Kot Monoah was awarded Outstanding Young Leader at the inaugural African-Australian National Awards. 87020 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By DANTE CECCON
FROM South Sudan to Australia, the journey for Wyndham Vale’s Kot Monoah has not been easy.
Fleeing civil war in Sudan and Ethiopia, Mr Monoah and his family found themselves in a Kenyan refugee camp. It would take 12 years to be granted a humanitarian visa to come to Australia.
“You may be lucky to get a humanitarian visa to get to the United States, Australia or the UK but it wasn’t something that you could really place your bets on,” Mr Monoah said.
The Sunshine lawyer has been named one of Australia’s most influential African-born residents as part of the inaugural African-Australian National Awards.
“It was a privilege to be recognised for the work that I’ve been doing, it was a special moment to reflect for a second that people appreciate what you give back and what you give to them,” Mr Monoah said.
As coach of Sunshine’s Western Tigers soccer team and a mentor to local African youth, the 30 year-old personal injury lawyer balances his legal work at Slater & Gordon, with community work.
“I believe that in life you have many things to learn just by engaging and interacting with people giving them what you know and learning from them,” Mr Monoah said.
“There is nothing that can become a barrier to their dreams or them achieving what they want to achieve.”
Slater & Gordon’s Craig Lynch said the Outstanding Young Leader honour was a fitting tribute.
“He is reliable, trustworthy and an incredible leader for his community,” Mr Lynch said.
“We are all delighted that his abilities have been recognised publicly in such a fitting way.”
Mr Monoah’s message to young people is a positive one.
“All that you need is hope, determination, willpower and not giving up at all.”
