News.

GSSC Cultural and Language Expo

Coverage of GSSC’s Cultural and Language Expo and Family CALD Night, held on 18 June during Refugee Week. Hussam is quoted as Multicultural Liaison Leader, highlighting students’ pride in their cultures and the importance of inclusion. The event brought cultural displays, students and families together.

The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District also shared its experience hosting an information stall and connecting with the school community in a 26 June 2026 post.

Read the Ethnic Council’s account ↗ · View its three photographs →

Read the article and view the gallery ↗Culture and student voice →

Victorian School of Languages graduates honoured at Shepparton Expo

The report covers the 25 October Expo at GSSC and recognises VCE language graduates, including Safa Zahir. I led the Arabic station at the event, documented in my own photograph collection.

Celebrating the Happy Brain Education partnership

The college’s report names Hussam Saraf, Multicultural Liaison Leader, among those attending the scholarship celebration dinner. It describes tutoring, mentoring and wellbeing support for students, and continuing collaboration between HBE and GSSC’s school leadership, VCE and Multicultural teams.

The Patch garden opening

The college recognises Hussam’s help establishing trees with students and his support for the edible garden.

Planting for the future

A school update records Hussam’s donation of trees and his work planting with students.

Helping The Patch take root

Coverage of GSSC’s agriculture and horticulture space acknowledges Hussam ‘Samy’ Saraf’s contribution to the project.

School Council 2022: DET staff representative

The school’s published council membership list names Hussam Saraf as a DET staff representative. An institutional record of his contribution to school governance.

“Life-changing” leadership camp on hold for unlucky GSSC students

A report on GSSC students’ leadership-camp experiences and the disruption caused by Victoria’s July 2021 lockdown. Hussam appears in the accompanying group photograph, as he has confirmed.

Empowered Voices: a school and community partnership

The newsletter recognises Hussam Saraf and the GSSC Multicultural Team among contributors to the partnership with the Ethnic Council. Led by Zahra Al Tuhmazy, with Muzhgan Qazikhil and school colleagues, the program supports multicultural students’ rights, confidence, self-advocacy and leadership.

Our Community Culture: Afghan culture

A school newsletter feature exploring greetings, communication and cultural understanding. Hussam Saraf is credited with presentation and preparation, with cultural review by fellow Multicultural Liaison Officer Aqeel Zaydi.

GSSC cultural officer pleads for support for school

In this 2021 report, Hussam calls for parents and the wider community to support students and staff during a difficult period ahead of GSSC’s move to its new campus. He discusses building trust and a shared school culture.

Read the article ↗Shepparton News on Facebook ↗

Eid al-Fitr: a school community resource

A two-page school resource explaining Eid al-Fitr and its traditions, signed by Hussam Saraf in his role supporting Arabic-speaking students and families at the Mooroopna campus.

Helping families book parent, student and teacher conferences

An official school flyer lists Hussam Saraf among the multicultural liaison officers helping families use Compass to arrange school conferences and interpreter support.

GSSC cross country — video credited to Hussam Saraf

The school’s official Facebook caption credits multicultural liaison officer Hussam Saraf with filming the start of its cross-country event.

Learn to lead: students learn leadership at Alpine camp

The report follows GSSC Year 9 students at the Alpine School in Dinner Plain. It credits Hussam with encouraging Muslim families to let their children attend and includes him in the group photograph.

Hussam’s original post ↗
School participation and belonging →

The Way to Freedom at Fed Square

Fed Square’s 2025 Multicultural Film Festival listing includes The Way to Freedom in its 8pm programme. It credits Hussam Saraf as writer and co-director, and Darryl McConnell as co-director and producer.

Multicultural Film Festival 2025 tours towns, campuses and cinemas

Festival coverage names The Way to Freedom and its co-directors, Hussam Saraf and Darryl McConnell, while discussing films about migration and refugee experiences. A mention within a wider festival report.

The Way to Freedom

The college’s dedicated news page for the film.

Read the source ↗Film listing · SBS On Demand ↗Film catalogue · Apple TV ↗

Recognising refugee stories

Official coverage of the festival and the inaugural Chairperson’s Refugee Stories Award for The Way to Freedom.

View the trophy, framed certificate and writer’s reflection →

The Way to Freedom wins at MFF

The college celebrates the film’s award and the contribution of its students, staff and filmmakers.

The film in the official programme

The festival’s published guide, including The Way to Freedom and its filmmaking credits.

A place in the annual record

The commission’s annual report includes the film and its creators.

From streets to sweets, Shepparton rallied and baked for Palestine

Taylah Baker reports on the 24 August Shepparton march and a separate Tinto Bakery fundraiser. Hussam is quoted and identified as helping organisers plan the march. The supplied print version is headed “Rallying, baking for Palestine”.

Open the original print clipping ↗
Hussam’s thank-you reflection →

Speaking their language: Empowering interpreters and translators in diverse regional communities

Monash University reports on the IMPARO project and the launch of its report and online toolkit. This is background to the workshops Hussam describes in his June 2023 personal reflection.

Read Hussam’s workshop reflection →
Related Monash article: introductory interpreter course ↗

Sharing a meal to promote connection

Coverage of Culture & Co’s Iftar at Shepparton Art Museum, bringing more than 120 people together to strengthen community connections. The photograph’s caption names Hussam Saraf from Greater Shepparton Secondary College among those pictured.

Multicultural communities need to be part of Victoria’s flood emergency plans, leaders say

Reporting on the flood response includes Hussam’s work helping Arabic-speaking residents reach safety and understand emergency information.

Read the source ↗Republished by Ethnic Council · 22 October 2022 ↗

‘We’d have lost lives’: absence of translators in Shepparton flood response criticised

Caitlin Cassidy reports on Hussam’s interpreting assistance during the Shepparton floods and a WhatsApp group sharing information in community languages. The report highlights the need for accessible emergency communication.

Flood response in the national news

Follow-up reporting mentions Hussam’s Arabic emergency updates.

Fears flood response leaving multicultural communities behind

The report features Hussam Saraf, GSSC Multicultural Liaison Officer, and Betul Tuna of the Ethnic Council of Greater Shepparton. It examines gaps in flood safety messaging and volunteer support for migrant and non-English-speaking communities.

Morning Mail: translator drought in flood zones

The morning briefing highlighted Shepparton’s reliance on community volunteers during the flood emergency.

Saved Morning Mail headline ↗

Sharing emergency information across languages

The supplied excerpts name Hussam Saraf and describe his use of WhatsApp to pass emergency information to more than 1,500 people. The three mastheads are preserved in the screenshot archive.

Brisbane Times excerpt ↗
Sydney Morning Herald excerpt ↗

Multicultural communities and flood emergency planning · Video interview

Hussam discusses language access during the flood emergency. The official ABC NEWS (Australia) Dailymotion upload identifies his role at GSSC. A supplied screenshot also records the ABC video displayed by The Korea Herald.

Korea Herald display · saved screenshot ↗
Dailymotion interview screenshot ↗

Encouraging COVID-19 vaccination

Hussam’s English-language community message encourages people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Published in 2022, the video documents his outreach during the pandemic.

Supporting families in lockdown

Hussam discusses translation and families’ practical needs.

Rolling coverage: ADF support and culturally appropriate care

The 7.30 am update credits Hussam with supplying photographs of ADF personnel arriving in Shepparton. A separate 1.20 pm update on culturally appropriate care refers to his earlier comments about language support.

Read the culturally appropriate care update ↗
27 August personal update ↗
“Today’s and yesterday’s updates” post ↗

Getting vital information to families

An audio report featuring Hussam on the effort to communicate COVID-19 information across Shepparton’s diverse community.

Sharing vital COVID-19 info throughout Shepparton’s Iraqi community

Monique Preston’s report follows Hussam “Samy” Saraf as he shares Arabic-language information during Shepparton’s COVID-19 outbreak. The story also appeared in Shepparton News’ rolling coverage that day.

Shepparton Muslim community celebrate Eid al-Adha

Hussam explains Eid al-Adha’s traditions of family, sharing and helping people in need, and reflects on the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on community celebrations.

Community context →

Community Leadership Program participants graduate

The council reported the graduation of 17 participants at the Carrington Hotel in Shepparton. Hussam’s certificate and photographs document his completion of the 2017 program.

Read the council’s graduation news ↗Explore the launch, dinner and graduation photographs →

Ask the Cows: a team project for belonging

The council’s announcement features Ask the Cows, the children’s picture storybook developed through the 2017 Community Leadership Program. Hussam contributed as a member of the project team.

Read the council announcement ↗Explore the project and photographs →My Facebook memories ↗

Most grafted tree with five fruits

The 2024 and 2025 editions name Hussam Saraf in its Living Things section, recording his five-fruit grafting achievement in Kialla on 6 October 2021.

Open the record book ↗2025 edition · Page 23 ↗

A place in UPI’s Australian roundup

Hussam’s fruit-tree achievement appears among unusual stories from Australia.

This Huge Strawberry Just Broke A World Record

A feature about unusual fruit records includes a section on Hussam’s 2021 grafting achievement and his explanation of the tree as a symbol of multicultural community.

A gardening story shared in Canada

The Down Under Club of Winnipeg’s newsletter includes Hussam’s tree in its news from Australia.

The man who set a Guinness record for creating a tree with 10 types of fruit

A feature about Hussam’s grafted tree discusses the combination of fruit varieties and his message of respect between cultures. The article spells his name “Husam Saraf”.

World record win for master local grafter

The local newspaper reports Hussam’s grafting achievement and the tree’s message of peaceful coexistence. The article uses the spelling “Hassam Saraf”.

The weekly weird

A newspaper roundup features Hussam’s multi-fruit tree.

The record tree in The Sprout

The closing “The Kicker” section of this agriculture roundup mentions Hussam Saraf’s Guinness recognition and links to CBC’s reporting on his tree’s ten fruit varieties from five species.

A remarkable tree in StrangeSights

The magazine’s roundup includes Hussam’s achievement in grafting different fruit species onto one tree.

Gardner Claims Guinness World Record for 10 Types of Fruits in a Single Tree

A report on Hussam Saraf’s grafting achievement and the distinction between fruit species and varieties.

The record reaches readers in Nigeria

Reporting on Hussam’s tree and its recognition by Guinness World Records.

Australian Gardener’s Fruit Tree Claims World Record

Coverage of Hussam Saraf’s grafted fruit tree, drawing on ABC and Shepparton News reporting.

1 Tree 10 different fruits, Australian gardener claims Guinness World

A report on Hussam Saraf’s grafted tree, Guinness recognition and its message of peaceful coexistence.

Koala tartan and fruit salad tree

This children’s news episode introduces Hussam Saraf’s multi-fruit tree and explains grafting for young listeners. The accompanying transcript describes his gardening interests and includes a fruit-related quiz. Its world-record reference reflects the report’s account at the time.

Backyard gardener claims world record for tree bearing 10 different fruits

The fruit industry publication shares coverage of Hussam’s Shepparton garden and grafting work, crediting The Guardian as its source.

Australian gardener claims Guinness World for growing 10 different fruits on one tree

The Indian publication reports on Hussam’s Shepparton garden, the fruit species and varieties on his tree, and its message of peaceful coexistence.

3 Record-Breaking Australian Trees

An arborist business blog includes Hussam Saraf’s multi-fruit tree in a roundup of Australian trees, describing its five species, ten varieties and message of cultural coexistence.

Kialla gardener earns Guinness recognition

Local reporting explains the record: ten varieties on one tree, recognised as five distinct fruit species.

Fruit of the Spirit: a grafting record in a learning resource

A youth small-group resource includes a quiz question naming Hussam and the five fruit types grafted onto his tree. The reference appears in Session Two, within a discussion of patience and self-control.

A record through grafting

Hussam’s tree symbolises coexistence.

Read ↗Live blog · 11 November 2021, 16:16 AEDT ↗Also published through inkl ↗

Australia gardener’s tree grows five different species of fruit

News coverage of Hussam Saraf’s Guinness recognition for five fruit species on one tree.

Read / watch ↗Also in KHQ’s Mad Minute · US television station website ↗

Around the Traps

A local news roundup includes Hussam’s attempt to grow a record-breaking fruit tree.

Growing a tree with ten fruit varieties

A feature about Hussam’s grafting experiments and his record attempt, published before the achievement was announced.

Digging for more

A follow-up on Hussam’s gardening ambitions after his world-record achievement.

رحلة التطعيم من العراق إلى رقم غينيس

يتناول تقرير طه العاني شغف حسام الصراف بالزراعة وتطوير مهاراته في تطعيم الأشجار، ورحلته إلى موسوعة غينيس في أستراليا. ويبرز الصبر والتجربة والبحث، والمعنى الذي يربطه حسام بين تنوع الثمار والتعايش بين الثقافات.

اقرأ التقرير ↗المزيد عن البستنة والتطعيم ←تغطية بالنص نفسه في وكالة تنوع نيوز · ١٩ ديسمبر ٢٠٢١ ↗إعادة نشر: قناة الغدير · العراق، ١٩ ديسمبر ٢٠٢١ ↗

إنجاز زراعي يصل إلى القرّاء العرب

تغطية لشجرة حسام متعددة الفواكه والمعنى الذي يربطه بالتنوع والتعايش.

شجرة واحدة وقصة نجاح

تغطية في صحيفة المدى العراقية عن خلفية حسام الزراعية وإنجازه في موسوعة غينيس.

شجرة حسام الصراف ودخول موسوعة غينيس

تقرير بالعربية عن الشجرة المطعّمة والرقم القياسي، أعيد نشره على قناة Hussam Saraf Gardens Journey.

تقرير الجزائر ١ عن شجرة حسام الصراف وغينيس

تقرير قصير عن الشجرة المطعّمة والإنجاز، أعيد نشره على قناة حسام الصراف.

شجرة التعايش السلمي وإنجاز غينيس

تقرير بالعربية مع نصوص إنجليزية عن الشجرة ورسالة التعايش، أعيد نشره على قناة حسام الصراف.

بستاني يدخل موسوعة غينيس بإنتاجه شجرة تحمل خمسة أنواع من الفاكهة

مقطع قصير عن حسام الصراف وشجرته متعددة الثمار.

حصاد عام 2021: إنجاز حسام ضمن الأرقام القياسية

تقرير سنوي لريهام عبد الله يجمع إنجازات مختلفة سُجّلت خلال عام ٢٠٢١، ويخصص فقرة لشجرة حسام صراف وتنوع ثمارها ورسالة التعايش المرتبطة بها.

رجل يدخل موسوعة جينيس بشجرة تثمر 5 أنواع فاكهة

تقرير عن إنجاز حسام في تطعيم الأشجار، يربط تنوع ثمار الشجرة برسالته عن التعايش، ويتناول خلفيته العراقية وعمله في شيبرتون.

عراقي يدخل موسوعة جينيس بشجرة تثمر 5 فواكه

يتناول التقرير إنجاز حسام وخلفيته الزراعية منذ الدراسة في العراق، ويربط تجربة الشجرة بعمله مع المجتمع المدرسي المتعدد الثقافات.

الشجرة العجيبة تدخل بستانيا سجل غينيس

خبر أردني عن تجربة حسام صراف الزراعية، يتناول تنوع الثمار في شجرته ورسالتها في الجمع بين الاختلاف والعيش المشترك.

رجل يدخل غينيس بشجرة تُثمر 5 أنواع فاكهة

مادة عن حسام صراف وإنجازه الزراعي وعمله مع المجتمع المتعدد الثقافات. جُمعت هنا النسخ المتشابهة المنشورة في مصر اليوم والمغرب اليوم والعرب اليوم.

اقرأ المادة ↗المغرب اليوم · ١٣ نوفمبر ٢٠٢١ ↗العرب اليوم · ١٨ أبريل ٢٠٢٢ ↗

رجل يدخل موسوعة جينيس بشجرة تثمر 5 أنواع من الفاكهة

قصاصة من صحيفة الوطن البحرينية تتناول تجربة حسام صراف في تطعيم شجرة متعددة الفواكه. محفوظة في الصفحة ١١ من ملف الرصد الصحفي للهيئة الوطنية لتنظيم المهن والخدمات الصحية في البحرين.

أسترالي من أصل عراقي يدخل موسوعة غينيس

تغطية عراقية لإنجاز حسام صراف في أستراليا، تتناول تطعيم الشجرة ومعنى التعايش السلمي الذي يربطه بتنوع ثمارها.

اقرأ المادة ↗صياغة مرتبطة: العرب اليوم · ١٣ نوفمبر ٢٠٢١ ↗

شجرة التعايش السلمي

خبر في النسخة المطبوعة لصحيفة الجمهورية يذكر حسام صراف وإنجاز شجرته في فيكتوريا، ويبرز تعبيره عن التعايش واحترام الاختلاف.

بالصور.. أسترالي من أصل عراقي يدخل موسوعة «غينيس» بسبب شجرة

تقرير مصوّر على موقع NRT يذكر حسام الصراف في فيكتوريا، ويعرض إنجازه الزراعي ورسالته عن التعايش السلمي، نقلاً عن الغارديان.

أسترالي يدخل موسوعة «غينيس» بجعله شجرة تثمر خمسة أنواع مختلفة من الفاكهة

خبر يذكر حسام الصراف بالاسم، ويتناول تطعيم شجرته في فيكتوريا وفكرة التعايش بين الثقافات، استناداً إلى تغطية الغارديان.

شجرة عجيبة تثمر 5 أنواع مختلفة من الفاكهة بأستراليا

خبر عن شجرة حسام صراف في ولاية فيكتوريا ونجاحه في تطعيمها بثمار متنوعة، مع الإشارة إلى رسالته عن الاحترام والتعايش في مجتمع متعدد الثقافات.

شجرة عجيبة تدخل رجلًا سجل غينيس

تغطية لبنانية لشجرة حسام صراف متعددة الثمار، تستند إلى تقرير غارديان وتعرض دلالة الشجرة على التعايش واحترام الاختلاف.

بستاني أسترالي يكشف عن شجرة تنتج 5 أنواع من الفاكهة

تقرير مصوّر يذكر حسام صراف بالاسم ويتناول نجاح تجربة التطعيم في حديقته. ينسب الخبر إلى سكاي نيوز نقلاً عن غارديان.

10 ثمار مختلفة على شجرة واحدة في أستراليا

تقرير عراقي عن شجرة حسام صراف متعددة الفواكه، وتجربته في التطعيم، والرسالة التي يربط بها التنوع النباتي بالتعايش بين الثقافات. ينقل الخبر عن صحيفة الغارديان.