Keynotes
- Leaving Iraq
- Work career
- Running own business
- Contribution to the community
Due to continuous government changes in Iraq since it has become a republic, and the violence associated with those changes, the economic and political situation was worsening. This made John Esho, a young first-year university student to decide to leave Iraq and head to Australia in 1971.
John in his university year in Baghdad Source: JE.jpg
A travel agent in Baghdad advised John to apply for a visa to Australia through British Embassy in Beirut-Lebanon, and he did so.
In a short period, John’s visa to Australia was ready for him in Beirut. He booked his ticket and flew to Lebanon. On his first day of arrival, he visited the British Embassy to collect his visa.
His travel agent from Baghdad has already booked his ticket to Australia. On the second day, John was in the plane for his new home.
At the start, John lived in Melbourne as his Brother Alex was already there. John stayed in Melbourne for three months, then he decided to live in Sydney.
John’s first job was at Malley appliances factory, where some 50 Assyrians worked there.
During the two years in the factory, John always tried to apply for better jobs than a factory process worker.
Mr Esho says that he liked the challenge of applying and getting better jobs, he knew he will lose nothing by applying, at the worse, his application will be unsuccessful.
But this attitude, made him realise, what does an employer wants to hear?
In 1973 he saw an add for a job at ANZ bank. John was living in the western suburb city of Fairfield. When he went for the bank job interview, he told the manager that the Assyrian community is growing in the area and the bank needs someone who can speak the language. John was hired as a bank clerk.
Mr Eshoin a jesting manner said, “the position was below a teller’s position, but was better than process worker, because this time, I am wearing a tie”.
His work in the ANZ bank was the beginning of his banking career. He started moving up in different banking positions. He was exposed to the international money markets.
The five years period spent at ANZ bank was good enough to boost his knowledge and experience to further expands his career.
In 1978 he went to Kuwait and started working there in treasury matters and specifically in the foreign exchange and money market.
In 1985 the Australian government under the Prime Minister’s then Paul Keating, deregulated the Australian market and floated the Australian dollar. This triggered the need for money experts in the money market in Australia.
John Esho with colleagues in Kuwait Source: JE.jpg
Due to his experience in money exchange in Kuwait, and while on a holiday break in Sydney, John applied for a position in a Dutch Bank in Sydney, he was immediately and over the phone offered the job. He discussed the matter with his family and decided to leave Kuwait and live in Australia again.
After few years, John and his brothers opened a Retravision appliances store in Fairfield.
John during his years with AMRO Bank Source: JE.jpg
Through this business, John contributed so much to the Assyrian community.
In the early nineties, many Assyrian refugee families arrived in Sydney, They all wanted to establish a new home and needed household appliances and furniture. Unfortunate to them, they had no credit history, and most were depending on social welfare payment. It was almost impossible to get credit.
John started offering credit with no interest, no guarantor, no security to every family that walked in the store and asked for credit.
Although this was good to grow his business, at the same time it was the biggest risk he and his brothers took. John says sometimes, we had credit mounting over a hundred thousand dollars from our customers, many of them paid it off, and very few defaulted,
Looking back, He says he never regretted that decision because that helped many people to settle in Australia.
John added,”When I look back and reflect on those times, and when I see some people I helped to settle, and now they are successful in their life, it makes me feel proud and honoured to have served my community”.
When asked how does he see his connection to Australia? Mr Esho says that Australia is a paradise, it is a land of opportunity, safety, and prosperity. He says he loves Australia and he always values his choice to migrate here. But his philosophy is “Australia is a five-star hotel, with luxury, comfort, and beauty, but still, it is not home, your place of birth is your home”.
John Esho today Source: JE.jpg
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