Full transcript of the remarks of Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the reception in honour of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

What a thrill to be here at this iconic Australian landmark, this sacred site in the city of Melbourne.

That’s what it is: a sacred site, here, in the city of Melbourne.

I acknowledge the Leader of the Victorian Opposition the Labor Party’s Dan Andrews.

I acknowledge my good friend Premier Denis Napthine – a great friend of the Indian community.

Most of all I acknowledge so many people here to support our country, to support our relationship with magnificent India.

I believe last Sunday, there was a train full of people that left Melbourne for Sydney. It was dubbed “the Modi Express”.

I have a feeling “the Modi Express” has just come back to Melbourne!

It’s good that we are here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground because it is said that India and Australia share a great passion – we both love beating England at cricket.

It is a nice marker in our history that the first ever Test series that India played after independence was against Australia.

It was the first Test series that India played after independence against Australia and the third Test of that series was played here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It was in that game that Sir Donald Bradman, who is as much a hero in India as in Australia, scored a century in both innings – very good for Donald.

In the fourth Test, The Don had to share the limelight with Vijay Hazare who became the first Indian cricketer ever to score a century in both innings of a Test match.

So, whatever the good Don could do, India – independent India – was able to trump.

Now, cricket is a wonderful game. It’s great to be here at the Cricket Ground but the relationship between Australia and India is about so much more than cricket.

We share a common heritage, we share a history, but our greatest bond – the greatest bond between our two countries – is the half million Australians of Indian background who have contributed so much to building modern Australia.

I want to say to all of you, your hard work, your commitment to family and community, your willingness to ‘have a go’ has made this great country even greater.

In any one year, there are about 40,000 Indian students studying here in Australia – many of them here in Melbourne.

Our duty – and I say this particularly here in Melbourne, Victoria – our duty is to take care of them as our own and to let all of them become ambassadors for India here and for Australia when they go home.

And with the New Colombo Plan, which is now swinging into action, thousands of Australian students will study in India – and they can be ambassadors for both of our countries as well.

I have to say I feel that I have got to know Prime Minister Modi very well here in Australia over the last few days but before that in India where I was his first overseas visitor after he became Prime Minister.

I regard Prime Minister Modi as more than a kindred spirit – as almost a brother.

He wants more trade, more jobs and more investment in infrastructure.

His commitment is to ‘red carpet, not red tape’ because he recognises that the foundation of wealth starts with the private sector.

And we both believe that the keys to our countries’ success is the power of our people.

Now, I want to say a very personal message to my fellow Australians of Indian background in closing these remarks: you have come to a magnificent country.

I say to all of my fellow Australians of Indian background: you have come to a magnificent country but you have come from a country that is led by a magnificent man and I know you will make him extremely welcome tonight.

Full transcript of the remarks of Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the reception in honour of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

What a thrill to be here at this iconic Australian landmark, this sacred site in the city of Melbourne.
That’s what it is: a sacred site, here, in the city of Melbourne.
I acknowledge the Leader of the Victorian Opposition the Labor Party’s Dan Andrews.
I acknowledge my good friend Premier Denis Napthine – a great friend of the Indian community.
Most of all I acknowledge so many people here to support our country, to support our relationship with magnificent India.
I believe last Sunday, there was a train full of people that left Melbourne for Sydney. It was dubbed “the Modi Express”.
I have a feeling “the Modi Express” has just come back to Melbourne!
It’s good that we are here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground because it is said that India and Australia share a great passion – we both love beating England at cricket.
It is a nice marker in our history that the first ever Test series that India played after independence was against Australia.
It was the first Test series that India played after independence against Australia and the third Test of that series was played here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It was in that game that Sir Donald Bradman, who is as much a hero in India as in Australia, scored a century in both innings – very good for Donald.
In the fourth Test, The Don had to share the limelight with Vijay Hazare who became the first Indian cricketer ever to score a century in both innings of a Test match.
So, whatever the good Don could do, India – independent India – was able to trump.

Now, cricket is a wonderful game. It’s great to be here at the Cricket Ground but the relationship between Australia and India is about so much more than cricket.
We share a common heritage, we share a history, but our greatest bond – the greatest bond between our two countries – is the half million Australians of Indian background who have contributed so much to building modern Australia.
I want to say to all of you, your hard work, your commitment to family and community, your willingness to ‘have a go’ has made this great country even greater.
In any one year, there are about 40,000 Indian students studying here in Australia – many of them here in Melbourne.
Our duty – and I say this particularly here in Melbourne, Victoria – our duty is to take care of them as our own and to let all of them become ambassadors for India here and for Australia when they go home.
And with the New Colombo Plan, which is now swinging into action, thousands of Australian students will study in India – and they can be ambassadors for both of our countries as well.
I have to say I feel that I have got to know Prime Minister Modi very well here in Australia over the last few days but before that in India where I was his first overseas visitor after he became Prime Minister.
I regard Prime Minister Modi as more than a kindred spirit – as almost a brother.
He wants more trade, more jobs and more investment in infrastructure.
His commitment is to ‘red carpet, not red tape’ because he recognises that the foundation of wealth starts with the private sector.
And we both believe that the keys to our countries’ success is the power of our people.
Now, I want to say a very personal message to my fellow Australians of Indian background in closing these remarks: you have come to a magnificent country.
I say to all of my fellow Australians of Indian background: you have come to a magnificent country but you have come from a country that is led by a magnificent man and I know you will make him extremely welcome tonight.

A full transcript of Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a joint sitting of Australian parliament in Canberra

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of this land on which we stand today and pay my respects to the elders past and present. The honourable PM, the honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, the honourable the President of the Senate, the honourable Leader of the Opposition, honourable members and senators, ladies and gentlemen, thank you Mr PM, my friend Tony Abbott, congratulations to you and the people of Australia on a successful G20.

APPLAUSE

And the third head of the Government, you are listening to this week. I do not know how you are doing this. Maybe this is PM Abbott’s way of shirtfronting you. APPLAUSE I am truly honoured and humbled by this opportunity to speak to you. I stand here as one of you. A representative of the people. I came to you with the greeting of 1.25 billion people of a nation. That are linked to Australia by the great Indian Ocean, by a connected history and of many shared inheritance and even more by a deeply inter linked destiny. And today – the spirit … that is heard by many starting stories of human success and sacrifice. This morning, PM and I honoured our soldiers who 100 years ago made the supreme sacrifice together in the battle of Gallipoli. The man who designed this beautiful capital of Canberra, Walter Burley-Griffin, lies buried in the old city in India.

APPLAUSE

More than 150 years ago an Australian novelist, a lawyer, John lang, fought the legal battle for a brave Indian … fighter, against the British in India’s first war of independence. He also lies buried in India. The statue of Gandhi in Canberra is a symbol of our shared values. We celebrate the legion of Bradman and the class of Tendulkar together. We are embraced by Australian speed

… Until Shane Warne came along. Above all, we are united by the ideals of democracy. Today, as I stand in this temple of democracy, I consider … nations tos placed because democracy offers the best opportunity for the human spirit to flourish. APPLAUSE Because we have the freedom to choose, the power to speak and the right to remove and for us in politics, with no option but to live with this grace. … Generations, representatives, one of the great nations of the world today Australia. To the abundance of resources, nature has been generous to you. But it is the people of Australia who have made Australia what it is today.

APPLAUSE

A beacon of democracy and rule of law. A nation that leads the search of lost aircraft, one of the most prosperous nations in the world. Among the best in human development index, I nation with some of the best cities in the world, some of the most wonderful minds and advanced technology base and a nation with great sporting skills. Not just immense beauty, Australia, but also of a great quality of life. Today, its cities are alive with the richness of the world’s diversity and it is home to 450,000 Indians who are as proud to be part of Australia as they are of their Indian heritage.

Honourable members, there was a time when many of us, Australia was a distant land on the southern edge of the world. Today, the world sees Australia to be at the heart of the Asia Pacific  and intan ocean region. – Indian. It holds the key to this world’s future and Australia is at a cross roads. Australia has become more  engaged in this part of the world. We welcome it. Growing role in driving this region’s prosperity and saving its security. Because we in India seek the same future for this world. We also see Australia as a vital partner in India’s quest for progress and prosperity.

There are few countries in the world where we see so much synergy as we do in Australia. India, a nation of more than a billion seeking development. Australia a developed country of a few million people and vast resources. Since the turn of this century, India had been the second fastest growing economy in the world…

APPLAUSE

Millions have lifted themselves out of poverty into new life of possibilities. Today, we have a Government with a clear  maturity after 30 years. – a clear majority. From the remote villages to the bigger cities, there is new hope in India. In new energy. It is the energy of our youth. The 800 million people below the age of 35, eager for change, willing to work for it because now they believe that it is possible. They can make it  happen, it is this transformation that will unleash, in this six months that we have been in office, we have moved forward thinking, with ambition and thinking with speed. Seeking growth, not just for growth, but to transform the quality of life of every Indian.

I see Australia as a major partner in every area of our national priority, providing skills and education to our youth. Every household, the most affordable health  care, infrastructure that doesn’t affect our environment. Energy that does not cause our glaciers to melt. Clean coal and gas, renewable energy, a fuel for nuclear power. Cities that are more sustainable and liveable. Villages that offer opportunities. Agriculture that  is more and farms that are besht connected to markets. Practices and technology that save water – better. We have a new mission for turning India into a global name, not just in India but we want to find new pathways to prosperity, not simply driving down the roads of the previous century.

Much of India’s future cities and infrastructure each yet to be built and so we have eye unique opportunity to make our choices now. In every sector, agriculture, food processing, mining, infrastructure, finance and technology, energy, from providing funds and resources  to technology and working as partners and investors, Australia has immense opportunities participate in India’s progress. In turn, India will be the answer to  your search for new economic opportunities. And your desires to diversify your global economic engagement. Your source for world class – at home or manufacturing abroad, India’s development, demographic and demand provide a unique long term opportunity for Australia and all in the framework of democracy. There is no other example of this nature in the world. Indans are coming here in growing numbers and commitment. Honourable members, this is an age, region promises but also it is filled with challenges. We can only pursue our dreams if we have the confidence that our cities are safe.

Our nations are secure, our region is stable and our world is peaceful. This vast region and many unsettled questions and  new challenges, historical differences persist just by going but we worry about access and security in your part of the world more than ever before. Our region has seen huge progress on the foundation of peace and stability but we can not take this for granted. Preserving it will be the most important task in the region. India and Australia can play their part in it by expanding our security cooperation and depending on international partnerships in the region. But we do not have to rely on borrowed architecture of the past, nor do we have the luxury to choose who we work with and who we do not, but what we do need is to work together and  with others to create an environment and culture. That promotes the currency of coexistence and cooperation in which all nations, small and big, abide by international law and norms. Even when they have bitter disputes, we should maintain maritime security, we should work together on the seas and collaborate in international forums and we should work for awe universal respect for international law and global norms.

We must also support the process of economic integration in the region. An open global trading system that remains integrated. We must guard against regional trading issues becoming instrument of political competition. however, economic integration by itself would not be a strong basis for peace and stability. Without strong regional institutions, India and Australia are members of several institutions that are critical of for the region and for the world. We should connect more closely in east Asia. Summit, G20 and the Indian ocean region association, honourable members in our interconnected world, our shared challenges extend beyond our region.

Terrorism has become a major threat for us all. In India we have seen its threat closely for three decades and we see it with the clarity that comes with it. Terrorism, an expanding in its reach, India has made the commitment and a call to end the violence. It frees up money laundering, drug trafficking and arms smuggling. We have to deepen our bilateral security cooperation but we need a comprehensive global strategy for a global problem. It will require global security cooperation but even more, a policy of no distinction between terrorist groups of discrimination between nations. It is all hard work, bringing … this to states that will fight … them. In countries where it is most prevalent, every effort to deal with religion and terrorism. As I look to the future, we will also need to ensure that outer space and cyber space remain instruments of connectivity and prosperity, not new frontiers of conflict. Responding to the region’s disasters, combatting proliferation, acting against piracy, we work together on a fuel range of security challenges.

Honourable members, since my Government entered office, no region has seen more intense agreement on Asia’s part than the Asia Pacific region. We understand how deeply our future is linked to this region. India and Australia can play cricket hard with each other and I suspect we will next month. We see Australia as one of our foremost partners in the region. I was pleased to host PM Tony Abbott as my first state guest in September.

APPLAUSE

It has taken a PM of India 28 years to come to Australia. It should never have been so long. This will change. Australia will not be on the outer of the region but at the centre of our talks. So we stand together at the moment with enormous opportunity and great responsibility. I see a great future of prosperity, a partnership between India and Australia and a shared  commitment. PM Abbott started us on this new journey in September. With your help and with the help of the great people of India and Australia, I wish you the best for hosting great and successful world cricket next year. Thank you all.

A full transcript of Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a joint sitting of Australian parliament in Canberra

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of this land on which we stand today and pay my respects to the elders past and present. The honourable PM, the honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, the honourable the President of the Senate, the honourable Leader of the Opposition, honourable members and senators, ladies and gentlemen, thank you Mr PM, my friend Tony Abbott, congratulations to you and the people of Australia on a successful G20.
APPLAUSE
And the third head of the Government, you are listening to this week. I do not know how you are doing this. Maybe this is PM Abbott’s way of shirtfronting you. APPLAUSE I am truly honoured and humbled by this opportunity to speak to you. I stand here as one of you. A representative of the people. I came to you with the greeting of 1.25 billion people of a nation. That are linked to Australia by the great Indian Ocean, by a connected history and of many shared inheritance and even more by a deeply inter linked destiny. And today – the spirit … that is heard by many starting stories of human success and sacrifice. This morning, PM and I honoured our soldiers who 100 years ago made the supreme sacrifice together in the battle of Gallipoli. The man who designed this beautiful capital of Canberra, Walter Burley-Griffin, lies buried in the old city in India.
APPLAUSE
More than 150 years ago an Australian novelist, a lawyer, John lang, fought the legal battle for a brave Indian … fighter, against the British in India’s first war of independence. He also lies buried in India. The statue of Gandhi in Canberra is a symbol of our shared values. We celebrate the legion of Bradman and the class of Tendulkar together. We are embraced by Australian speed
… Until Shane Warne came along. Above all, we are united by the ideals of democracy. Today, as I stand in this temple of democracy, I consider … nations tos placed because democracy offers the best opportunity for the human spirit to flourish. APPLAUSE Because we have the freedom to choose, the power to speak and the right to remove and for us in politics, with no option but to live with this grace. … Generations, representatives, one of the great nations of the world today Australia. To the abundance of resources, nature has been generous to you. But it is the people of Australia who have made Australia what it is today.

APPLAUSE
A beacon of democracy and rule of law. A nation that leads the search of lost aircraft, one of the most prosperous nations in the world. Among the best in human development index, I nation with some of the best cities in the world, some of the most wonderful minds and advanced technology base and a nation with great sporting skills. Not just immense beauty, Australia, but also of a great quality of life. Today, its cities are alive with the richness of the world’s diversity and it is home to 450,000 Indians who are as proud to be part of Australia as they are of their Indian heritage.
Honourable members, there was a time when many of us, Australia was a distant land on the southern edge of the world. Today, the world sees Australia to be at the heart of the Asia Pacific  and intan ocean region. – Indian. It holds the key to this world’s future and Australia is at a cross roads. Australia has become more  engaged in this part of the world. We welcome it. Growing role in driving this region’s prosperity and saving its security. Because we in India seek the same future for this world. We also see Australia as a vital partner in India’s quest for progress and prosperity.
There are few countries in the world where we see so much synergy as we do in Australia. India, a nation of more than a billion seeking development. Australia a developed country of a few million people and vast resources. Since the turn of this century, India had been the second fastest growing economy in the world…
APPLAUSE
Millions have lifted themselves out of poverty into new life of possibilities. Today, we have a Government with a clear  maturity after 30 years. – a clear majority. From the remote villages to the bigger cities, there is new hope in India. In new energy. It is the energy of our youth. The 800 million people below the age of 35, eager for change, willing to work for it because now they believe that it is possible. They can make it  happen, it is this transformation that will unleash, in this six months that we have been in office, we have moved forward thinking, with ambition and thinking with speed. Seeking growth, not just for growth, but to transform the quality of life of every Indian.

I see Australia as a major partner in every area of our national priority, providing skills and education to our youth. Every household, the most affordable health  care, infrastructure that doesn’t affect our environment. Energy that does not cause our glaciers to melt. Clean coal and gas, renewable energy, a fuel for nuclear power. Cities that are more sustainable and liveable. Villages that offer opportunities. Agriculture that  is more and farms that are besht connected to markets. Practices and technology that save water – better. We have a new mission for turning India into a global name, not just in India but we want to find new pathways to prosperity, not simply driving down the roads of the previous century.
Much of India’s future cities and infrastructure each yet to be built and so we have eye unique opportunity to make our choices now. In every sector, agriculture, food processing, mining, infrastructure, finance and technology, energy, from providing funds and resources  to technology and working as partners and investors, Australia has immense opportunities participate in India’s progress. In turn, India will be the answer to  your search for new economic opportunities. And your desires to diversify your global economic engagement. Your source for world class – at home or manufacturing abroad, India’s development, demographic and demand provide a unique long term opportunity for Australia and all in the framework of democracy. There is no other example of this nature in the world. Indans are coming here in growing numbers and commitment. Honourable members, this is an age, region promises but also it is filled with challenges. We can only pursue our dreams if we have the confidence that our cities are safe.
Our nations are secure, our region is stable and our world is peaceful. This vast region and many unsettled questions and  new challenges, historical differences persist just by going but we worry about access and security in your part of the world more than ever before. Our region has seen huge progress on the foundation of peace and stability but we can not take this for granted. Preserving it will be the most important task in the region. India and Australia can play their part in it by expanding our security cooperation and depending on international partnerships in the region. But we do not have to rely on borrowed architecture of the past, nor do we have the luxury to choose who we work with and who we do not, but what we do need is to work together and  with others to create an environment and culture. That promotes the currency of coexistence and cooperation in which all nations, small and big, abide by international law and norms. Even when they have bitter disputes, we should maintain maritime security, we should work together on the seas and collaborate in international forums and we should work for awe universal respect for international law and global norms.

We must also support the process of economic integration in the region. An open global trading system that remains integrated. We must guard against regional trading issues becoming instrument of political competition. however, economic integration by itself would not be a strong basis for peace and stability. Without strong regional institutions, India and Australia are members of several institutions that are critical of for the region and for the world. We should connect more closely in east Asia. Summit, G20 and the Indian ocean region association, honourable members in our interconnected world, our shared challenges extend beyond our region.
Terrorism has become a major threat for us all. In India we have seen its threat closely for three decades and we see it with the clarity that comes with it. Terrorism, an expanding in its reach, India has made the commitment and a call to end the violence. It frees up money laundering, drug trafficking and arms smuggling. We have to deepen our bilateral security cooperation but we need a comprehensive global strategy for a global problem. It will require global security cooperation but even more, a policy of no distinction between terrorist groups of discrimination between nations. It is all hard work, bringing … this to states that will fight … them. In countries where it is most prevalent, every effort to deal with religion and terrorism. As I look to the future, we will also need to ensure that outer space and cyber space remain instruments of connectivity and prosperity, not new frontiers of conflict. Responding to the region’s disasters, combatting proliferation, acting against piracy, we work together on a fuel range of security challenges.
Honourable members, since my Government entered office, no region has seen more intense agreement on Asia’s part than the Asia Pacific region. We understand how deeply our future is linked to this region. India and Australia can play cricket hard with each other and I suspect we will next month. We see Australia as one of our foremost partners in the region. I was pleased to host PM Tony Abbott as my first state guest in September.
APPLAUSE
It has taken a PM of India 28 years to come to Australia. It should never have been so long. This will change. Australia will not be on the outer of the region but at the centre of our talks. So we stand together at the moment with enormous opportunity and great responsibility. I see a great future of prosperity, a partnership between India and Australia and a shared  commitment. PM Abbott started us on this new journey in September. With your help and with the help of the great people of India and Australia, I wish you the best for hosting great and successful world cricket next year. Thank you all.
 

It’s a union of cultures amid a vibrant festival atmosphere, writes SWATI BHARGAV

Wyndham Diwali was nothing short of a carnival as up to 20,000 people gathered at President’s Park in Wyndham Vale, near Werribee, to celebrate the Indian festival of lights. Thanks to daylight saving, the sun shone bright late into the evening, before the festive lights and traditional lamps lit up the vast grounds.

Wyndham Diwali scaled greater heights this year as innumerable people from across Victoria, and all parts of the world, came together – paving the way for a union of cultures. Whilst the crowd was predominantly Indian, there were also people from Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Somalian, Maori, Italian, Russian and Australian backgrounds.

After a prayer to Lord Ganesha, the day-long mela included an artistic program filled with high magnitude performances and inventively choreographed dances with dazzling, colourful costumes.

The festival organisers, Wyndham Diwali Inc, believe in promoting unity through cultural partnerships and exchanging traditions. At this Diwali festival, using the medium of performing arts, more than 235 participants came together to promote the theme of ‘Many cultures, one nation’.

The atmosphere came alive as hit songs from Indian movies played loudly in the background. Some amazing performances on stage added to the ambience. The cultural presentation included Indian classical, regional folk and Bollywood dancing as well as a fashion parade attended by well-known models and contest winners including Miss India Australia and Miss World Australia.

Another festival favourite was local rock band The Fifths, who regaled the audience with a modern take on old classic Indian songs. The leading performance this year was the Ramayana ballet based on the theme of the festival.

Other performances included a traditional ethnic Maori group, a Tongan group, a versatile Russian group and the Dinka African group, Bollywood dancing by Rachana Natyalaya, Shiamak, Jalwa dance company and many talented others.

Vibrant attire was the norm as people came dressed up for a day out. With multiple stalls selling clothing, jewellery and handicrafts, the women got to pamper themselves with shopping and applying intricate henna designs on their palms.

Many visitors chose to enjoy the variety of Indian food on offer as there were several stalls serving mouth-watering Indian delicacies. The kid’s activity area proved quite popular as children made a beeline for the slides and rides.

The Wyndham Diwali mela received support from across the political spectrum with Wyndham City Council Mayor Bob Fairclough, alongside popular local councillor Heather Marcus and councillors Peter Maynard, Glenn Goodfellow, Gautam Gupta and Intaj Khan all in attendance and supporting the event.

The Prime Minister was represented by Sarah Henderson, Federal MP for Corangamite. Other dignitaries present were Vasan Srinivasan from the Confederation of Indian Australian Association (CIAA), Andrew Elsbury (MP Western Metropolitan Region), representing Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, and Telmo Languiller (Shadow Parliamentary Secretary), Tim Pallas MP and Tim Watts MP.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship was a principal sponsor of the Festival, and Victorian Multicultural Commission Chidambaram Srinivasan addressed the gathering and extended the Commission’s support to the WDI team.

“The Wyndham Diwali team sincerely thank OMAC, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Wyndham City Council, the sponsors, stall holders, media partners and visitors who contributed to the overwhelming success of this event,” said Wyndham Diwali Inc. President Raghunandan Kuncha Koorthy.

Promising to come back with a bigger bang next year, Diwali at Wyndham ended with fireworks that decorated the sky with different colours. In the midst of an authentic mela atmosphere, the sparkling pyrotechnics display heralded a new ray of hope and light for the future.

A South Australian community stalwart is rewarded with the Pride of Australia medal

I had heard of Mallika Prasad-Chowta through common friends and relatives before we moved to Adelaide. We contacted her when we were moving and when she heard that our furniture would arrive a couple of days later, she and her family put us up for those few days in her lovely home. Ever since, I have been very proud to say I know her!

But I only came to know a lot more about her a few weeks ago when I read in the papers that she had won the Pride of Australia Medal. And proud we certainly should be of Mallika and her achievements.

Mallika Prasad-Chowta is well regarded for her dedicated work both in the community and in her professional circles. In recognition of her close to 40 years of services, especially for the community and multiculturalism, she was awarded the Pride of Australia Medal 2014 in the Fair Go category for South Australia.

Originally from Konibail House near Mangalore in India, Mallika migrated to Australia in 1975 with her husband Dr Raj Prasad, and has called Adelaide home since.

Mallika’s first job was working with the Aboriginal community as low cost nutritional cookery demonstrator. She visited families for 16 years across the metropolitan area, as well as in fringe locations, on a weekly basis to cook meals with families. Mallika considers this as her proudest achievement. As the late Laurie Bryan, founder of the Aboriginal Education Foundation once wrote, “The program received unprecedented interest and involvement.”

On receiving the Pride of Australia Medal Mallika acknowledged that her husband and three sons’ cooperation was fundamental for her community and professional involvement and achievements. “I was fortunate to be involved in so many different community activities,” she said. “Getting a medal on top of that is overwhelming. I feel humbled.”

In addition to working with Aboriginal communities, Mallika also worked with children with disabilities. She qualified as a Special Education teacher and taught in a number of metropolitan schools. Later she became a tutor at the SA Head Injury Services to assist secondary and tertiary students with head injuries.

A keen supporter of the performing arts since childhood, Mallika served on the management boards of Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre and Community Arts Network. Throughout the 1980s, she was also the program coordinator for the Indian community radio program on 5EBI FM. She sings beautifully in the Hindustani style and, in earlier years, was involved in Indian dance and theatre too.

Avid arts enthusiasts, in the early ‘80s Mallika and Raj founded Rasik Ranjani Inc (an association of Indian music lovers) andcoordinated its activities for the first four years. A few years later, Mallika became the President of this association and organised quarterly music programs and annual festivals featuring a variety of music of the sub-continent.

Professionally, after completing her post-graduate degree in Arts Administration in 1993, Mallika served as the Manager of Cultural Diversity Services at the State Library of SA for eight years. “This job was the highlight of my career and it gave me opportunities beyond my imagination,” Mallika said. One colleague described her as a ‘legend’.

Mallika represented the Indian community on Multicultural Education Committee, an advisory body to the Minister for Education, from 1995 to 2000. She was the leader on two very significant projects for the Committee, developing a multicultural education resource guide for teachers and developing Countering Racism through Developing Cultural Understanding, involving over 4000 students from 34 schools and over 100 teachers.

On another front, after serving as a committee member, cultural secretary and secretary, in 2003 Mallika as elected President of the Indian Australian Association of SA. One of Mallika’s most significant communitycontributions was bringing the Mela to Elder Park in the centre of the city, opening it up to the larger South Australian community. She also made it a day and night festival, had different stages for different types of performances and made the event financially sustainable by charging entry fees.

Mallika was also the secretary of the Hindu Society of SA during 1997-99 when the plan for the Ganesha temple redevelopment was finalised and approved by the Council. Since then she has secured a number of grants for the temple’s building projects.

After completing her MBA, Mallika had a brief stint at private consulting in the early 2000s. “My exciting achievement was designing and running creative idea generation workshops,” she said.

Continuing with her love of helping others, and her interests in education and youth services, Mallika held many positions in the South Australian government. This included being principal coordinator of refugee services for the Department of Families and Communities.

Never one to sit idle, Mallika is closely involved with the Indian community. Recently though she has been scaling down her community involvement, choosing instead to engage in creative interests like singing, painting, idea consulting.  She’s on the lookout for opportunities for sharing her experiences for the benefit of another worthy social cause.