Dr Farvardin Daliri says he feels most at home in Townsville

DR Farvardin Daliri OAM fled religious persecution in Iran as a teenager and says it’s in Townsville he feels most at home.

Executive Director of the Townsville Intercultural Centre Dr. Farvardin Daliri OAM. Picture: Shae Beplate

Farvardin Daliri, who fled religious persecution in Iran as a teenager, says it is in Townsville he feels most at home.

Dr Daliri, who practised the Baha’i Faith, escaped a regime cracking down on civil freedoms into India as a 19-year-old, where he became a qualified sculptor and painter for 10 years.

He arrived in Australia in 1984 stateless, and became a citizen in 1986.

He hopped between Tasmania and Victoria before settling in Townsville in 1989.

“There are a mixture of reasons of why I moved to Townsville, one being as someone interested in history in people, I wanted to forge a closer connection with Australia and be closer to indigenous people,” he said.

“And Townsville really supports its community, it’s small enough for that while still being a city. In Melbourne it’s hard to get to know your neighbour, no one talks to you, but here, people say g’day, good morning and hello.”

Dr Daliri studied at La Trobe and Monash Universities in Melbourne, including a PhD in the education of indigenous children.

“It’s through that I experienced the knowledge base Aboriginal people have to offer,” he said.

“We are not learning enough about our indigenous people, we should be learning more about our own history.”

Dr Daliri was awarded an OAM in 2007 because of his commitment to building harmony and peace in the community, as well as intercultural relations.

“I believe Australia has something to offer the world. We are special as a nation. By loving Australia you’re inherently saying you love the world, because we have a slice of everything in this country,” he said.

Dr Daliri, the executive director of the Townsville Intercultural Centre and of the Townsville Cultural Fest, said the event had grown significantly over the past 24 years.

“The Cultural Fest is a means of nurturing the human attitude towards each other, we are all one.

“It’s a very exciting opportunity for everyone to come together,” he said.

The Cultural Fest will be held from August 17-19 at James Cook University, and will feature a variety of entertainment and food.

Originally published as Dr Farvardin Daliri says he feels most at home in Townsville