Accolade for Mexico consul
HONORARY consul of Mexico in Melbourne, David Aarons, described himself as “a proud Melburnian and Victorian” after being awarded Mexico’s highest accolade to foreigners.
HONORARY consul of Mexico in Melbourne, David Aarons, described himself as “a proud Melburnian and Victorian” after being awarded Mexico’s highest accolade to foreigners.
The Melbourne businessman’s recognition with the Order of the Aguilla Azteca (Aztec Eagle) marks 50 years of bilateral relationships between Australia and Mexico.
Aarons, who grew up in Melbourne’s Jewish community, was recognised with the Aztec Eagle for more than 27 years of honorary services to Mexico.
In presenting the award to Aarons in Canberra on July 5, Mexico’s ambassador to Australia, Armando Alvarez, described it as “a tribute to his friendship, work, integrity, perseverance and collaboration in favour of the friendly relations between Australia and Mexico”.
The ambassador noted the presentation of the award took place at the half-century anniversary of bilateral relations – and in the year in which both nations have become free-trade partners under the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Thanking the ambassador, Aarons reflected that during his 27 years in the post, he has served under five Mexican presidents and seven Australian ambassadors to Mexico.
“Importantly, I have been assisting and advising Mexican citizens visiting and living in Australia, both during sad and happy times in their lives,” said Aarons, who established the first Australian company operating in Mexico in 1987.
“When visiting Mexican companies, all they knew of Australia was what they learnt on the National Geographic channel – we were a country of kangaroos. Sadly, I can say Australians knew even less of Mexico.
“Today, the landscape has changed dramatically, thanks to several decades of excellent hard work by diplomatic staff representing Mexico in Australia and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Austrade in Mexico,” said Aarons.
He recalled he was initially appointed due to his business credentials, as the Mexican government wanted to foster bilateral trade as part of its diplomatic initiatives with Canberra.
Aarons’ family has close ties to Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and his wife Lana and their three children attended Mount Scopus College.
He told The AJN: “I have many times met with Jewish families in Mexico, and participate in Jewish culture and synagogues when in Mexico on my countless business trips. I understand there are many Melbourne Jewish families who have relatives in Mexico, as some families leaving Europe went in different directions; some going to Latin America, while others came to Australia, via Asia.”
PETER KOHN
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