8 minute read
Cancer Screening- Talk with experts
By: Harmohan Walia
AASHA is A Non Profit Aged Care Organisation who believes that our Seniors deserve the best. To help them achieve this, they strive to help Seniors from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities in general and Seniors from South Asian Communities in particular, achieve good physical and mental health and a good quality of life.
They organise social hubs, health promotion activities, forums on health and information sessions about services available for seniors.
Recently they organised a talk with experts on Cancer Screening. The following experts spoke this afternoon at Wentworthville Community Centre:
1. Sheetal Challam, Multicultural Strategic
Advisor - Cancer Institute NSW Cervical
Cancer. 2. Dr. Sanjay Adusumilli, General and Colorectal Surgeon. Colon Cancer is common in Indian subcontinent communities. 3. Jesusa Helaratne, Deputy Director NSW
Multicultural Health Communication
Services (MHCS). 4. Sou Helmey, Marketing & Recruitment
Coordinator Breast Cancer. 5. Dr. Nagamma Prakash – GP
Vipra Sharma made the seniors exercise on Bollywood music (Dance Fit). Vijay Jogia and Akanksha Srivastava entertained with Bollywood songs. Snacks, tea and lunch were also served to seniors.
By: Sue Advani
For over two years, a team of three Multicultural Community Liaison Officers from Bankstown and Parramatta PACs have worked on a visual resource addressing the growing concerns around dowry abuse in the sub-continent communities. Dowry- related abuse is often linked to instances of human trafficking and forced marriage, as well as economic and physical abuse in migrant communities.
As a result of this initiative, all three Multicultural officers were nominated finalists for “The Rotary Clubs NSW Police Officer of the Year Awards 2021” – the IJ (Irene Juergens APM) Fellowship Award (unsworn officer category).
Two videos have been created addressing the issue of dowry abuse within the subcontinent community and to educate first responders to better understand this form of Domestic Violence.. There have been consultations with community members, production companies and actors all of which come from the community in focus. The team acknowledges that cultural practises in their true organic intent and contents are amazing. It is when those practises impact on a person’s safety and overall wellbeing that it could require police or service provider interventions.
Dowry Abuse is a form of Domestic Violence- not always physical but unseen emotional, economic and financial abuse, isolation and gas lighting destroying the soul. Many affected are new migrants on
temporary spouse visas who have no idea where to seek help often suffering alone and in silence.
Dowry Abuse is illegal in India and the police are able to take action against the perpetrators. We are working hard with the NSW and Local and Federal governments to get Dowry Abuse included in the definition of Domestic Violence and Coercive Control so that suitable action can also be taken against perpetrators in Australia. We will not rest until it is.
The CMRC and IWE hosted the screening for the various community organisations supporting those affected by this social disease.
It was a privilege to be a part of the panel discussion following the screening. While no community is immune to Domestic Violence, let each one of us take action to stop Violence also caused by Dowry Abuse - a silent killer. Let us not look the other way - this is everyone’s problem- Speak out and Support any way you can.
Let us all Say No to Violence and keep this important conversation going - Together we will make a difference
By: Lalitha Chellappan
Sydneysiders thronged to the stateof-the-art Aware Super Theatre on 3rd Sep. to watch their favourite comedy king Kapil Sharma live in action. Rain was no deterrent nor was the industrial action that has lately been quite an annoyance, severely impacting public transport.
The air of excitement as fans and supporters flocked at the venue to watch Kapil and his scintillating team was to be seen to be believed. It bore testimony to the popularity of the lead comedian Kapil Sharma who lit up the faces of the audience at the very crowded venue, as they cheered and lauded him along the way.
The event started over 30 minutes late as the anchors kept asking people to take a seat, given several enthusiasts continued socialising at the foyer. A number of people had arrived on time and were seated on time.
After a lively dance sequence by the Bollywood Dance School to kickstart the evening, the event started with Kapil’s troupe member Rajiv Thakur and a female artist’s exchange. Rajiv kept the audience engaged as he interacted with them; those that walked in late were addressed as chief guests or attention seekers, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
Kapil was welcomed with a loud applause and was the instant favourite. Having seen him on television over the years, seeing him standing in front of them was a treat for the audience. He marked his arrival on stage with the Oh Baby song and by thanking the audience for having come to hear him despite the chilly weather. He was very appreciative of the cleanliness and beauty of the Sydney city and of how well-dressed people were. He admired how complimenting each other was quite a norm here. Comparisons drawn with similar scenarios in India were hilarious. Even the pandemic didn’t sound too bad hearing him talk about how he and his wife started resembling each other simply being stuck at home and that he would wear her cloths at times so that he didn’t have to wash his own. All the remarks he made were laced with humour. It’s admirable how he connected with the audience and instantly found something funny about anything they’d would say or about someone who walked in. A man who rocked up late was asked by him if he was Indian and that if not it was ok as he (Kapil) could speak English but he quickly quipped adding may god give the man strength to understand his (Kapil’s) English, much to the crowd’s delight. He didn’t even spare himself as he added that he had a small family with two kids and - unfortunately - only one wife. He went on to joke about the bumper-tobumper traffic in India, the way Indians would eat mangoes or overspeed on streets. The joy and happiness he spread lit up many faces for the duration of the event.
Free flow of humour had the audience in splits, there was something in it for everyone. His humour was at times anecdotal or topical and farcical at other times. He lifted spirits for sure.
During his break the audience witnessed other crew members from his team Krushna Abhishek aka Sapna and Kiku Sharda who kept the audience engaged with their antics. They were funny though it seemed like the attendees were waiting to see Kapil return to take stage. He was welcomed back with a thunderous applause.
The comedy show subsequently turned into a musical evening where Kapil burst into a display of talent that many of us weren’t aware of. He’s an excellent singer and was accompanied by talented musicians who together made this an evening to remember. Of particular mention was his rendition of Pardah hai pardah and Jhuki jhuki si nazar.
A Rip-roaring Evening with Kapil Sharma
His mimicking singers was a treat to watch, leaving the audience uber amused. His singing numbers such as Hothon se choo lo tum and Koi fariyaad were accompanied with anecdotes and therefore twice as much entertaining. So popular was his singing that he decided to spend the rest of the evening singing and people loved it, more so when he remarked that he usually didn’t get to sing at his shows and that this was special as it was thanks to the love the audience was bestowing upon him. One wonders if some of the viewers who came purely for comic relief were disappointed as the theme was comedy after all.
The Kapil Sharma Show 2022 was a runway success, adding another feather to Cinestar Events’ cap. Laughter is indeed the best medicine, and the organisers provided the Sydney audience a perfect opportunity to forget about their dayto-day stress and sit back to enjoy an evening full of chuckles, giggles, fun and frolic.
