SACLG Celebrates annual Senior Citizen day
Niru Tripathi , SACLG
South Asian Community Link Group-Australia Inc (SACLG) brought together over 80 senior men and women from all over the state at its annual parents’ day at Newbury Child and Community Centre in Craigieburn on Saturday, 9 December 2017. Following a meet-and-greet of attendees, Program coordinator Satinder Chawla, MC Dr Sonia Cheema assisted with the SACLG other team members in welcoming guests before the screening the film, Halona. Following the screening, senior citizens delighted attendees with their own performance singing a set of songs.
SACLG’s Executive Member, Saksham Katyal gave a presentation during the program and highlighted the opportunities, aware of government programs and policies for seniors.
SACLG President, Dr Raju Adhikari, addressed attendees noting that senior citizens face greater difficulties than other generations of migrating individuals due to the complexities of the ‘parent reunion’ visa category. At the same time, the difficulty of keeping in contact with family and friends once they have left remains a serious challenge. Dr Adhikari said that SACLG plays an important role in addressing these and other challenges, and pointed out that initiatives such as Saturday’s picnic can help ease social difficulties for elderly migrants. Dr Adhikari closed his remarks reminding all that he and SACLG is fully aware of senior citizens’ enormous contributions, and that SACLG is committed to giving back to this much loved community.
Chief Guest and Federal MP, Hon. Maria Vamvakinou, addressed attendees saying that she personally relates to these difficulties, especially those faced by senior South-Asians having grown up herself as a Greek immigrant in a working-class neighbourhood. Hon. Vamvakinou said that she is committed to seeing future migration and settlement in Australia made easier and communities be given additional resources. Hon. Vamvakinou praised SACLG and the important contributions it makes to this end.
Special Guest, Dr Sundaram Sivamalai’s address as Commissioner at Victorian Multicultural Commission highlighted some of VMC’s policy initiatives and grants it has developed specifically for senior citizens, and described some of the programs which are making tremendous strides towards improving community cohesion and well-being. Dr Sivamalai spoke about his own settlement experience and detailed the often truly remarkable accounts of others.
The main event of the day was the inspiring floor discussion and storytelling of the seniors themselves. It was done with such energy and enthusiasm, that one would marvel at the energy and enthusiasm people as senior as they continue to display. As the day drew to a close a farewell group photograph immortalising what had was a tremendous reunion before Dr Sivamala recognised the hard work and efforts of all organisers and thanked attendees and participants.