In keeping with the Sikh New Year celebrations, the Prime Minister honoured the Sikh community for ten years of “extraordinary” volunteer efforts.
Sikh Volunteers Australia has celebrated ten years of providing food and support to Australians in need during natural disasters.
Alongside Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Bruce MP Julian Hill, Anthony Albanese celebrated Sikh Vaisakhi at Casey, in southeast Melbourne, on Sunday.
In addition, Mr. Albanese wore a turban to commemorate the Sikh Volunteers’ achievement of a milestone in community service.
Mr Albanese described Vaisakhi as an occasion of great religious significance to Sikh Australians but reserved special praise for Sikh Volunteers.
“They do extraordinary work,” Mr Albanese said.
“During the pandemic they provided food for students who were in desperate need for that support. During the bushfires, during floods.
“Wherever there are issues confronting Australians, we see the best of the Australian character and there’s no community organisation that has done more than Sikh Volunteers Australia.
“We see them whether it be here in Victoria, or up in Lismore, wherever there are floods or natural weather events, we see people putting their values into practice by providing that support to their fellow Australians who are in need.”
As a thank you for his support, Sikh Volunteers Australia gave the PM a trophy, kirpan (sword), shawl, and a stack of books.
Mr. Albanese had to wear a turban throughout the ceremony because of the religious and cultural significance of the kirpan.
Speaking to Mr. Hill, he noted that many communities affected by natural catastrophes now welcomed the presence of Sikh Volunteers Australia.
“(They have) become beloved to Australians, not just here in Victoria, but in New South Wales and across the country for living their values and helping out time after time in natural disasters, the weekly food vans,” he said.
The Melbourne-based operation has cooked and delivered hundreds of thousands of meals across the city and beyond, up to 1500 of them per day during the city’s COVID-19 lockdowns.
It happens just as the volunteer group is probably getting ready to leave for NSW’s flood-affected areas after several days of intense rain.
According to Mr. Albanese, the 13 local government areas surrounding the Illawarra, Shellharbour, and Wollongong area have since received disaster assistance.
Funding will also be available for the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury region, and other places that have been negatively affected by similar flooding incidents.
