Bhutanese in South Australia celebrate five years of settlement
South Australian parliamentarian Zoe Bettison has expressed happiness over the progress Bhutanese, resettled in South Australia, are making so far.
She was addressing the annual gathering of Bhutanese who were celebrating their fifth year of arrival in Adelaide from Nepal. The first Bhutanese family under resettlement program arrived Australia on May 12, 2008. Bhutanese in South Australia mark the day as annual settlement day.
On Saturday, the day was celebrated with cultural festivities and honouring ceremonies.
According to event coordinator Indra Adhikari, who is also the general secretary of Adelaide based Bhutanese Australian Association of South Australia (BAASA), around 90 Bhutanese volunteers were honoured for the help they extended to newly arrived migrants.
Over a dozen volunteers from non-Bhutanese communities who extended support to Bhutanese in early days of their arrival were also honoured. Similarly BAASA awarded appreciation certification to agencies and institutions who supported the newly arrived Bhutanese immigrants.
City of Playford, City of Salisbury, City of Port Adelaide Enfield, Australian Refugee Association, Migrant Resources Centre of South Australia, Society of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service (STTARS), Lutheran Community Care, Anglicare SA, Northern Volunteers, Radio Adelaide, Multicultural Youth SA, Twelve25 Youth Enterprise Centre, St. Vincent De Paul Society, Multicultural Communities Council SA, Baptist Care, Family SA and Migrant Health Services are some of the agencies extending support to Bhutanese immigrants.
Addressing the gathering Mayor of the City of Salisbury Gillian Aldridge said, “Within a short time, you have learnt the importance of forming close bonds with one another, as well as with your new countrymen and women.”
She added, “You have overcome your fears and apprehensions by sharing the challenges and opportunities faced when settling into a new country, and you have done this by becoming part of our community. She appreciated the culture of volunteering in the community.
Mayor of City of Playford Glens Docherty said, “While becoming an Australian citizen is a wonderful thing, we also appreciate the need and desire to retain your sense of identity and your continuation of your cultural practices and values and I note the contribution that the Bhutanese Australian Association of South Australia is making in this regard.
He added, “I appreciate how important the Association is and the pivotal role that it plays for you as the sole organisation representing the Bhutanese community in South Australia.”
Addressing the function, chairperson of BAASA Suren Ghaley said, “We are very much indebted to your (agencies and orgnisations) support and solidarity in making us feel home in this new land, making us feel that we are with our friends and families.”
Source: Nepalnews.com