March 2023 Holi Edition of Desi Australia Monthly Magazine

FESTIVAL OF COLOURS

Oh behalf of the South Australian Government, I would like to wish everyone celebrating Holi a year filled with love, joy, peace and prosperity.

The Festival of Colours is a wonderful opportunity for the broader community to embrace another culture and enhance their understanding of multicultural Australia.

DOMINIC PERROTTET MARK COURE MP

TINA AYYAD HOLSWORTHY KATIE MULLENS PARRAMATTA

ANTHONY ROBERTS MP LANE COVE

MOHIT KUMAR RIVERSTONE

THERESE FEDELI LEPPINGTON

SAMANTHA TALAKOLA LONDONDERRY

MP

PUBLISHER

Desi Media Group (Desi Australia Pty Ltd)

Editor-in-chief

Arti Banga

NSW Editor:

Harmohan Walia

Sales and Marketing:

Dimple Deez

Hello Everyone,

As we enter the Multicultural March we will have wide range of activities and events celebrating cultural diversity.

Multicultural March is the initiative of the NSW State Government and is a symbol of its determina -

Holi Hai!!!

By: Sheetal Puri

Holi a festival filled with hues

The emergence of Holi festival is believed to be before the Christ. Historians also count on that the Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the eastern part of India. Although the festival is mostly celebrated in India and Nepal, it has also spread to other parts of Asia and the western world through migration from the Indian subcontinent. Holi festival is popular around the world. You can participate in this celebration in cities like New York, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Sydney, Vancouver and many others in the world.

Holi is celebrated by almost all religions in India with lots of pomp and show due to its phenomenal fun and anarchic atmosphere. It is celebrated on the Purnima of Hindu Lunar calendar in the month of Phalgun. Holi is celebrated most of the time in the end of February or early

March. It foreshadows the arrival of spring season and celebrates the end of winter season. This year the festival of Holi is commencing on 18th MARCH, 2022.

Looking into the present scenario let the colours of Holi spread the message of peace and happiness this year and for the coming years.

Mythological significance

Holi is not just a fiesta of colours and a feast of sweets. Holi like all other festivals also has its fair part of legendary significance. It reminds us of the divine and eternal love of Lord

Krishna and Radha. Lord Krishna is associated with play of colours as he applied colour on his beloved Radha and other Gopis. Gradually, the play was vogued with the people and became a tradition. Therefore, Holi festival demands love and respect in the relationships.

It also reminds us one of the most remarked mythology characters Narashima, Prahlad, Hiranyakashyapa and demoness Holika. Hiranyakashyapa wanted everyone to worship only him and not to his brother Lord Vishnu. Unfortunately, his son Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Narashima(half man and half lion). Hiranyakashyapa commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon that she could enter fire without harming herself. However, she was not aware that the boon worked only if she enters alone in the fire. As the result, she paid a price for her minacious desires, while Prahlad was saved by the grace of the God for his extreme devotion. The festival, therefore,

celebrates the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion.

Holi Hai….

The predominantly stimulating part is how this festival is celebrated. One day prior to Holi festival, people meet in open areas and gather around the Holika

HAPPY Holi

powdered colours at each other. As the ‘battle of colours’ wrap up, everyone gets indulged in intoxicating drinks and mouth-watering delicacies. The people together dance to the rhythm of musical instruments like dhol, drums and loud music. In the later evening, people get dressed up to visit their friends and relatives and exchange sweets with each

Holi gives the appearance of the rainbow on the Earth instead of its formation high in the sky. Let’s join hand in hand on this Holi and bring peace from the white colour; gather power from the red colour; enhance knowledge from the yellow colour; boost growth and development from the green colour; motivate ourselves to achieve success from the orange colour and spread love everywhere from the pink colour.

Holi in Australia

Being a multicultural society, we are bound to

celebrate Holi. Here, many of these festivals are funded by local councils as well as state governments. Not only do people participate in the throwing of colours but there are also various food stalls and dance performance to keep everyone entertained throughout the day.

The great thing about living in a multicultural society is that all celebrations are inclusive regardless of race meaning anyone can come along and celebrate such a wonderful tradition.

Tips on going to Holi Festivals

Here are a few tips to enjoy Holi to its fullest. Wear white clothing! This has to be the most important tip. Wearing white clothing is part of the tradition and allows the colours to be shown more vividly.

Wear comfortable shoes. The only reason is that you’re most likely going to be jumping around and dancing, so you want to make sure your feet are okay so you don’t miss out on the fun.

Have fun. Holi festivals are a great way to meet new people and connect with your

Mayor Ned Mannoun

Wishing you and your family a happy and colourful Holi

FESTIVAL OF COLOURS

friends. Make sure you take photos and don’t be afraid to loosen up and enjoy the moment.

Holi is such a beautiful tradition Indians have and it’s absolutely amazing to

see that it celebrated all around the world with many countries and regions including their own little twist. So how are you celebrating Holi this year?

Festival of India Cultural Mesmerizing performances

By: Dr Sakul Kundra

Fiji is known as the island of happiness, music and relaxation. Music has no boundaries and language, connects people and establishes love and friendship. This was witnessed by Fiji by the ongoing Festival of India Cultural Show in Fiji which presented vibrant and colourful performances to catch the heart and eyes of audiences. This was organized by Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center at India in Fiji (High Commission of India, Suva).

The opening speech was given by the Hon High Commissioner of India to Fiji, P.S. Karthigeyan, who congratulated all for successfully stakeholders for the very successful 12th World Hindi Conference jointly organized by the Government of India and the Government of Fiji, from 15-17 February 2023, at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach, Denarau Island Convention Centre in Nadi. Over one thousand participated from across the globe to be part of this prestigious international event. There were ten parallel sessions and representatives from 50 countries participated in the World Hindi Conference. The theme of the WHC was “Hindi – Traditional Knowledge to Artificial Intelligence”. Hindi lovers from across the globe discussed various aspects for the wide publicity of Hindi.

WHC was inaugurated by the President of

Enthralling musicalcultural show joined hearts and boosted harmony. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow words

“Music is the universal language of mankind”, came into reality in Fiji which is known as the Pacific Paradise.

Cultural Show: performances

The cultural and dance performances help to establish cultural ties. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations Cultural Troupes came from India to showcase mesmerizing performances. This op-ed gives a standing ovation to the performers who captured the moment and connected to the live audiences.

Fiji, His Excellency Hon President, Ratu

Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere and Hon’ble External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar. This high profile International Conference was attended by the Hon Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, three deputy Prime Ministers, Hon. Bill Gavoka, Hon Biman Prasad, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica. Many Fiji’s Members of Parliament Hon. Aseri Radrodro, Hon. Agni Deo Singh and Hon. Charan Jeath Singh participated in the event and added grandeur to the event of WHC.

Musical Performances at WHC and Cultural Show

Many cultural groups gave the musical performance in Fiji. A. K Divine group from Mumbai, a group of performers who performed live on old and new Bollywood songs to establish great chemistry with the audiences. Another performance was done by Geetanjali Sharma performance the folk exponent and Kathak dancer of Jaipur Gharana made spellbound by the fascinating spectacle or performance.

One of the performances was Bharatanaty-

am performance of Kalinga Nartana, which is a popular composition of Purandara Dasa selected verses of the compositions are taken to show little Krishana dances on the hood of the poisonous snake Kalinga. It witnessed the way baby Krishna defends and flights with the snake, all the asuras flee away in fear and the Nagakkannikas beg for his mercy in all forms.

The next performance was by Mohinioyattam performance which was led by Pallavi Krishnan who performed Ganapati Vandana, where dancers seek blessings from Lord Ganapati to remove all the obstacles. Last but not least was the energetic Bagga Lok Nach Academy dance group from Patiala performed on fold dances of Punjab such as Jindua, Jhoomer and Bhangra. Their performance and bhangra moves showcase the culture of Punjab in Fiji.

These cultural performances by Indian artists

in Fiji were thoroughly enjoyed by Fiji’s audience. Music and dance connect people and establish harmony. The same message was given by Fiji’s President at WHC, who said “when it comes to entertainment, Bollywood movies are favourite as Fijians love to watch Bollywood films accompanied by singalongs, laughter, and dance”. Thus, unity in diversity is the notion of a message adopting the many nations that have cultural diversity.

Conclusion

Fijians were mesmerized by the musical and cultural performance at the Festival of India Cultural Show. These events have happened in the past and hopefully shall continue in future to establish close cultural ties between Fiji and India. These events strengthen the harmony and friendship among both nations. The audience must have felt delighted to witness the ecstatic

experience at this spectacular extravaganza of cultural performances.

Disclaimer: Dr Sakul Kundra is an Associate Dean, Research and Assistant Professor at the College of Humanities and Education, at Fiji National University. The views expressed are his own and not of this newspaper or his employer. Email dr.sakulkundra@ gmail.com

Cumberland Council would like to wish all those who are celebrating, a Happy Holi Festival.

Holi is a special time and most joyous festival in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, and celebrates divine and eternal love.

May this festival colour your life and bring you joy, wealth, love and celebrations and remove sorrow and sadness from your life.

Best wishes to you and your families.

Has anyone experienced the Mathura Holi? It is a lifetime experience for believers. Celebrated on the ghats of Mathura – the birthplace of Lord Krishna, you will experience a week long, wildest, yet colorful and sensible revelry.

It is in Mathura, where Radha-Krishna love bloomed. Legend has it that Krishna was jealous of Radha’s fairness and used to complain about his ‘dusky’ face to his mother. It was to balance the skin tones of each other that he used to throw colours at Radha and paint her face with multiple colours.

This has now become a tradition and has only evolved to be a more colourful and wild lathmar Holi. With sticks, shields, colours, and canons of water, there is no better place to celebrate Holi, than where it originated from.

So, while we are prepping to celebrate this most loved festival this year we present to you one of many Holi delicacies, Urad Dal Kachori with UP style Aloo sabzi( Dubki waale)

Ingredients and instructions for Potato curry:

1. 4 boiled potatoes – Drain, peel, crumble by hand and Set aside.

2. In a deep saucepan, heat 1tbs ghee. Add a pinch of asoefetida. After it sizzles, add 1tsp dry fenugreek, 1/4tsp turmeric powder, 1/2tsp chilli powder, 1tsp cumin powder, 1/2tsp fennel seeds and 1tsp coriander powder. Fry for 1 minute.

3. To this add 1 “ piece of ginger finely chopped and cook for another 1 minute. Then add, 1 large chopped tomato and 2 tbs roasted besan. Cook until tomato turns mushy.

4. Now add the crumbled potatoes, 1/2tsp dry fenugreek, 1/2tsp garam masala and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. To this, add 1tsp dried mango powder and salt to taste. Cook for 1 more minute.

5. Finally add 2tbsp of finely chopped cilantro and stir to combine and set aside to serve with the kachories later.

Ingredients and Instructions for the Kachori dough:

1. In a large mixing bowl take 1 cup all purpose flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt.

2. To this, add 3 tablespoons ghee and com-

Holi Special

bine the mixture well.

3. Then add enough water (little at a time) to make a soft dough.

4. Cover with a moist cloth and keep aside for 30 minutes.

Ingredients and Instructions for the Urad

Dal Kachori filling:

1. Rinse and soak ½ cup urad dal in water for 3 to 4 hours or overnight. Drain and Grind well to get a coarse paste (You can add about 2tbsp of water). Keep the paste aside.

2. Heat ½ tablespoon ghee in a pan. Add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds and let them sizzle.

3. Then add 1 teaspoon chopped ginger, 1 teaspoon chopped green chilli. Mix for 1 minute.

4. Keep the flame to a low and add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon red chilli powder, ½ teaspoon coriander powder, pinch of asafoetida (hing), ½ teaspoon crushed fennel seeds or fennel powder.

5. To this add the urad dal paste and salt to taste.

6. Mix again and with frequent stirring cook the urad dal paste till it thickens and dries a bit.

7. Then make small balls from the urad dal

mixture.

Instructions for making urad dal kachori

1. Spread some oil on the dough and make the same number of round pastries (5 to 6 inches in width) from the dough per year dal mixture balls.

2. Flatten the stuffing and then place it on the pastries.

3. Pleat and join the edges bringing them to the center.

4. Press the top and seal the edges properly.

5. Prepare all kachoris this way. Keep them in a large plate covered with a moist kitchen cloth.

6. Once done, Heat oil for deep frying in a pan.

7. Gently place the kachoris in the hot oil. Fry at a low-medium or medium flame until golden brown on both sides.

Serve hot with the Potato curry. While celebrating Holi this year, let us remember to stay safe yet remembering all the different significance of this festival like victory of good over evil, meeting others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships.

Wishing you a Safe and Happy Holi!

WISHING EVERYONE A

Happy Holi from our homes to yours ...

May you all have colourful and joyful celebrations.

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By: Poornima Menon

For A Gender Equal Future

Gender neutral, gender equity, equal rights and renumerations, well the fight for these simple and basic rights has been going on for years. It has indeed become a difficult problem that needs a lasting and sustainable solution, and it is indeed a mystery that in the year 2023 we are talking about a society that is not gender neutral! It is astonishing and disappointing that women are still being under paid when compared to their male counter parts. And they continue to advocate for equal pay, against gender discrimination and for an end

to violence against them. Added to these are the injustices faced by migrant women, women of colour, transgender women and other marginalised groups.

It is not stagnation. There have been changes but these are not as fast paced, or revolutionary compared to the other changes happening around us. The world has seen and has been impressed by many powerful, strong and innovative female leaders. These are ‘some’ women and yet when it comes to ‘all’ women we are nowhere close to establishing gender parity on

What does it mean “to crack the code”? An internet search will tell you it means “to solve a difficult problem or mystery”. The UN International Women’s Day theme for 2023 is “Cracking the Code for a Gender-Neutral Future”.

Kiran-Goli

the basis of merit and credit for work done. The gender gap in technology is narrowing, but not at the pace technology is changing and evolving. How are the women meant to keep up and match the pace? There are very few women in leadership positions in technology driven businesses. Leaders seem to overlook the fact that women bring diversity of thought and different perspectives that can be beneficial and give the business a competitive edge.

If one were to look at the statistics, it has a very interesting tale to tell. The lack of women in STEM fields is definitely not due to lack of skill. In high school girls on an average are equal to or better than the boys when it comes to achievements in Mathematics, a subject that is seen as key for success in STEM fields. In high schools the girls hold themselves to a higher standard

that Science and Math fields are for boys and humanities and arts fields are for girls. Moreover, in the South Asian communities, predominantly in India, the girl who picks up Science-based subjects is inclined to pursue the study of Medicine. Research indicates that only around 20% women pursue degrees in the fields of computer sciences, engineering and physical sciences.

Conversations about tech companies and successful tech entrepreneurs are dominated by men. There are more male role models which could be another reason why we see fewer women entering this field. Women in leadership positions in science and engineering companies have only marginally grown in the last two decades, and there is an urgency for these numbers to increase at a dramatic pace. Interestingly enough, when you try to visualise a tech nerd, the image of a man with glasses, with unruly or oily hair glued to a computer screen pops into your head. In the area of online gaming too, the perception is that it is a man’s domain, while the reality is that there has been a signifi cant increase in the number of women gamers. Reports say that ‘WeAreTechWomen’ had reported that 75% of women in tech feel like there is lack of support and respect from their male colleagues. It is concerning that two-thirds of those who responded said they felt ignored during work meetings. Accenture and Girls who Code, led a study which showed that 50% of women abandon technology careers by the age of 35 and that women are leaving tech roles at a 45% higher rate than men. Only 21% of women in the study said they believed the technology industry was a place they could thrive.

Everything begins at the top – the growth and the downfall. Toxic cultures, ‘boys’ club’ mentality, female colleagues not taken seriously can greatly harm a business. Many of us know of what happened with Uber in 2017-2018. The senior leaders in tech companies and leading tech companies should take the initiative to lead from the front and offer appropriate training and internship for female candidates. By making female role models more accessible they can help make new female employees feel comfortable and welcomed. All female employees should have a career progression plan with regular in-service and training like their male Promotions be genderAt a more level, it is that women from ‘low income’ and ‘less developed’ strata of the society are educated and made aware of the hazards of technology. Otherwise they will become more vulnerable to online predators, thus increasing sexual exploitation.

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day 2023 and ‘Cracking the Code’, I spoke with five women who work in the fields of technology in diverse areas, to get sone firsthand account of their experiences. Each of them has had different experiences, some negative, some positive and some a combination of the two. Sonali Saxena says, “Working in tech operations across Australia has given me a deep insight into the challenges faced by a CALD woman. There is a stereotype in

Abhilasha Thakur

Sonali Saxena

CALD women and that they are typically submissive, good at admin roles and usually comply. I am proud of my identity and help people know more about the women in STEM in India and their achievements in tech operations. I am lucky that a lot of women in tech at my workplace are from diverse backgrounds and are delivering on what I preach”. According to Pooja Sethi, “My career in technology was not easy initially. I faced challenges, but the troubles were even more as a woman. If you had been with me, you would have seen how discrimination came to me. Excluded from the discussions which used to happen in the smoking zones where male counterparts used to make strategies for owning the work they may not have done. However, I was determined to take a stand for myself and other women. Eventually, I gained my well-deserved respect and inclusion”. Abhilasha Thakur, a Business and IT Project Manager remarks, “Being in the IT industry for almost 2 decades, I’ve lived experiences from being valued for the contributions I made, to being ignored for being the only female in the room. In my opinion, we need more Allies, as they understand the need

to make a change and are supportive of the change. Equity is not achieved overnight; it needs constant reminders that there is work to be done and each one in the room is responsible to make the Change happen. Here’s to be able to Crack the Code”. Yamini Hemanth considers herself quite fortunate. “Each of the companies did their best to support me, whether letting me work from another location post maternity leave and giving me a promotion right after my return to work or whether taking voting of leadership team members if I was justified for a promotion right when I went into my second maternity leave. I was always given equal opportunities by my immediate managers, even during my very evident pregnancies. With every job having a limited tenure (as married to a Naval officer), I could go about giving my best and pushing to support the right practices and calling out when something didn’t seem right”, she said. Kiran Goli hit the nail on the head when she remarked, “Although companies boast about how they promote gender equality, women typically need to work harder than men to climb the corporate ladder. For example, Tech roles need support outside work hours, and I couldn’t do that because of family reasons, which resulted in slow growth. In one of my previous places of work, there was an informal Men’s Club who supported and promoted each other. These issues are more prevalent in the private sector, as they have even less of a reason to promote gender equality and instead push for profits over inclusion. From my experience, it’s not enough for companies to advocate women empowerment, it must be advocated right from school curriculum. Talent must be recognised irrespective of gender. It took a long time for me to get to an Architect’s role as there are absolutely no women Architects in my team”.

The United Nations release states that the observance of International Women’s Day this year “recognizes and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education. IWD 2023 will explore the impact

of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities. The event will also spotlight the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence”. The various events celebrated across the globe will endeavour to bring together both male and female voices of technologists, innovators and entrepreneurs to start a conversation, to begin a discussion about improving accessibility of digital tools and not limiting them based on gender. Any conversation about making changes to the way women are perceived, treated and included is incomplete without the participation of men. In yester years, people spoke about ‘cracking the whip’ when things were not done right and to elicit good behaviour and better work. Let us get to ‘cracking the code’ without ‘cracking the whip’!! Happy International Women’s Day to all the women and those extraordinary

Pooja Sethi

Yamini Hemanth

NEW DEPUTY MAYOR FOR CITY OF RYDE

As a leader and strategic marketer within the pharmaceutical industry, Clr Deshpande has won innovation awards for lateral thinking and pro-

viding solutions to effectively manage cross-functional teams. She holds an MBA and an undergraduate degree in English Literature.

Clr Deshpande said she was honoured to be elected as Deputy Mayor for the City of Ryde.

“As a local mum of two kids, I am a strong advocate for community safety and will continue to work collaboratively with our Mayor, fellow Councillors and staff to build a sustainable City that holds promise for this generation and beyond”, Clr Deshpande said.

City of Ryde Mayor Clr Sarkis Yedelian OAM congratulated Clr Deshpande on her election.

“It is a great privilege to have Clr Deshpande serving as Deputy Mayor. Her education, skills and experience are a great asset to our City. She has already achieved a significant amount since her election to Council in 2021 including under former Mayor Clr Jordan Lane, and I look forward to furthering our progressive reform agenda together”, he said.

Central Ward councillor Clr Shweta Deshpande was voted City of Ryde’s Deputy Mayor during an open vote held at a Council meeting held yesterday evening.

The first Deputy Mayor of South East

Asian heritage, Clr Deshpande will serve in the role until September 2023.

RydeIndian hosted the Holi Festival Colours Sunday at Anderson

The Ryde Indian Group has been active in organzing community events and on Sunday 5th March, they celebrated Holi. City of Ryde’s sub-continental community joined millions of Hindus around the world on the weekend in colour-packed Holi celebrations marking the start of the Indian spring. Blessed with clear skies, excited crowds came in droves to Anderson Park, Ryde to participate in Holi, the most exuberant of northern Indian festival

This event was an oppotunity for people to learn more about Indian culture. The rich cultural values that migrant communities bring with them is something that needs to be celebrated. When we’re covered in colours, our differences no longer matter.

Activities on the day included colour throwing, water pistols, dancing to Bollywood music and eating Indian delicacies. While a portion of attendees were of Indian heritage, the majority was made up of diverse groups. It is RydeIndian mission to promote harmonious relationships between different communities

Victor Dominello along with Jordan Lane and rest of councillors looked pleased to be part of it all, honouring the festival and the community in their speech.

The colour-drenched audience got their chance at the end, as the dance floor beckoned.

The Mayor of the City of Ryde Council Clr Sarkis Yedelian OAM, Deputy Mayor Shweta Deshpande, Member of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales

Festival of Park, Ryde

An unforgettable theatre experience of five contemporary, original plays

Crossover Stories production house brought its maiden theatre event in Sydney. The five short plays are written by critically acclaimed writer Avijit Sarkar, curated by Taufeeq Sheikh, developed by five directors, and performed by 27 actors of diverse backgrounds. The production opened on 17th February for three shows only which were all sold out.

These stories aim at stimulating conversations around the evolving paradigms of marriage, sexuality, love, brotherhood, religion, and social cohesion through the lens of South Asian culture. With this production, Crossover Stories flirts with the definition of art as put by Ceaser A Cruz when he says, ‘Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.’

The five Australian directors bring their experienced observations on culture, religion, and social fabric into play in these crisp portrayals.

These five open-ended short plays are a perfect catalyst to reconnect with friends and family. Avijit Sarkar says, “These stories are an unadulterated telling of the political, religious and social dogmas prevalent in our society, yet with a humorous undertone.” Curator Taufeeq Sheikh adds, “These stories do come with certain risks associated but a greater risk is to not tell them. Crossover Stories aims at creating a safe space for storytellers to be unapologetically true to their expression.”

WISHING YOU A HAPPY HOLI!

Strathfield Council would like to extend their best wishes to everyone celebrating Holi festival. May the splash of colours bring joy to you and your family.

m your Councillors at Strathfield

strathfield.nsw.gov.au

Happy Holi! With the festival of colours, we celebrate the passing of the seasons and triumph of good over evil. On this special day, let’s remember the values of love, unity and respect that Holi embodies. May the vibrant hues of this festival brighten the year ahead with happiness and harmony. #Holi #festivalofcolours

(L-R) Cr Raj Datta, Cr Benjamin Cai, Cr Nella Hall, Cr Sandy Reddy, Mayor Matthew Blackmore, Deputy Mayor Karen Pensabene and Cr Sharangan Maheswaran

StrathfieldCouncil StrathfieldEvents

StrathfieldCouncil

StrathfieldTV StrathfieldMC

Trikone Australia

Sydney WorldPride 2023

By: Kunal Mirchandani

Days of torrential rain across Australia’s east coast has resulted in thousands of homes in New South Wales and Queensland being submerged by record-breaking flood waters.

Anyone who’s been around the city these past few weeks would no doubt have noticed that everything has been awash in rainbow colours. That’s because Sydney is hosting this year’s WorldPride festival,

Celebrations

a celebration of LGBTQ pride occurring in a different country every two years.

As if that wasn’t enough, the festival coincides with the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, resulting in a double celebration that over half a million people attended over two weeks.

The festival’s centrepiece was the annual Mardi Gras Parade along Oxford Street on Saturday, 25 February. While the parade moved to the SCG over the last two years due to COVID restrictions, this year marked its triumphant return to its roots along Oxford Street. And it was quite the spectacle, with over 12,500 participants from 210 different floats marching for acceptance and equality.

Anthony Albanese also became the first sitting Prime Minister to join the parade. He was joined by Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek and NSW Labor Party leader (and

likely future Premier) Chris Minns.

Indians (and, more broadly, South Asians) who identify as LGBTQ were well-represented in this year’s parade.

Trikone Australia, the country’s biggest support group for queer South Asians, marched with over 70 participants behind a colourful truck that featured two golden peacocks framing two same-sex couples.

In an atmosphere of doubt and hesitation, when young Indians in an immigrant country still struggle to find the right answers to domestic violence, abuse, dysfunctional marriages, sexual health and pleasurerelated questions, Dr Niveditha Manokaran is helping them unlearn and relearn. The Indianorigin dermatologist and venereologist is currently based out of Sydney. Her Instagram handle has close to 80,000 followers, and has transformed into a repository of authentic knowledge, shattering taboos and easy-toaccess support for youngsters and women.

Making a difference:

Dr Nive Manokaran

A ROAD LESS TAKEN

Dr Manokaran chose to take up dermatology as a career, despite being from a family of surgeons, due to a dual interest in skin and beauty. She started working in Sexual health when she moved to Sydney and stayed in the field due to her fascination and interest towards something so challenging and tabooed like sexual health. Down the line, her lived experience and her reflection on the needs of Indian society, especially the youth, prompted her to address sexual health and other awareness issues. The doctor understands how prejudiced and conservative Indians can be when it comes to open discussions on sex, abuse, domestic violence, mental health, divorce and so on. Recalling her experience as a medical trainee in India over a decade ago, she says, “We could not imagine asking any young, unmarried person who presents with an STI whether they are sexually active, without being judged or even crucified! I don’t think we ever did.” Asking the right questions on sexual history was taboo. Therefore, her choice of venturing into the sexual health domain for the same country astounded many.

GRADUALLY WIDENING ACCEPTANCE

Manokaranas booming Instagram account attempts to address the prevailing gap between Indian audiences and sexual healthcare professionals. Her short, fun videos often answer the most common yet unasked questions, urging youngsters to leave judgements behind when learning about their bodies and relationships better. The rapidly increasing number of followers of her Instagram page resonates with the gradually widening acceptance and discussions among Indians on many tabooed topics, including Domestiv Violence, abuse, divorce, and reproductive healthcare. They not just appreciate her original content but also interact with her regularly through shares, comments and private messages. Often, audience members ask questions directly to the doctor through Instagram Direct Messages (DMs) on masturbation. vaginal health, contraceptive devices, consent, and other tabooed subjects like DV and divorce and so on. She also receives queries on wider topics of feminism, divorce and more, which speak of the opening up of Indian youth to sensitive issues concerning their bodily autonomy, health and the society at large.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

“The reason I started this Instagram account was that I wanted to give back to the people of my motherland. What better way to do that than

to help create a safe space for discussions around age-old taboos that Indians are still struggling with.” says Dr Manokaran. It might take some more time, but we are on our way to establishing acceptance and empathy. She believes that her intentions have come to life only because of the digital revolution and the power of social media. Despite being based in Australia, Dr Manokaran is impacting countless lives in both Australia and her home country, miles away. “The more

we talk, the more we are working towards the eradication of taboos. And social media, with its interactive interface and multiple content formats, is helping make such discussions brief, enjoyable and impactful.,” the doctor says. “I do hope that someday I will be able to provide healthcare services and a safe space, as a sexual health physician in the country I was born and grew up in. Until then, I commit to using this platform to un-taboo.”

NSW Premier names 2023 Multicultural Champions

The Premier’s annual Harmony Dinner held last night Thursday 23 February at Sydney’s International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour

The selflessness, care and passion of 16 individuals and community organisations have been recognised at the Premier’s annual Harmony Dinner in Sydney last night. Of those recognised, 12 received a Premier’s Multicultural Community Medal and one Highly Commended award, while three new members were added to the Honour Roll.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said each of those recognised and the Honour roll inductees showcased the very best of NSW’s rich multicultural society.

“Since 2012, the NSW Government has been celebrating the dedication of people who passionately serve their communities all to make our state a better place,” Mr Perrottet said. “Each of the people and organisations we are honouring tonight show that while we all come from different backgrounds, we are all driven by the same goal of wanting to create a stronger future for NSW.”

The community medal

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure echoed the Premier’s sentiment, adding that the Harmony Dinner was truly a celebration of the state’s greatest asset—its people.

“This is one of the biggest events of its kind in Australia, and I believe that is fitting given we have the strongest and most harmonious multicultural society,” Mr Coure said.

“Of course, we wouldn’t have the great state we do without the amazing contributions of the caring and selfless people we champion tonight.”

Emeritus Chairperson of the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board, Dr G.K. ‘Hari’ Harinath OAM, was honoured for his ongoing commitment to supporting the state’s diverse communities with the Not for Profit Business Excellence Medal presented in his name.

medal winners are:

For the first time, the outstanding contribution of a community language teacher was also recognised with an inaugural medal, with Ms Odarka Brecko being awarded for more than 50 years of advocating for and supporting the maintenance of the Ukrainian language, culture and traditions. Her leadership in education and within the community has directly influenced more than 5,000 young people.

The Honour Roll Inductees are:

4Dr Qazi Ashfaq Ahmad

4Sunil C De Silva

4Dr Zeina Merhi

The Honour Roll is a permanent public record, which posthumously recognises the exemplary contribution by people in NSW that extends beyond their passing.

The Premier’s Harmony Dinner continues to celebrate the NSW Government’s commitment

to a cohesive and inclusive society in which the cultures, languages and religions of all citizens are embraced.

THE RAINBOW PRIDE

By: Poornima Menon

Irecall the uncomfortable feeling that cruised through me when I watched the movie Brokeback Mountain. It was two years after we had moved from India and homosexuality was still unchartered waters for me. I knew about it but had never given it much thought. And 19years ago, no one in India spoke about it.

Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain released in December 2005 and soon became one of the most controversial films of the year. The mainstream audience was confronted by the vision of two straight male actors more than just kissing on the big screen. For the first-time movie goers saw gay men as the main characters instead of the clichéd sidekicks, or AIDS victims or the so-called dregs of the society. They saw two men fall in love! The newspapers carried news of people leaving the theatre upset and aghast. The scenes elicited a very strong response from the audience, which is not surprising. The response this statement piece of cinematic art received was varied—some praised the team for the honest portrayal of a homosexual relationship and the homophobia that lead to the closeting of emotions, while others found it ‘disgusting’ and unsavoury.

Eighteen years after the release of the film, society has come a long way, but there are pockets within our community who are still marooned in ignorance and intolerance and closed to the idea. In LGBTQIA, the ‘Q’ stands for Queer. Queer is generally defined as any sexual identity that exists outside ‘normal’. But then what is ‘normal’ and who decides it? Maintaining the ‘normal’ ends up being a façade for there are several homosexual individuals who keep up a heterosexual cover, are married, and have children. There are many who choose to come out of the closet after years of being in a heterosexual relationship. Globally, Brokeback Mountain started the much-needed

conversations, which is the first step towards understanding and acceptance.

I always considered the Western world to be more accepting and open-minded than the Eastern culture which is quite rigid, conservative, and stoic. I recall the unhappy story of a colleague of mine back in India, who divorced her husband 2 months after their marriage. He had chosen to marry to keep his sexual orientation under wraps fearing the wrath of his parents and the society. The lack of freedom he had to lead his life the way he wanted to, dragged another life into the quagmire. Hearteningly things have begun to change. Same gender marriages are legal in some countries, same gender couples are allowed to adopt and raise children and there seems to be normalised response about this from the general public. Even mainstream Bollywood cinema is portraying stories with protagonists from the LGBTQIA community, and these are being accepted by the public. Movies like ‘Kapoor and Sons’, ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga’, ‘Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui’ and the likes are just a few examples.

My interaction with colleagues and friends who identify as gay, lesbian or transgender has been an educative one. I don’t believe in differentiation, but I do believe in celebration. Every day we should to able to celebrate who we are and feel comfortable about it. No one should have to hide in the closet for fear of ridicule. And this is not limited to the LGBTQIA community; it includes women and members of certain other communities. I personally don’t think that one’s sexual orientation or gender or social status should define one’s personality. I have more respect for those who go about their lives like ‘normal’ people without making a huge ‘hoo-ha’ about the whole thing. In a free society, no one should be made to feel isolated, and no one should have to stand on a roof top and shout out who they are. The definition of free is to be able to live one’s life the way one feels fit by respecting the choices of those around them.

Conservative and religiously inclined communities still have a long way to go

when accepting the reality of the LGBTQIA members in their families. It is very difficult for people who have been raised with certain fixated norms and traditions to change or alter their way of thinking and will continue to view society through their coloured glasses. The fear is always of the ‘unknown’ and so is the case with these certain pockets of the society to members of the LGBTQIA community. The fear factor results in discrimination and marginalisation. This can lead to depression and anxiety. Studies show gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are three times more likely to experience depression compared to the broader population. Discrimination and the feeling of inadequacy also leads to the extended use of recreational drugs and practice of unsafe sex. It is the lack of connection that makes life meaningless. And I strongly believe that education is the key to removing this shroud of ignorance.

During my years as a teacher in a mainstream public school I have seen teenagers struggling with ‘identity crisis’. They want to change their names on the

school records but cannot do so without parental permission and parents do not give the permission as they don’t want to hear about it. I have seen the brave ones run away from home to make the transition. But it is not easy. I have witnessed and assisted two individuals who successfully made their transitions – one from female to male and the other from male to female. The latter was a colleague when I moved into the corporate world. As Head of People and Culture I made sure that the individual was not vilified or bullied. And I must say that the individual’s co-workers were the most inclusive bunch that I have seen. Being an EEO company, there are employees from all strata of the society, and each is hired for their talent and skill and has nothing to do their gender or sexual orientation. I do not believe in the ‘quota system’ and sometimes equal representation may not be possible, but I am a strong advocate of equal opportunities based on talents and skills. And as equal members of the human race we should all work together with no difference between queer and straight! Here’s to “Gather, Dream, Amplify” for all !

Australian chem companies at first major post-ECTA

With the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) becoming effective late last year, Australian companies are moving to secure collaboration opportunities with Indian exporters and sellers of dyes, dye intermediates, basic chemicals, agrochemicals, speciality chemicals, cosmetics, toiletries, essential and castor oils among other products at the upcoming CHEMEXCIL India- Australia Chemical Buyer Seller Meet 2023 (BSM) on Thursday 23rd of February 2023 at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto.

This BSM is organised under the Department of Commerce and Industry, Government of India – Market Access

Initiative and supported by Consulate General of India, Melbourne. Basic Chemicals, Cosmetics & Dyes Export Promotion Council, popularly known as CHEMEXCIL (www.chemexcil.in), has moved quickly in bringing a large delegation to the first post-ECTA trade event.

Mr. S.G. Mokashi, Chairman of CHEMEXCIL said: “We are seeing unprecedented strong interest in the CHEMEXCIL Australia Chemical Buyer Seller Meet 2023 from a variety of leading Australian chemical industry companies seeking to benefit from import partnerships with CHEMEXCIL’s delegation of Indian companies. This is due in part to pent-up demand as businesses emerging from COVID are more

S.G.-Mokashi CHEMEXCIL-Chairman

companies eye India opportunities CHEMEXCIL trade event

open to the potential of international collaboration.”

India secured two trade agreements in 2022 – ECTA with Australia on 29 December 2022 and the India UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on 1 May 2022. The ECTA provides a mechanism to encourage and improve trade between the two countries and covers almost all the tariff lines between India and Australia along with preferential market access on tariff lines (including all labour-intensive sectors of export interest to India).

India offers preferential access to Australia on over 70 per cent of its tariff lines, including lines of export interest to Australia, which are primarily raw materials and intermediaries such as coal, mineral ores, and wines. Australia is the 17th largest trading partner of India and India is Australia’s 9th largest trading partner.

Mr Mokashi continued: “From a chemical industry perspective, Australia is a good market, especially for dyes and dye

intermediates, inorganic, organic, agrochemicals, and castor oil.”

In value terms, the total export performance of the items covered under the purview of CHEMEXCIL to Australia for the year 2021-22 was USD 197.71 million registering growth of 20.79 per cent on the previous year of exports to Australia. Exports of dyes and dye intermediates, accounted for USD 12.16 million; basic inorganic, organic chemicals including agrochemicals accounted for USD 161.06 million; cosmetics, soaps, toiletries, and essential oils accounted for USD 21.25 million; and castor oil accounted for USD 3.24 million.

Mr Mokashi added: “Under the ECTA, import duties applicable in Australia have been reduced to nil on most tariff lines for chemical products, which is a great booster for the outbound shipments from this sector.

ECTA is expected to double bilateral trade in goods and service to about USD 45 billion in the coming five years, according to India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. ECTA will further cement strategic relations between the two countries and significantly enhance bilateral trade in goods and services, create new employment opportunities, raise living standards, and improve the general welfare of the peoples of both countries.

Dr. Sushil Kumar, Consul General of India Melbourne said: “India offers unique business opportunities for Australian companies in a wide range of industries – including chemicals. Business events such as the CHEMEXCIL

India-Australia Chemical Buyer Seller

Meet 2023 are important in fostering relationships in Australia-Indian chemical trade. People to people relationships are key to international trade and business, and this BSM is an excellent face to face platform to grow business.”

Sheba Nandkeolyar, CEO of international marketing partner company MultiConnexions Group and former National Chair of Australia India Business Council said: “ECTA is a watershed moment for the business and trade relationship between Australia and India. Demand for bookings at the CHEMEXCIL’s India-Australia Chemical Buyer Seller Meet 2023 is testament to Australia’s growing interest in doing business with India.”

The CHEMEXCIL’s India-Australia Chemical Buyer Seller Meet 2023 will be held on Thursday 23rd of February 2023 from 9.30am to 6.00pm at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto. Business visitors can register attendance at https://share. multiconnexions.com.au/chemexcil.

About CHEMEXCIL

CHEMEXCIL was set up by the Department of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Commerce & Industry Government of India in 1963 with an objective of promoting chemical exports from India to overseas. CHEMEXCIL works with Industry and Government to formulate exportoriented policies and a favourable environment to boost exports from India. It is a source of information for buyers sourcing these products from India.

W: https://chemexcil.in/

Dr Sushil Kumar

Consul General of India

Photo Credit : Harmohan Walia

Sultans of Swing charity golf A huge success at Riverside Oaks

Sikh Youth Australia (SYA) recently hosted its 3rd Annual Golf Day, “Sultans of Swing,” at the Riverside Oaks Golf

Course in Sydney, Australia. Over 80 attendees joined the event, making it one of the most successful golf days to date. The day was filled with friendly competi-

tion, socialising, and raising funds for a worthy cause.

Throughout the day, participants

Oaks Golf Club

many other sponsors. This support was critical in making the event a success, as it allowed SYA to provide a high-quality experience for all attendees while also raising funds for a worthy cause.

Sultans of Swing Spokesman Said:”We are overwhelmed by the support we received for this event and are thrilled with the funds raised. The Sultans of Swing charity golf event was a great success and we are already looking forward to next year’s event”

recognized and presented with prizes.

Sultans of Swing charity golf event are an important part of Sikh Youth Australia’s commitment to making a difference in the community. The organisation would like to extend its gratitude to all of the players, sponsors, and supporters who made this event a success.

enjoyed the beautiful weather and challenging but enjoyable round of golf. In addition to the tournament, there were opportunities for attendees to network and socialise over lunch and drinks.

“The Sultans of Swing charity golf event was not just about raising funds, but also about bringing people together to have fun and enjoy a day on the course while supporting a good cause”

The funds raised at the event were donated to the Riverstone Community Centre, located in the North West Sydney region. The Community Centre is currently running various community projects and the funds will go a long way in supporting their efforts. The Centre provides a range of services to the local community, including support for families, youth programs, and health and wellness initiatives.

The event was also supported by Multicultural NSW, Fisher & Paykel, and

The day’s festivities concluded with a luncheon and awards ceremony, where winners of the golf tournament were

The funds raised will have a positive impact on the local community, helping to improve the lives of those in need. SYA looks forward to hosting more events in the future and continuing its mission of promoting and preserving the Sikh culture and heritage among young people in Australia.

That full moon night

By: Chandrika Subramaniyan

Theatre World is shrinking around the globe. In particular, Tamil theatre . While diaspora Tamil youth face multiple challenges and find it difficult to focus on Tamil art forms due to various reasons, a group of Tamil youth in association with passionate Athithan Thirunandakumar has chiseled a niche mark with Tamil Theatre in Sydney, not once, but twice. ‘Atrai Thingal Annilavil ‘ meaning ‘ That full moon night ‘ is the second production of Vidhai group, a two-hour nonstop entertainment wrapped with fantasy, story, romance, music, dance, comedy, sentiment all served in one drama enriched with music.

Time, effort, dedication, commitment, and focus have brought together fifty amateur Tamil

performers, aged between 8 to 70 to present an unimaginable musical drama on stage at NIDA Auditorium, Sydney.

The concept of Drama is conceived, organised, and shaped by a variety of aspects such as role, character and relationships, situation, voice and movement, space and time, focus, tension, language, ideas, mood, atmosphere, and symbol in the combination. Plot, character, tension, language, and spectacle are vital forms of the elements which provide the basis of any great drama and it is interesting to see how different entertainers use them differently to tell a story staged with a combination of theatre elements.

Athithan , the young physiotherapist has not disappointed as a director and as an actor on the stage. ‘Atrai Thingal Annilavil’ has derived the concept, inspired by the ancient scriptures to develop the plot ‘Man proposes and God disposes of’ , spun the characters around the plot with modernity, added tension to create interest among the spectators, used the language – Tamil without any attachment to accents from any part of the Tamil speaking world, involved the spectacle – made the audience enjoy every minute, created a mood, atmosphere, and symbols acceptable by the Tamil community from any part of the world.

A great drama will demonstrate the ability to speak universal truths that connect cultures from around the world on an interpersonal level. Wherever these stories are spun, they are tales that transcend

boundaries because of their humanistic nature. Athithan ’s efforts speak the universal truth ‘the Supreme power disposes of, anything proposed by the humans, combining the interpersonal dialogues between the Supreme and the human, and finally proves that the Supreme power triumphs.

Drama is created when a heightened sense of reality is portrayed through relatable human experience. ‘Atrai Thingal Annilavil ‘ has perfectly accomplished that sense. The plot is composed of “clearly defined problems for characters to solve.” Athithan’s vivid characters provide the motivations for the events of the plot. The theme deals with the slice of life, spiced and seasoned. Playwright has given importance to both narrative and dramatic dialogues which overcome the issues arising from accents or complicated language barriers. The vibrant scenes have given the spectacle, actors, sets, costumes, lights, and sound, empowering the stage with a sense of constant rhythm, leading

to a final climax and denouement.

The performers have proven their ability and commitment in every scene. In particular, the senior artist Sri Balan as older Dharma Yuthiran, evil KundavaiSanchana, the main character ever young Dharma Yuthiran – Athithan , the koothu dancer Pandi- Karunakaran, grandma, and ghost — Mrinalini Jayamohan and the comedian Manikkam – Avinash and Indran – Janardhan are unforgettable. Stage management with minimum properties on the stage, the background music , and entertaining and rich movie dance music, fold dance have perfectly entertained the audience.

The director while thanking the audience acknowledged the young, talented nextgeneration Tamil youth whose dedication and interest have made this effort a grand success. Yes, Vidhai made every spectator impressed and convinced, ‘a worthy show ‘ and we wish the Vidhai team great success in all future endeavors.

YouGo with Rajni-Let’s Be Mindful Celebrating International Women’s 2023 – Cracking the code mindfully

By: Rajni Ghai Malhotra

Happy Women’s Day to all you lovely ladies. The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is Cracking the code, Embrace Equality where together, women work towards a gender equal world ensuring a future that’s diverse, equitable and inclusive, free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination.

To crack the code and establish an equal future we must focus on our present. To reach that higher goal with sure steady footsteps, let us begin from a point of balance. Let us empower ourselves and nourish ourselves physically, emotionally and mentally to tread gracefully, mindfully and with a sense of ownership over the moment.

For all women juggling multiple roles in their personal and professional lives, here are a few handy mindfulness tips and affirmations to nurture yourselves, keeping yourselves more centred and focused.

Begin the day with mindful intent: Affirmation: I am happy, healthy and at peace. I greet every day with confidence and ease.

I radiate positivity. I will help forge positive visibility for myself and other women. Start your day on a high with a few minutes of peaceful checking-in with yourself. Your breath is your tool to navigate the day smoothly. Make sure to spend a few minutes in mindful breathing, inhaling and

exhaling in a slow rhythm. Fortify yourself with positive affirmations to give direction to your day. A good yoga pose to practice in the mornings is Vrksasana or Tree pose that helps calm the mind and bring balance in body and mind.

Pause and reflect Affirmation: I am well, strong and empowered. I am compassionate and I embrace equality. As often as you can in the day, pause for a

minute, take a few deep breaths and check in with yourself. Fill these minute-pauses of mindful breathing. If you aren’t able to set aside dedicated time to practice mindfulness, challenge yourself to practice the pause at any time of the day that you can. While driving to work, watching television, cooking, waiting in line for your coffee – anytime is a good time to pause, focus on your breath and check in with yourself, remind yourself that you are well and that each day, every day you are work-

Photo credite: Image by Natalia Leyrinenko Pixabay

Mindful Series Women’s Day mindfully

ing towards a bigger collective. Be firm in your resolve

Affirmation: I make self-care a priority. I embrace actions that help me grow. It is time to be clear and bold about your priorities. Your wellbeing and mental health are a priority. Making time to checkin with yourself, be it at work, or at home should be your prerogative. An effective yoga pose to strengthen your resolve and stay committed to your cause is Tadasana

or Mountain pose. Standing firm, erect and immovable with a calm steady breath helps feel grounded and liberated at the same time.

Mindful connections

Affirmation: I have strong and committed friendships. I nurture my friends as they nurture me.

Women are social and emotional beings. Friendships play a big role in our lives and catching up with our girl friends can go a long way in helping us relax and de-stress. It could be a simple coffee catchup or a walk, maybe the movies or just a quick dinner on a weeknight – just enough time to embrace the feeling of simply ‘being’ with people who encourage, empower and support you in your ideas and actions. Add to that a touch of mindfulness and feel the magic of connecting with your friends by listening and talking without judgement. Be all there and help your friend to also enter that state of being. There is no better

feeling than helping a friend connect with herself.

Crack the code

Affirmation: I rise and I help others rise As you embark on a journey of mindful living, you will find yourself treading with confident steps in the direction of your goals. You will also find yourself empowering others along the way.

There YouGo! You have made the choice to stand for gender equality, empower other women along the way and ‘crack the code’ from a place of balance, mindfully, confidently and boldly.

May your journey be steady and rewarding.

Yours mindfully, Rajni Follow Rajni on Facebook @ YogaWithRajni

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Yoga & Mindfulness workshops for adults and kids

Experience the benefits of yoga and mindfulness through the following workshops:

✓ Beginner’s yoga

✓ Mindful breathing and meditation

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*All workshops now delivered in a physically distant, socially connected manner

Light & Hope 10th Anniversary Harman Foundation

By: Aannya Bandaru

The 10th anniversary light and hope festival and celebration run by the Harman foundation gives insight into how as one we can make a huge positive impact and society and help those in need. The festival not only engages the community to come together but consists of speeches and cultural events to bring people from many communities together to share values showing audiences that we need to create light and hope together to bring peace to our society and help those in need.

THE BEGINNING

The event starts of with an aboriginal enlightenment which shares insight on the aboriginal faith and how Australia’s foundation was made upon its values, of courage, kinship and friendship.

Our amazing master of ceremonies, Kala, starts of the tenth-anniversary celebartion with a ‘rich blend’ of traditions and cultures of two worlds. the one we now live in and the one we came from’. She explains how throughout the ceremony we will find a connection with our first nations people , family, land, language and culture and their acceptance of people from different countries and traditions that are actually gathered at the ceremony.

After this the event kicks off into a cultural event showing bharthanatyam and the its culture while expressing the story pf Krishna, a god and faith.

The lavender symbolises hope and growth

INSPIRING SPEECHES

An important speech from Manu Preet Singh was delivered, explaining the importance of coming together and the difference it makes. His speech shows the true values of the Harman foundation such as empathy and community that really help sustain positive empowerment in our society. Manu Preet’s speech really moved the festival, motivating everyone to join hands for positivity and community growth.

The festival continued with many speeches, including the mayor, Dr. Peter Gangemi, and NSW Premier The Hon Dominic Perrottet which brought the community together and spread togetherness throughout the audience.

THE YOUTH PERSPECTIVE

The youth even joined in on the celebration expressing their opinions on community service and the Harman foundation.

They ended with expressing Harman Foundation in one word, such as community, empathy and compassionate.

Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much. It is explained by these youth how the values of the harman foundation such as empathy and humanity that has pushed them forward to make such a difference in society. The

youth has pitched in to show how the harman foundation has motivated them to also contribute to community and our growth.

CELEBRATIONS

The festival continued on with auctions and cultural events such as dances showing the diversity within our community and the harmony that we present.

Awards were also given to many deserving people bringing audiences together more in celebration. A dance was also held, involving everyone to get up and celebrate the 10th anniversary with cheers and bhangra! The audience in the event were definitely were engaged and motivated to start the year with a fresh slate of positivity and happiness.

The 10th anniversary was a blast with inspiration, enlightenment of faiths, audience involvement and celebrations. the Harman Foundation has presented in the event the importance of community service while bringing our diverse community together.

TO CONCLUDE…

To end of this article on Harmans foundations 10th anniversary celebration, here is some background on The harman foundation and its upbringing.

Maninder Singh and Harinder Kaur were devastated by the tragic death of their young and loving son, Harman. Even though they received encouraging words from friends and family, they were overcome with grief. They attempted to overcome these traumatic times with the assistance of trained grief counsellors but soon discovered that there was no organization to turn to when their grief reared its ugly head. As a result, they believed that establishing an organization that provides assistance and counseling to individuals and families would alleviate their

own grief. Thus, the Harman Foundation was established in 2013. It is a non-profit charitable organization that is open to all members of the community, regardless of race or religion.

Harman Preet Singh was a devotee in the truest form. His mission was straightforward: to serve those closest to him, and he knew that he could only truly serve if he first became the shining pillar of his family. In our hearts, a pure soul, humble in his speech and actions, lives on. Continuing to give us the strength and passion to live life through humility, obedience, will, selfless love, and gratitude, which he demonstrated every day. Harman’s parents and the community as a whole have come together to pay true ‘tribute to Harman Preet Singh and keep his legacy alive.’

Book launch of The Peripheral,

On the afternoon of Sunday 12 February an enthusiastic gathering of people attended a keenly anticipated book launch in Sydney. The book being launched was The Peripheral by Meena Mahanty Kumar.

Beginning at 4 PM, the event began with the guests being welcomed personally by the author dressed in blue, like the cover of her book. As she engaged in casual conversation with her guests, there was a feeling among the attendees that the launch was off to a good start. Tea and cookies were served initially while the guests took their seats.

Promptly at 4.30 PM, the MC Ron Barooah, a BBC trained sports and cultural events announcer, set the tone of the evening in his own humorous and erudite way. The book was launched by Sheba Nandkeolyar, CEO of MultiConnections Australia by unwrapping the book’s blue silk scarf.

Then followed an unusual and interesting question answer session between the MC and the author Meena Mahanty Kumar, regarding what the book was about, what her inspiration was and her book writing journey - instead of the one sided speech we have come to expect. You could feel that the audience was hanging onto every word, especially when the underlying theme of the book was being discussed.

What followed was one the most interesting audience question and answer sessions. Some of the questions were those that could put many writers on the spot. However, the author handed each question with grace, with genuine empathy and concern for her subjectsthe nostalgia, angst and culture shock of migrants as well as a subject not touched upon in fiction - the pain of living the life of a hijra, now known as kinnars. Their desire to fit in, be accepted was touched

upon with great sensitivity.

Apart from the story being about the pain of being different, she touched upon the book being about secrets and discovery, of love and humour glimpses into human behaviour.

Food and wine were served as eager attendees lined up to purchase copies of the book for themselves and as gifts while the

Peripheral, a novel

author smilingly signed and had pictures taken with every one of them.

With only a few copies left on the table, the launch was most certainly a success! It was all in all a great afternoon.

If you are interested in the book please contact/message the author directly at 0413087208.

A CALL TO ACT, A CALL TO CHANGE

Pain is a signal our mind gives to our body, and we need to understand it as

Igot married at 23 and was a mum by 25. Like many marriages, our marriage had a couple of hiccups. However, my lovely partner is an excellent supportive person and we thought we were happy; but we were not.

What was it that others couldn’t see? I had gained a lot of weight, and I suffered from severe back pain from the early stages of motherhood. I was lethargic and always was in pain. At 29, I became a mum for the second time. And that was the most challenging time of my life.

I lost my father, who was my strength. I couldn’t play with my kids, my sexual life became non-existent and there was no social life. I continued to brood and cry. I was in deep pain both physically and psychologically. I felt I had lost precious time in my life. And I had at a time in the past thought that I had it all.

You don’t expect to be on the death bed at 30, do you? I started getting comments like, “Your expiry is near”! That was it. I was determined to be healthy back again. And as a result of this choice, things got even more challenging in other ways, and I felt like I was being bullied by myself in my own life. It was an ongoing journey for months, and everything was very challenging. One day, as I sat in my self-pity and pain, I felt everything was so difficult and I had no clue what I needed to do, or where to begin.

Being at the lowest point in my life, I told myself that it didn’t matter what I did, it was going to be very difficult; with two

a call to act.

children with their requirements, studies, responsibilities at home, job, relatives and everything else! I saw a bleak future in front of me. I was horrified. I felt I wasn’t strong enough, I wasn’t good enough, I deserved to be alone and that I was unworthy. These thoughts were killing me. How was I going to survive this?

Then I heard it. My elder one is getting trained to take care of my younger one. I strongly desired to act get my body back on track. I needed to stand back up again, if not for me, at least for my boys. There was a massive storm inside me urging me to make this change, to do it for the sake of my future. And I realized what I needed to do.

I got engaged with a coach. She challenged me; she challenged my beliefs and my ideas. I soon realized that I was the only one who could choose how I responded to the events in my life. I realized I was the only one in charge of my physical, mental and emotional well-being. Sometimes we need to dig deep inside our core to unlock the door and shine a light on our self-belief.

I changed my language and instead of asking, “Why me?” I asked, “What learning am I getting from this episode?” Slowly and steadily my life became more manageable and better in all aspects. I realized that the power of the human mind lies in acknowledgement and growth. It felt like the train was coming back on track. I learnt in a complicated way that the pain in your body is a signal telling you something is not right with your emotions, and that you need to act. The fact is the more you resist the pain, the more trouble you’ll have.

Looking back now, the change in my life would have been impossible without my acknowledgement. So now here I am, knowing and listening to all signals of my body and taking the required actions. I am working happily, knowing what’s more important for me, knowing and understanding why people do what they do, accepting and acknowledging the importance of me in me and letting go of all assumed constraints about life, family and friends.

Life today is beautiful, life is fun, and I have plenty of time to manage my household, play with my boys, manage my work plans, and help people get to a place where I am now. The two photos show the two different me – the saree is the same, but the attitude of the person in the second photo is different from that in the first one. The photos were taken ten years apart.

STOP BLAMING THE OUTSIDE & LOOKING FOR REASONS START EXPLORING CHOICES & FOCUSING ON RESULTS.

Parijatham- a tale of presented by Sadhanalaya

The Sadhanalaya School of Arts, founded and led by Ms Vanaja Dasika, will be presenting Parijatham - a timeless and iconic dance drama in the classical Indian dance style, Kuchipudi, that has been performed around the

world. It was choreographed by Ms Dasika’s uncle, the late Padmabhushan Vempati Chinna Satyam, who was recognised for his lifetime contributions to Kuchipudi and is credited with composing over 100 solo dance items and 15 dance dramas.

Kuchipudi dates back to the 15th century and is a visually captivating form of art - sensuous, graceful and exacting, and set to beautiful, melodious and percussive Carnatic (South Indian classical) music. It involves abstract and rhythmic dance where the emphasis is on motion, speed, range and intricately patterned footwork and slower,

more expressive dance elements that communicate feelings and stories using hand, eyes and facial gestures.

Traditionally, Kuchipudi dance troupes often performed dance dramas which told stories based on Hindu mythology and spiritual themes. Parijatham is a 90-minute dance drama that features four characters: Narada (played by Jade Das), Queen Rukhmini (played by Suhasini Sumithra), Lord Krishna (played by Daya Fisher) and Queen Satyabhama (played by Vanaja Dasika). In Parijatham, Narada gives Lord

By: Rajni Ghai Malhotra

of love and devotion Sadhanalaya School of Arts

Krishna the divine Parijatha flower, and suggests that Lord Krishna give it to his favourite consort. Although Lord Krishna knows that this will create conflict between the gentle and devoted Queen Rukhmini and proud and feisty Queen Satyabhama, he gives it to Queen Rukhmini. This enrages Queen Satyabhama but she finally accepts that devotion prevails over love and recognises there can be universal love and devotion for Lord Krishna. Parijatham showcases various traditional and complex elements of the Kuchipudi repertoire.

About Ms Vanaja Dasika and the Sadhanalaya School of Arts

Ms Dasika has been a Kuchipudi dancer, choreographer and teacher for most of her life and was one of the principal performers at India’s prestigious Kuchipudi Art Academy in Chennai. She is also the niece of Guru Dr Vempati Chinnasatyam and is dedicated to preserving her uncle’s legacy in Australia. Upholding the highest standards of discipline, practice, and professionalism, the Sadhanalaya School of Arts is regarded as an important institution for promoting South Asian culture through Kuchipudi among the Australian Indian diaspora and broader community. Ms Dasika and her students are committed to promoting Kuchipudi and have done so by hosting shows in Canberra annually, performing at local festivals and events, and collaborating with Indian and nonIndian dancers in the ACT.

Parijatham

Through Parijatham, Ms Dasika hopes not only to provide a unique and memorable cultural experience to the audience but also bring more recognition for the Kuchipudi art form, and in particular its dance dramas.

Following the success of Parijatham in Canberra and Sydney, it will be performed in Brisbane and NSW in the coming weeks. Show details a nd ticketing information are as

below :

Ron Hurley Theatre, Seven Hills Hub in Brisbane on 1 April 2023 at 5pm. Tickets available at https://www.trybooking. com/events/landing/1008660

Pure Bhakti Yoga Centre, 1 Banner Street, Murwillumbah on 2 April 2023 at 4:30pm. Tickets available at https:// www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1008663

Photo credit is Sadhanalaya school of arts

Canberra’s Sadhanalaya School of Arts presents

A delightful, funny and visually stunning Kuchipudi dance drama that tells the story of conflict created between two of Lord Krishna s consorts, Queen Rukmini and Queen Satyabhama, after Sage Narada asks Lord Krishna to give a divine parijatha flower to his favourite consort, Rukmini. Choreographed by the late Dr Vempati Chinnasatyam and directed by Smt Vanaja Dasika.

1 April 2023 at Ron Hurley Theatre, Seven Hills Hub Shows at 3:30pm & 6:00pm For more information contact Suhasini at 0425 101 120

of cultural harmony

Multicultural Community dinner by SA Liberal Celebration

The Liberal multicultural committee of South Australia organised a networking event including the Multicultural community dinner in Molinara Club , celebrating the cultural harmony and multiculturalism in South Australia .

The Hon David Speirs MP ( Leader of the

Daljeet Bakshi

Community Liberal party harmony

The Hon David shared his insights about important contribution the multicultural communities make in South Australia as a State that celebrates the inclusiveness.

opposition , South Australia ) and The Hon Jing Lee MLC ( Deputy Leader of the opposition, South Australia ) were guest speakers at the event . This event was attended by the liberal Parliamentarians , community groups , leaders .

The Hon Jing Lee stated that and Australia has a unique place in the world and is a proud immigration nation. Almost half of our current population was either born overseas or has at least one parent born overseas. And we come from every culture, every race, every faith, every nation.

South Australia is fortunate to have a harmonious, vibrant and interconnected multicultural community that contribute greatly to every aspect of our society.

Roundtable meeting of the Hon Andrew Giles

Community groups , leaders , migration agents/lawyers attended the meeting

The Hon Steve Georganas MP, Federal Member for Adelaide, has always taken a lead in organising forums and meetings to address and raise the matters directly with the concerned Ministers . The Hon Steve organised an exclusive roundtable event with the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Giles MP in Adelaide . This provided opportunity to community groups, leaders , migration agents and lawyers to attend this rare

opportunity to learn about what the Albanese Labor Government is doing in this space. This meeting also provided the opportunity to address and raise the matters about immigration, citizenship, and multicultural affairs directly with the Hon Minister and the Hon Steve Georganas. The Hon Russell Wortley MLC , The Hon Tung Ngo MLC and the official staff of the Minister and MP office , attended the meeting as well .

The Hon Steve in his welcome address extended his token of thanks to the Hon Andrew Giles MP for taking the time to come and meet with community group, leaders, and other interested parties to talk about serious issues within the Home Affairs portfolio.

The Hon Andrews Giles stated that by bringing the visa backlog down from almost 1 million to under 600,000 and committing more resources to our visa processing system, ensuring that people

who want to live and work in Australia have the opportunity to do it.

During the Q & A session , The Hon Minister Andrews Giles advised that:

4There has been progress in Citizenship applications, but if there are delays it is mostly due to barriers because of the lack of documentations

4The department is working to improve the Citizenship tests for Elderly as the feedbacks received.

4Family Reunion visas has been in the back of the que, but now it has been brought forward.

4150,000 plus people have applied for Humanitarian visas, Australia cannot support all those applications and therefore the department is working to identify those at higher risk.

The Hon Minister also took notes of the important issues being raised by the attendees .

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Events of Adelaide

Spetacolla

Spetacollo!! A special feature concert of the Fringe celebrating cultural diversity, traditions and the Australian embracement of richness of culture. Featuring the stunning performances of award winning and acclaimed groups;

Farhan Shah (The Pakistani Pavarotti) & brothers Qawwali Group

Compañía Alma Flamenca , Nava Persian Music Ensemble, Nurpur Jhankar Academy , Farhan Shah & Sufi Oz Fusion Ensemble.

The theme is the ‘spirit of diversity’ and this concert will move, inspire, refresh the soul and make you want to sing and dance.

Celebrate the richness of our cultural diversity of Australia in a magnificient Adelaide Town Hall show with acts that have presented 5 star Fringe shows in recent years.

Spetacollo!! I assisted by the Music Development Office of SA and Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund. Main sponsor/supporters: Milaap and Pinnacle College.

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Asia Oasis, Glenelg

The Asia Street Food Festival in the heart of Glenelg! Balinese huts, Hoi An lanterns, cultural performances , than 100 different authentic dishes of Asia street food (special dishes: Filipino, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Indonesian, Indian, Malaysian, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Chinese).

Indian Mela

Wider South Australian community attended Indian Mela ( organised by Indian Australian Association of South Australia ), two days event in the heart of Adelaide CBD celebrating India’s rich culture & diversity. Fun filled days of music, entertainment, delicious Indian food.

Laughter the best medicine: at Sunil Grover Comedy Night

By: Lalitha Chellappan

“Comedy is surprises, so if you’re intending to make somebody laugh and they don’t laugh, that’s funny” said the Canadian comedian Norm MacDonald; however while watching Sunil Grover there was no dearth of both fun and laughter at the Blacktown Leisure Centre on 4th March. The popular comedian from India had a houseful audience in splits with his hilarious acts and antics. Walking in sporting a green sari splashing water on people to the song tip tip barsa pani play

ing in the background as they stood up to get a dekko was just the beginning.

He appreciated the audience for having moved to Australia from India and having made a life for themselves while they made Australia home. He also lauded their efforts for making the time and effort to attend the event despite inflation on the rise. It’s rather rare to see visiting artists acknowledge and engage the audience to the extent to which Sunil Grover akka Guthi akka Dr Mashoor Gulati akka Rinku Devi did. What a humble and unassuming entertainer despite the celebrity status that he carries with such ease.

He enthralled with his humour as the show went on and kept the audience engaged through the show, be it jump -

ing off the stage to have a conversation with a couple walking in late or selecting people randomly pulling their leg or calling a group of women on stage to play a game. He didn’t even spare his own staff who were subject to his constant wit and instant comedy.

The part of show when he had female audience on stage playing a game seemed a bit stretched in the author’s view but he displayed so much regard and respect for each of them as some wanted selfies with him while he

wished one of them a Happy Birthday, just as he called out to the extended families of others as he was requested by the lucky fans on stage, it all seemed worthwhile. He even managed a few dance steps with the participants in the game, much to everyone’s delight.

His mimicry of popular personalities such as Dharmendra, SRK, Big B and Kapil Dev to name a few was par excellence and was a key highlight of the show. His humour shone through as he ended the act with Kaun Banega Accha Pati in KBC style inviting a couple from the audience and gracefully interacting with the two couples that instead landed on stage in his unique comic style.

Additional entertainment by dancers from Road2Bollywood to kickstart the event and later kids dancing on stage to bhangra beats were a treat to watch. As audience, whether they had a chance to directly interact with Sunil Grover or respond to his remarks thrown at them or to simply sit back and have a good laugh, there was something

Compass returns in March, with new host Indira Naidoo

Broadcaster Indira Naidoo has been appointed as the new host of ABC TV’s Compass, launching the new season on Sunday, 19 March, 6.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.

The popular journalist and author brings to Compass a sophisticated understanding of the changing nature of Australian spirituality and the ethical dilemmas we face. Indira will combine her new role with presenting ABC Radio’s Evening program which airs across Sydney, Canberra and regional NSW.

Born in apartheid South Africa, Indira grew up in Tasmania, South Australia, England and Zimbabwe. She’s reported for and anchored 730 Report, ABC Late Edition News and World News Tonight on SBS TV.

For the past 13 years Indira has also

been an ambassador for The Wayside Chapel, Sydney’s homeless crisis centre in Kings Cross.

“‘It has been through my connection with the Wayside Chapel, meeting a cross section of people from different faiths and backgrounds, that I have begun to explore my own spirituality more deeply, “she said.

Recently, Indira published her bestselling book ‘The Space Between The Stars’ where she explored the healing power of nature following the death of her sister during the pandemic.

While Indira does not identify with any one faith, she’s eager to find meaning and connection – like many Australians are she believes.

“That’s what I hope Compass can continue to bring our viewers…. a broad investigation into how to connect more

deeply and meaningfully with the land and with each other, “Indira said.

Compass is unique in Australia for its focus on religion and ethics- but this year will broaden that focus to newer forms of spirituality and bring a sharper journalistic lens to stories of social justice, an emerging scandal in the Catholic Church and the tricky interplay between sexuality and religion. With appearances from Jeremy Fernandez, Narelda Jacobs, Chloe Hayden and indigenous surfer and artist Billy Bain.

Compass is one of ABC TV’s longest running shows, airing since 1988, with legendary broadcaster Geraldine Doogue the primary host.

“Geraldine is one of the country’s most incisive journalists and thinkers so I’m delighted she will present a couple of specials for Compass this year, “said Indira.

Sameer Pandey is the Labor Candidate for Winston Hills in the upcoming March 25 State Election

As a father, Deputy Lord Mayor of Parramatta, and small business owner, he understands the challenges families are facing.

That is why during the pandemic, Sameer donated 100% of his council fees for two months to local community organisations to help make sure nobody got left behind. Sameer did this because he joined politics for a simple reason – to serve the community. That is why Sameer and Labor’s Fresh Start Plan will deliver for the community.

As a father of two young children, Sameer knows how important it is to have access to quality health care.

That is why Sameer and Labor will enshrine minimum Safe Staffing levels in our public schools, starting with emergency departments, and will add 600 additional beds across Western Sydney, to relieve pressure on hospital workers and improve patient care.

Sameer believes our kids deserve the best start in life. That is why Sameer and Labor will deliver upgrades to Darcy Road Public School, Northmead Public School and Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School.

Sameer and Labor will also create a 400-million-dollar Education Future Fund to make investments in our teachers, school counsellors, and establish permanent literacy and numeracy tutoring program.

Sameer knows that people across our community are struggling with the rising cost of living – made worse by Dominic Perrottet

and the Liberals selling off our electricity network and motorways to private companies.

That’s why Labor’s Fresh Start Plan will introduce a $60 a week toll cap and establish a publicly owned clean energy company – putting an end to the privatisation of our energy assets, keeping the lights on, and putting downward pressure on power prices.

We can count on Sameer to deliver for our community, because he brings a proven track record of working with all stakeholders to deliver for our community.

During his five years on Council, Sameer has delivered tirelessly for the community in areas including: Improving safety around schools by engaging with many local schools and P&Cs to improve student safety and creating pedestrian crossings.

Building a better health system - Sameer was one of the first to campaign with the Westmead Palliative Care Group for a dedicated pal liative care ward at Westmead Hospital.

Supporting businesses and local employment by initiating several programs to welcome and assist local businesses and supporting employment opportuni ties for people with a disability, war veterans and First Nations people with the City of Parramatta Council.

Supporting our parks, environment, and heritage. Sameer campaigned to save Willow Grove and initiated a program for the digitisation of heritage – one of the first of its kind for Councils in NSW.

Sameer also pushed for a local Sportsground Strategy and increased tree canopy to create greener suburbs.

Caring for the vulnerable by auditing all footpaths in the Parramatta CBD and ensuring all Council facilities are accessible for people with disability.

Sameer has also raised funds for the Cancer Council, Parramatta Women’s Shelter, and Sanfilippo Foundation among many others.

Sameer says: “My diverse professional, education, social and political experiences will help me in good stead should I be elected.

“I believe we can do better in health,

Sameer is a proud local. Having lived in Western Sydney for 19 years, he is currently raising his two young children with his wife Nimi.

Mohit Kumar Liberal Candidate for Riverstone

Icame to Australia almost 29 years ago as a young 17-year-old international student. Coming from humble beginnings in India, I had no expectation or idea what Australia and NSW would be like.

My first introduction to the electorate of Riverstone was as a young father, with my wife, Jennifer, and our young sons moving into our first home in Quakers Hill. This was the time when I had left my corporate job at ACP to join the NSW Police force. Now 20 years later and I am serving as a Sergeant Prosecutor (Head of Court) at Blacktown.

The role for me is both challenging and rewarding but one in which service to the community is at its heart; something the corporate world didn’t necessarily offer me and something I was looking for.

Australia had given me an education a career and most importantly my wife, Jennifer, and our beautiful children, Joel, and Daniel. So, while my family and career were going well, I wanted to do something to give back to a country and an area that had given me so much.

As an immigrant from India, I know that starting a new life in a foreign land isn’t the easiest thing to do. That’s why in 2011 I became a member, and later President, of the largest not-for-profit Indian community organisation – the Council of Indian

Australians. The organisation supports Indian migrants arriving to Australia, promotes and conserves our Indian culture and organises fundraisers for the Indian community in India.

Australia has been a warm and welcoming country to me but when you don’t have your immediate family down the road, a culture that you’re not familiar with or even just food you’re not used to – the change can be overwhelming.

If there was something I could do to make that transition a little easier, well that was what I was going to do. Through the Council, we were able to assist migrants from the Indian subcontinent, to accelerate their integration and assimilation into our mainstream community and raise over $100,000 for various local and Indian charities including Cancer Council NSW, India Vision Foundation, SIMAID, Child in need INDIA, White Ribbon Australia and Pratham Australia to name a few. We also organised successful festivals including “Holi and Harmony Day” and “Little India Fair” which attracted over 25,000 people.

I am also a passionate volunteer and serve the community as a White Ribbon Ambassador, Family and Consumer Council Member for the Westmead Children’s Hospital, Board Member of Sydney Health Partners and President of the Schofields Cricket Club which is

It was this type of work that sparked my interest in politics. I joined the Liberal Party 11 years ago and it was then that I met Mr Kevin Conolly MP our local Liberal member for Riverstone and saw the tireless work and devotion he had to our area.

When I heard that Kevin was retiring, like so many, I was deeply disappointed. What he and the Liberal government have done for Riverstone over the past 12 years is remarkable. When I approached Kevin to say that I was interested in running for the seat, his immediate support for me was a great strength to me.

If someone told me as a young boy in India that one day I would be running for public office in NSW, I would never have believed them. But now with great support from Kevin and the community, and in the knowledge that I would be part of a team that has a plan to keep NSW moving forward, I am more committed than ever to represent the people of Riverstone.

With the State Election on the 25th March, it is going to be a big month for our Kumar family, however we will be taking time to celebrate Holi and would like to wish everyone a very Happy Holi with new beginnings and opportunities.

the largest cricket club in the Northwest.

With the NSW State elections around the corner, we are very proud to introduce Labor’s Candidate for Liverpool - Charishma Kaliyanda

Charishma migrated to Liverpool from India with her family as a child in the 90s and has called Liverpool her home since.

She is a registered occupational therapist working in the youth mental health sector.

Charishma is also an elected Councillor of the Liverpool City Council. She is the first Asian Australian to become a Councillor at the Liverpool City Council and is one of only 11 women elected to Council in Liverpool’s 144-year history.

Charishma was also named one of Australia’s rising political stars by Marie Claire, and was listed as one of the 40 under 40 most influential Asian Australian leaders by the Asian Australian Leadership Alliance.

She has been a voice in South West Sydney by giving back and deeply rooted is the passion and commitment towards the growth of Liverpool.

In a recent Q&A panel, Charishma discussed how she understands the current struggles with the increased cost of living. She believes that changes are needed in our health, education and transport services. This includes repairing the healthcare system, rebuilding and uplifting the education system and minimising the burden on NSW

Nathan Hagarty Labor Candidate for Leppington

Icame to Australia almost 29 years ago as a young 17-year-old international student. Coming from humble beginnings in India, I had no expectation or idea what Australia and NSW would be like.

NSW State Elections are going to be held on 25th March 2023.Nathan is a Liverpool City Councillor, Treasurer of Local Government NSW, sits on the boards of a few community organisations and a superannuation fund. He has also worked in project management and information technology across the financial services, education and public sectors.

Nathan has a strong record of fighting for the people of Leppington. He has led calls to ensure our communities get the roads, schools and health facilities locals deserve. He has backed residents in their fight against overdevelopment and for proper infrastructure in our area. Nathan has also stood with the essential workers who have gotten us through the pandemic in their campaign for better pay and conditions.

A proud and passionate “Westie”, Nathan has the experience and integrity to ensure the South West gets its fair share. He will bring a fresh approach for Leppington and will fight to ensure that every one of us has access to the immense opportunities that our state has to offer.

In a tete a tete interview with him, Nathan highlighted his key election agendas in below areas for Leppington –

Education – Nathan mentioned newly built high density areas like Denham Court and Austral suffered from lack of a public high school. He has promised to look at building a public high school in Leppington. He has listened to the community needs of families and has solid plans to upgrade Eagle Vale High School into a sports high school.

Transport Infrastructure – He has candidly said he is no stranger to being stuck on long train trips from work trying to get home to

the family. He has recently asked Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen to visit Leppington station to speak with locals about their daily battle with poor transport services in our region.

Over the years, train services from our community to the CBD and Parramatta have gotten slower and less frequent. I’m calling on a review of the train timetable to better suit the needs of our growing population in Leppington, he said. The community clearly wants a train at least every 15 minutes for Parramatta and CBD.

Cost of Living – Labor will cap tolls at $60 a week. This toll relief will make a huge difference to the family budget and help ease the increasing cost of living pressures, he added. He stated this will help many tradespersons, truck drivers and shift workers using M7 and other toll roads to get to work every day.

Multicultural Communities – Leppington is hub of multicultural communities. Labor has pledged 4 million for multicultural communi-

ties. Specialised mental health services are needed. Family Violence facilities will also see an uplift in the area.

Health – The new Aerotropolis will have a super speciality health precinct. Fairfield Hospital will be refurbished. There are also plans to hire new staff for Liverpool and Campbelltown hospitals as well.

Small business – Nathan mentioned, Labor has pledged a suite of policies for small businesses. Payroll reporting will be done to Federal government instead of state government and ATO to streamline processes and ease for small business owners. In October 2020, the government announced initial trials to streamline the process for outdoor dining. But these trials will expire at the end of the year and require the hassle, time, and expense of a full DA process. NSW Labor will make these arrangements permanent.

Voting is compulsory on 25th March 2023. Good luck Nathan for the upcoming elections!