Australia Day honours: Charlie Shahin’s dad’s vision and legacy honoured

Lebanon-born Charlie Shahin credits his late Palestinian father’s vision for a better life with inspiring him.

Khalil ‘Charlie’ Shahin has been named an Officer of the Order of Australia

Lebanon-born Charlie (Khalil) Shahin credits his late Palestinian father’s vision for a better life for his family in Australia as inspiration for his leading South Australia’s largest private company.

The $1.9 billion family-owned Peregrine Corporation, which employs 3000 people though its fuel and convenience store franchise OTR, Smokemart and Krispy Kreme franchises, is the state’s largest retailer.

Founded in 1984 by Fathi, known as Fred, Peregrine has grown rapidly under the management of 52-year-old Charlie and his brothers Yasser and Samer.

Mr Shahin has been named an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to business and commerce, to philanthropy as an advocate for corporate social responsibility, and to the multicultural community.

He said the award honoured his family and the legacy of his father, who came to Australia with “little more than his values and a vision of a future in Australia, where he believed he could provide a better quality of life for his family.’’

“He raised us to be kind to others, to appreciate the diverse cultures and beliefs in Australia, to be humble, and to serve our communities and those less fortunate. Our business, Peregrine Corporation, is founded upon those very same values,” Mr Shahin said.

“I am proud to be part of an organisation which is recognised for the diversity of its employees. Just like Australians chose to give my family a fair go, we believe in giving everyone a fair go, irrespective of age, cultural background, gender or religious belief.”

Mr Shahin’s close-knit family, many of whom live on the same street in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs, was thrust into the spotlight in 2015 after a high-profile court cause in which a jury acquitted a South Australian police officer of aggravated assault against Peregrine director Yasser Shahin.

The judge said the case should never have been pursued by public prosecutors.