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PREMIER KRISTINA KENEALLY PAYS TRIBUTE TO INDIAN SUBCONTINENT COMMUNITY
(Report & Photos by Mr. Harish Velji, Sydney)
The Premier of New South Wales Kristina Keneally at Government House paid tribute to the contribution of the Indian Subcontinent community in NSW at the inaugural Premier’s Indian Subcontinent Community Awards.
The Keneally Government created the awards to recognise volunteer work and philanthropy in the Indian Subcontinent community. The award ceremony was held at Government House Sydney on the evening of the Fri, 18th Feb 2011.
"NSW is blessed to be home to more than 100 000 people of Indian Subcontinent heritage and the community is an integral part of what NSW is today," Ms Keneally said.
"The Indian Subcontinent community includes people from a wide range of professions, from education, trades and business to the arts and public service.
"The Indian Subcontinent community is truly one of the backbones of our society."
The 2011 award winners are:
• Trade and Industry Award - Mr Chandru Tolani;
• Arts and Culture Award -Ms Kumud Merani;
• Community Harmony Award- Mr Pawan Luthra;
• Community Service Award Mr Mohit Tolani; and
• Lifetime Achievement Award (two winners) - Dr Siddalingeshwara Orekondy and Dr
• Gurcharn Singh Sidhu.
"I congratulate our four winners who have distinguished themselves with outstanding service to the Indian Subcontinent community," Ms Keneally said.
"I’d particularly like to pay tribute to our Lifetime Achievement winners, Dr Orekondy and Dr Sidhu, who have devoted more than 37 and 45 years of service respectively to the community in various fields.
"The challenges of balancing work life with family, as well as trying to find time for recreation, makes the contributions all of our winners even more significant.
"On behalf of the NSW Government I congratulate and acknowledge your tireless service to the people of the Indian Subcontinent community."
Co-convenor of the Parliamentary Friends of India, Member for Macquarie Fields, Dr Andrew McDonald said: "The Premier’s Indian Subcontinent Community Awards are an important way to recognise and pay tribute to the enormous role the Indian Subcontinent community plays in our State."
"I congratulate the winners of the inaugural Indian Subcontinent Awards for their dedicated service to the people of NSW."
(Please Note: Next week, the exclusive coverage of the function by Syed Zafar Hussain will be update in Sada-e-Watan)
