February 2023 Updates

Dear Visitor ji, 

 

Namaste!!

 

Happy New Year and welcome back to the first edition of the 2023 FINACT Newsletter. I hope you all had a chance to relax and revive during the summer holidays. Nice to see, for a change, airports buzzing back again with lots of people heading overseas visiting family and friends.  

 

In this issue we capture highlights from the FINACT Australia Day and India’s Republic Day celebrations in partnership with Vinnies, Fair Canberra and India Australia Association of Canberra, on 26 January. Thanks to the assistance of the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council.

 

We took the opportunity to felicitate Prof Jagadish Chennupati AC, recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, highest civilian award given to overseas citizens of India, by the President of India on 10 January 2023. Prof Jagadish paid tributes to both the countries - his birth country India and adopted country Australia for the opportunities. He has a special message to youngsters -”A boy from a small village in India who studied in front of a kerosene lamp can become a president of Australian Academy of Sciences, can get highest awards from both the countries - the sky's the limit for you all.  Believe in yourself, work hard, work smart, everything is possible in life” What an inspiring speech!

 

Wish you all a very best 2023. Pursue your dreams. Be nice and do good!

 

Dr Shanti Reddy

FINACT President

 

 

 

  

Upcoming Events 

 

 

 

 

 

National Multicultural Festival (NMF) 

 

Entire Canberra is looking forward to the silver jubilee celebrations of the National Multicultural Festival from 17-19 February 2023. This is a huge event for FINACT and its member organisations with hundreds of Indian diaspora members showcasing India’s rich cultural diversity and heritage. For the first time the festival will include workshops which will provide hands-on experience to participants. This is a novel idea where participants can try new cultural experiences. FINACT will be hosting three workshops - 

• Workshop on henna painting
• Workshop on sari draping
• Handlooms workshop including a live demo 

 

 

 

 

National Museum Special Exhibition

The National Museum of Australia opened a new exhibition -  Feared and Revered: Feminine Power through the Ages,  in collaboration with the British Museum.  

Feared and Revered features a range of significant and beautiful Indian artworks and icons from the British Museum including paintings, carvings and sculpture depicting Lakshmi, Bhudevi and Vishnu, Durga, Kali and Parvati. One of the highlights of the exhibition is a contemporary icon of the goddess Kali made in 2022 by Kaushik Ghosh, a Kolkata-based artist who creates deities for temples and festival parades.

The exhibition explores female spiritual beings across global culture from the ancient world to the present day. It brings together a fascinating group of goddesses, demons, witches, spirits and saints and focuses on how these figures have influenced feminine and female power, representation and identity through history. 

Past Events

Media Launch of National Multicultural Festival - 14 Feb

FINACT Australia Day - Thurs 26 Jan

FINACT in partnership with Vinnies, Fair Canberra, India Australia Association of Canberra, delivered a successful  Australia Day event at Margaret Hendry School Hall in Taylor, on 26 January. 

The event was graced by many dignitaries including H.E. Manpreet Vohra, High Commissioner of India, Professor Jagadish Chennupati AC, Minister Rattenbury, Minister Orr, Yerrabi members James Milligan MLA, Leanne Castley MLA and Andrew Braddock MLA, and over 500 community members who participated in the event. Thank you all for making this a memorable event reflecting on the significance of the day. Thanks to the assistance by the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council grant. 

For immigrants, Australia day is about reflecting on their journey to Australia, becoming part of this great country and nation building. It is about aspirations, hardship and a new beginning for millions of people who come to Australia to build a safe, inclusive and prosperous life. Migrants make this country a world leader in many fields. We honoured one such person distinguished Prof Jagadish from ANU, who has made both Australia and India very proud through his pioneering work in nanotechnology. 

• Serena Williams, Ngunnawal elder, hosted a wonderful welcome to the country ceremony. You can listen to the beautiful story of Ngunnawal people Serena shared with us on that day by clicking this link.  
• Sivaram Narayanamoorthy performed an amazing piece of fusion music, beat boxing with his didgeridoo. Don’t miss watching his performance here.
• Thanks to Ananya Ravi, Srikar, Pranav, Thrayee, Jhanvi, Anannya and Kiera from Mandir School of Music for entertaining the audience with classical Indian and English songs. 
• You can listen to H.E Manpreet Vohra, High Commissioner’s message on the importance of the day to both Australia and India.   
• We are grateful to Prof Jagadish Chennupati AC, for the opportunity to meet and greet him on receiving the highest civilian award given to overseas citizens of India from the President of India on 10 January 2023. 
• Finally, thanks to Tim Hardy from Artists Society of Canberra (ASOC) and Gabrielle Rumble, Content Director ABC Canberra for judging the artworks. Thanks to all the participants for submitting very thoughtful, beautiful artworks. The panel had a tough job of shortlisting six winners from nearly 40 submissions. Please see winners and their artwork here. 

Australian Cyber Security Centre

Given the increasing number of data breaches lately, it is probably a good time to listen to experts about what we can do to protect us and our family members.

ACSC provides easy to understand tips and techniques for you to stay secure when working, socialising, banking, shopping or just browsing online. A good place to start is Do things securely. 

Felicitation of

Prof Chennupati Jagdish AC

ACT Multiculturism Bill 2022 Testimony

FINACT provided a submission on the draft Bill to the ACT Government in 2022. This Bill is now tabled in the ACT Assembly and is currently being debated. This is an important Bill and we hope it will have positive impacts on the community in embracing and celebrating multiculturalism in the capital region.

Canberra is an international city where people from all over the world come to live and work in this beautiful city. Migrants not only bring professional skills but also a diverse range of cultures, practices, faiths, values which we share with the broader community. This Bill recognises these diverse cultures, rich heritage and customs. This is a first step to nurture inclusiveness ensuring harmonious and united communities. We are glad the ACT Government is embarking on this journey. 

We hope to see positive life experiences for newly arrived migrants, students and vulnerable members of the community, who at times feel left out and discriminated against. We hope to see the new advisory council, to come into effect in September 2023, play an active role in promoting harmony and inclusiveness, bringing communities together. 

 

 

 

  

 

Our Sincere thanks to High Commission of India, Canberra, ACT Government and businesses for sponsoring the Arvensys AusIndia Fair 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brainobrain Kids Academy Pty Ltd

Thanks to Ram Kavuri, Managing Director, Brainobrain Kids Academy Pty Ltd for supporting FINACT as a silver sponsor. For more information on their services please visit their web site http://www.brainobrainaustralia.com/.  You can contact them on +61 450 033 556 / +61 424 560 580, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.