Highlights
- Victoria now has its first Indian community centre in Melbourne
- The centre is designed to meet the cultural and social needs of the 180,000-strong local Indian community
- The federal government has provided funding of $2.5 million for the establishment of the precinct
Federal Ministers Alan Tudge and Michael Sukkar on Friday inaugurated the Australian Indian Community Centre located in Rowville, in Melbourne's south-east, amidst a strong community presence.
The federal government has provided funding of $2.5 million for the establishment of the precinct and a group of eight trustees raised the remaining $850,000 to buy the large building in Rowville, which the Indian community will now be able to use for festivals, celebrations, personal functions like weddings and milestone events, leisure activities, language classes, sports and much more.
In his speech during the inauguration, Federal Education Minister and Member for Aston, Alan Tudge, applauded the role of the Indian community and highlighted their contribution to the Australian culture and economy.
'Australia’s history and India’s have long been intertwined. Today we’re closer than ever'
Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge at the inauguration ceremony of the Australian-Indian Community Centre in Melbourne on 26 March 2021. Source: facebook/Alan Tudge
Mr Tudge also read out a message from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who couldn’t attend the inauguration ceremony due to the emergency unfolding due to the floods in New South Wales.
“Australia’s history and India’s have long been intertwined. Today we’re closer than ever. Not only economically and strategically, but in the very real and warm friendship between our peoples,” Mr Tudge read as part of the prime minister’s message for the Indian community.
“This centre, I know, will give much – not only to this community, but to the wider community, and to everyone who passes through its doors,” he further read.
In his message, Mr Morrison also thanked the AICCT trustee Vasan Srinivasan and other leaders in the community “who have given people hope, direction and confidence.”
Calling it a ‘milestone moment for the Indian community', Karan Gandhok, one of the trustees of the Australia India Community Charitable Trust (AICCT), an organisation that sowed and nurtured the seeds of this long-standing dream of the Indian diaspora in Victoria, said, “alas, we have a home.”
Australian Indian Community Centre will cater to the cultural and social needs of the Indian community in Victoria. Source: Supplied by AICCT
Mr Gandhok told SBS Punjabi that over the years and with the increasing number of Indian migrants who call Victoria home, a strong need was felt to have a dedicated facility that could act as a focal point for the community.
“We saw this dream back in 2012, and now after years and a lot of effort of the trustees and the support of the federal government, that dream, and that need has been fulfilled. We now have a physical facility we can call home,” he said.
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The centre, which is designed to meet the cultural and social needs of the nearly 200,000-strong local Indian community, will house a museum dedicated to Indian artefacts.
“It will be the biggest museum of Indian artefacts outside of India. It will be dedicated to the late psychiatrist and respected member of our community, Dr Dinesh Parekh, who donated the artefacts, paintings and stamps and called Melbourne home for almost 50 years. He, unfortunately, passed away last month,” Mr Gandhok said.
“So, the first floor will house the museum, and the community centre will be on the ground floor which will be capacitated to host community functions and marriages, and we will also have space for badminton court, tennis tables and other board games.”
Today's inaugural event was also attended by former Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy and Consul General of India in Melbourne, Raj Kumar, among other political representatives and members of the Indian community.
First Indian community centre opens its doors in Victoria Source: Supplied by AICCT
Mr Gandhok signalled that they are expecting more funding from the state government in times to come.
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