Fun-filled fundraiser for WGD

Youngest Goan and family present Beth-Beth-Lehem Association with profits from  celebrations

 
The third World Goa Day celebrations in Adelaide, an annual event organised by Goans, continued to make great waves, drawing a large gathering who were treated to some great family entertainment. It was a lively community fundraiser event, and was an instant hit with participants of all ages who enjoyed Goan music and food until midnight. The celebration was a party not just for Goan migrants, but also for their Indian and Australian friends who were treated to some excellent Goan hospitality. The event was held to raise funds for The Beth-Beth-Lehem Association, a not for profit organisation situated in Karwar, a rural area just near Goa. This residence cares for dozens of homeless and mentally ill men rescued from the streets of the big cities.
The Chief Guest for the evening was Rev Fr Salvador Gomes Coutinho, Superior General of Beth-Beth-Lehem who thanked the gathering for their generosity and care shown to the Association. Fr Coutinho offered prayers and blessings to all the people of Australia and thanked the Goan community in South Australia and others who undertook this project to raise funds for the association. He said that the funds would go a long way in providing basic amenities to residents of Beth-Beth-Lehem. Fr Coutinho informed the gathering that money collected during the previous two years of World Goa Day celebrations in Adelaide went towards the construction of the hospital project. City of Charles Sturt Councillor from Findon ward, Chev Joe Ienco – OSJ, CMC, JP was a special invitee who appreciated the work carried out by the organisers to support a genuine cause that has affected so many people. During the event, the youngest Goan present, one month old baby Bernice Silveira, along with her parents Serling and Janice, and sister Swizel, presented a purse containing the handsome profits from the show to Rev Fr Coutinho. A kaleidoscopic toon titled ‘Good Old Goa’ by renowned Indian cartoonist Alexyz Fernandes was also auctioned, in addition to a bottle of the ever-popular Goan cashew feni. The toon was picked up by well-known Adelaide-based doctor Agnelo DeSouza and his wife Mathilda.The feni went to Daniel Colaco.
The capacity audience was treated to a sumptuous Goan spread which included the famous pork vindaloo and other delicacies. Leonard Carter, Shelvin Roswan, Ashton D’sa, Allan Pinto, Ghyan Pinto, Peter Lobo and Tony Hendricks enthusiastically relived the Goan musical past with their band The Music Revival, formed just for the evening. Old Konkani songs so popular in Goa, brought back nostalgic memories until DJ Nick Fernandes brought the crowd back to the present with top dance tunes to end the night on a high. WGD is intended as a day for Goans worldwide to focus on and take pride in their identity, culture, language, traditions, music and cuisine.
The first World Goa Day was held on August 20, 2000 in the UK. Its objective was to unite Goans all over the world in a day of common celebration. Today WGD is celebrated by over 40 organisations across the globe including Goa, Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec, Montreal, Calgary), Australia (Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, New South Wales), New Zealand, United States (New York, LA, New Jersey, Houston, California), Kenya, Mombasa, Tanzania, Mozambique, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga, the Middle East, Portugal, Spain, Pakistan and Germany.