GOPIO Aims High after Young Achievers Award Nite 2010
It was one of those rare occasions when you feel so proud of your community, watching young children from the community excel in education and sports. Global Organization for People of Indian Origin, (GOPIO) came up with the idea of recognising children from the Indian community who had excelled and executed the concept brilliantly. Watching the young kids being felicitated on the stage did bring up a few watery eyes in the audience. Members from the Australian political community were in attendance obviously impressed by the kids and the venue was full with over 400 people attending the event on a Sunday evening. Young Achievers Award Nite or Gyaan 2010 organised on 23rd May was a noble initiative by GOPIO to honour thirty two high achieving students from the Indian community in the fields of academics, arts and sports.
The guests were welcomed with traditional “Tilak” with a “Aarti Thaali‘ at the door before they entered the hall. The evening began with the traditional lighting of the lamp followed by a welcome note by GOPIO Sydney President Lucky Singh who also dazzled as the MC for the event. She said, “It is a night of celebrating hard work, commitment and enthusiasm. The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.”
All the guests stood up and observed a one minute silence at the beginning of the event to mourn the tragic death of 159 victims in the Mangalore air crash which had crashed a day earlier in India.
The Chief Guest for the event Indian High Commissioner to Australia, Sujatha Singh, flew in from Canberra to honour the students and be part of this event. She described the event as an evening well spent and commended the efforts of the students who had done well.
Other guests for the evening included Nathan Rees former NSW Premier, Peter Primrose Minister for Youth, Volunteering, Ageing & Disability Services, Michael Richardson MP representative of the Leader of the State Opposition, Julie Owens Federal MP, Gautam Roy Indian Consul, Penny Sharpe MLC, Hornsby Shire Councillor Dilip Chopra and Parramatta Councillor Prabir Maitra. One of noticeable things at Indian functions these days is the heavy presence of Labor party members. Labor party had booked two tables for the event and its candidates for Chiefly, Ed Husic and Greenway, Mitchelle Rowland were also present in the function.
Harry Walia, President GOPIO Sydney North West addressed the audience and read the message of Chairman, GOPIO International, Inder Singh. Said Harmohan Walia, “It took 2 months for us to get a list of achievers from the community and we then formed a selection committee to shortlist the students. All of the GOPIO chapters have worked hard for the success of this event and we will continue this award ceremony next year as well.”
Said Peter Primose, “Initiatives like tonight’s achievers award provide us with a great opportunity to further encourage young children and motivate them to study hard and become leaders of tomorrow. I am certain the inputs and guidance of community, government and our society will enable them to be more productive in future. The goals of GOPIO should itself inspire students of the significance of their culture. On behalf of Premier Kristina Keneally and Govt of NSW I thank GOPIO for this excellent community initiative to recognise young children.” He also read out Premier Kristina Keneally’s message, “I want to say my warmest congratulations to the young achievers of Indian origin for their successful completion of 2009 high school certificate in NSW. I am sure all these young achievers will make an important contribution to Australian future and whatever career they chose I wish them all good success in their future and I thank GOPIO for this excellent initiative.”
MP Michael Richardson representing Barry O Farrell, expressed congratulations to high achievers in education and sports and said, “GOPIO is reaching out to entire Australians. India has made great advances in technology. Australia and India have long standing ties and are bound by Indian Ocean. Indians have a long history of migration and they value education greatly and a good example of this is James Ruse selective school which is in my electorate and has a large number of students of Indian origin.”
Nathan Rees was greeted warmly by the audience and he opened his speech in Hindi by saying Namaskar. He said “At the outset, congratulation to the hard work by GOPIO in putting this event in such a short time and this is a tribute to all of you. Indians understand education better than Australians. We will not succeed unless we improve our education and Australia has one of the best education systems in the world and some of these students being felicitated are part of this. Education is the deep bedrock of any advanced nation and I am happy that people of your heritage are so committed to education.”
“No immigrant community in Australia has achieved more in such a short time than Indian community. Your commitment to work ethics, family and justice and fairness is outstanding.” He got huge accolades for finishing his lines again in Hindi and said,
“Akhir mein sab students ko badai aur mubarakbaad.
Aap sabko apne upar garv hona chaihye “
The students were awarded certificates and trophies by the various dignitaries. The top 3 achievers received a pleasant surprise, when they were awarded laptops by Sub Continent Friends of Labor, 99 Acers Properties, Sharma’s Kitchen and India Club. Amit Dasgupta, Consul General of India also had special gifts for the students. The dignitaries were also presented with a book by the Art of Living Foundation.
The award ceremony was followed by an entertainment program which included traditional and Bollywood dances performed by popular dancer Varun Tewari and Bhangra by Punjab World Entertainers and Bollywood songs. Cheryl Khurana also gave a beautiful dance performance.
Abbas Raza Alvi, Co-Chair GOPIO International Cultural Council recited the following couplet on the occasion:
“Yeh zameen tumahri hogi, Aasmaan tumhara hoga,
Tum jo pyar bantoge, Yeh jahan tumhara hoga…….”
Amit Pall President GOPIO Parramatta closed the evening with a thank you note acknowledging all sponsors and dignitaries.
To check more photographs click on the photographs below:
Ram
534 days ago
Gopio has a different name but in reality it is a global orgainisation of punjabi indian origin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!