wasn’t working for me on the field and it was an opportunity for change,” he said.“The Richmond coaches and leaders created a culture that encouraged connection and storytelling that enabled me to grow on and off the field and allowed me to get the best out of myself.” When looking back at his long career, it was the off-field side that he held most dearly. “There are many great memories, but you can’t go past the relationships you develop being part of a team and the lifelong friendships,” he said. “Winning the first premiership in 2017 was also pretty special because it meant so much not only to me but the whole community.” Community is a word that describes Houli best. He was awarded the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award in 2020, and the AFL’s Yiooken Award in 2019. Further, he has been awarded a Victorian Multicultural Commission Award, and an Award for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding by the Australia Day Council. Although he will always be hailed as a triple premiership hero at the Tigers, his legacy will stem far deeper, with his work with the Bachar Houli Foundation (BHF) supporting more than 35,000 people to date. “I hope I can be remembered as someone authentic who role modelled his Islamic values on and off the field and played a small role in giving minority communities a sense of belonging,” he said.
The girl from the US
(Ljubica Vrankovic) 410898_09
West Footscray’s Tara Lichtenstein will soon be making her Australian musical theatre debut in the newest rendition of The Boy From Oz. Originally from the United States, but living in Norway, Ms Lichtenstein has chosen the west as her temporary home away from home. ■ Turn to page 5 to learn about her own journey to Oz.
■ Continued: Page 5.
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