If you were to drill a hole right under Sydney to the other side of the world, you would come out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean somewhere between two sets of Portuguese Islands - the Azores and Madeira.
My family migrated from Madeira.
It’s a magnificently beautiful volcanic island, which towers out of the sea.
Forests and flowers cover its often mist topped mountains, which feed "levadas" or irrigation systems snaking their way around the island.
They lead to a glorious amphitheatre where its capital, Funchal, lays proudly upon a rocky coast, like open arms, ready to welcome its visitors.
The Maderiense (people of Madeira) use food, their Catholic beliefs and strong family traditions to entertain, often displayed during various "arraials" or street festivals throughout the year.
It is though, an isolated part of the world, and with any society, there are the haves and the have nots.
"Apart from Australia’s indigenous people...we are all migrants or have a migrant heritage. I say, embrace it."
So, in the very late 1970s, my family wanted to see if they could carve out a better life in a new place called Australia.
Apart from Australia’s Indigenous people, who are the traditional owners of this land on which we are meeting, and I respectfully acknowledge, past and present, we are all migrants or have a migrant heritage.
I say, embrace it.
It is what makes us unique, and it forms a vital part of Australian culture.
Stereotypical Australia would have you believe we’re all cricket-loving, sun-worshipping, beach-going, beer-drinking, prawn-barbecuing, vegemite-eating, fair-skinned larrikins.
To me, two simple lines in the second verse of our national anthem perfectly defines what it means to be Australian:
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross, we'll toil with hearts and hands, to make this Commonwealth of ours, renowned of all the lands.
Quite simply, it means working hard and harmoniously together, to make this country an even better place to live.
It mentions not of what we look like, but where we are, as a people, under the Southern Cross, a cosmic symbol seen by only Australians, working for the good of this country.
"My parents were blue collar workers. They worked tirelessly to make sure my brother and I had the best possible start in life."
I was born and grew up in Wollongong on the New South Wales South Coast.
It truly is one of the most picturesque parts of the country, where the mountains greet the sea, by some of Australia’s best beaches.
While geographically it is different to Bankstown, it is very similar in that it has a very large migrant population, a melting pot of religion, culture, food and experiences.
My parents were blue-collar workers: Dad at the Port Kembla Steelworks, mum at Bonds making the singlets many of you may have worn as kids.
They worked tirelessly to make sure my brother and I had the best possible start in life.
"‘Richard’ stuck with me for more than 20 years. I didn’t fight it. I didn’t think it was a big deal."
I spoke Portuguese at home, and didn’t really speak English until I started primary school.
My school was extremely multicultural. Different looking faces the norm. As children, we didn’t see those differences.
In saying that, for reasons still unknown to me today, the teachers at my school called me Richard, instead of Ricardo.
"Richard" stuck with me for more than 20 years. I didn’t fight it. I didn’t think it was a big deal.
I wasn’t rebelling against my heritage by keeping "Richard", because I participated in cultural activities like Portuguese folkloric dancing.
I was however, extremely career ambitious.
Related reading
David Morrison named Australian of the Year
As I got older, I guess I had developed an unconscious perception that by keeping this anglicised name, I’d be more successful, especially given I knew from a very young age that I wanted to work in an industry which didn’t have many coloured faces - television.
I’m not saying that’s what society told me to do, but it’s what I may have subconsciously felt I had to do.
Still, one would have to acknowledge that the world is not a perfect place and racism does exist.
We often see instances of it depicted in the news, and we seem to see more of it because of social media.
The reality is, those incidents are very far and few between.
Still, some of us may experience some sort of racism, or discrimination for that matter. Some members of the community may experience it more than others.
However I really believe it isn’t a barrier to success. It may mean you have to work harder than others, but that is just how the world turns.
It may sound overly optimistic but one person really can change attitudes, or to at least be part of that change.
I never used my heritage as an excuse. I never said, 'I can’t be a successful television journalist because I grew up in a blue collar household in suburban Wollongong, or because I have an ethnic background'.
I had dozens of failed attempts to enter the media industry. Numerous news directors, producers and media professionals simply said no at the start of my career, even as "Richard".
Instead of complain or give up, I worked harder.
I volunteered at community radio, community newspapers, did extra curricular speaking events, journalism courses outside of school hours, and eventually unpaid work experience for years developing my skills.
It didn’t happen overnight but I managed to craft a career which led me to work in places like Win News, Seven News, Nine News and Sky News. Not because of the way I looked or where I came from but because I worked hard at developing my skills and excelled at my job.
Truth be told, when I was offered my position at SBS in 2010, I was asked whether Richard was my real name.
I took that opportunity to revert to my birth name, Ricardo, and the Portuguese pronunciation of my surname in all aspects of life, professional and personal.
Not because I work at SBS, an organisation which prides itself upon diversity and inclusion, but because I’m proud of my cultural heritage which forms part of who I am.
I want that to be the Australian mainstream.
My mum and dad’s solid worth ethic obviously trickled down to me.
They’re both retired now after contributing to Australia’s growing economy. Mum still fundraises for many charities giving back to the community.
I want to make sure I too make a difference and contribute to the community in my own way.
That, to me, is being Australian.
Imagine if we lived in a country where migrants weren’t able to bring their traditions and contribute to the Australian way of life.
We embrace diversity within Australian law, which allows every single one of us, the possibility to achieve our dream.
If we didn’t, we’d be living in a country with less colour, flavour and excitement. And no Portuguese custard tarts.
To be "true-blue" Australian doesn’t mean you have to follow the stereotypes either. I don’t follow the cricket and prefer cycling, and instead of prawns on a BBQ, I rather a Portuguese traditional espetada.
Still, I do say "mate" a fair bit and give everything a "fair go".
"It’s our differences that makes us the same."
As you can tell I’m pretty proud of my Portuguese background. I’ve been lucky enough to have visited Madeira five times during my life, but understanding my family’s history also gave me a greater appreciation of the opportunities Australia gives me, and each and every one of us, whether we were born here, or recently came here.
I’m even more proud of how my hometown of Wollongong has developed into a wonderful, energetic part of this country.
And I’m proud of Redfern, where I live now, and its eclectic and diverse community, and amazing cafes.
So to everyone here today I say this: Embrace your multicultural heritage, whether it be Indigenous, English, European, African, Asian, or American, or a mix of any of the above.
Trust in the Australian legal system, which drives out those who threaten the Australian way of life. A way of life that simply allows this nation to prosper with our differences, harmoniously.
Because it’s our differences that makes us the same.
