Radio Brisvaani
Written by Dr. Naidu Bodapati, Secretary, AIHWM Committee.
Australia and India share a long and unique relationship.
Prior to colonisation of Australia (prior to 1770), there is evidence of ancient migration of Indians to Australia around 5,000 years ago based on DNA and language development in Indigenous Australians.
The ties between Australia and India again started immediately following European settlement of Australia in 1788. On the founding of the penal colony of New South Wales, all trade to and from the colony was controlled by the British East India Company. Several towns in Australia bear names originating from India.
In preserving the democracy that we all enjoy today, Indians were the largest single contingent of the defence force of all Britain’s colonies and dominions. The Indians also made an invaluable contribution to the Defence Force of Australia, which hasn’t been duly recognised.
However, the Indian diaspora in Brisbane, and the AIHWM Committee (AIHWMC) under the chairpersonship of Mr Surendra Prasad OAM established the Memorial in the memorial garden of Sunnybank RSL Sub-branch. The Monument was unveiled and dedicated on 18 November 2017. The role of Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch is highly appreciated by AIHWMC and the wider Indian diaspora.
One year after this historic monument being unveiled, the re-dedication ceremony was held at RSL Sub-branch at 19 Gager St, Sunnybank, Qld. The ceremony started at 4 pm on 3 November 2018. The Master of Ceremonies was Mr Surendra Prasad OAM, Chairperson of AIHWMC.
Mr Prasad welcomed all the guests to the annual re-dedication of the Monument to the Australians of Indian Heritage War Memorial at Veterans Memorial Gardens, RSL Sub-branch Sunnybank. The guests include the committee members of AIHWM, Australian of the Chinese Heritage War Memorial Committee (ACHWMC), Members of Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch, elected representatives of Federal, State and Regional levels of the Government. ‘The abide with me’ hymn was sung by all the participants.
Mr Prasad requested Petra Milaudi, Honorary Chaplain of Sunnybank RSL Sub-branch to re-dedicate the Memorial to the service men and women of the Australians of Indian Heritage. Petra Milaudi also performed a prayer, followed by prayers of the priests from Sikh (Gyani Rajindra Singh), Muslim (Imam Syed Wadood) and Hindu (Sadhu Prasad) faiths.
The wreaths were laid by Hugh Polson, President, Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch, Archana Singh, Hon. Consul of India; Dr Naidu Bodapati, Shyam Das and Rakesh Sharma representing AIHWMC; Lewis Lee OAM, Chair, ACHWMC; John Burgess, Envoy to RSL Consular Corps; Inspector Les Bullas of QLD Police Service; elected representatives: Graham Perrett MP, Minister Leanne Enoch, Duncan Pegg MP, and Cr Angela Owen; Jeneth Deen OAM of Qld Muslim Historical Association Inc; Dr Ram Mohan, President of the Federation of Indian Communities Association of Qld (FICQ) and Hindu Community; Rashpal Singh and Parnam Heir from Sikh Community; Imam Syed Wadood Janub and Ibraheim Malik from the Muslim Community, and others present at the ceremony.
Harry Claassen of RSL was the Flag Attendant, and Dick Martin, Life Member RSL delivered the Ode. One-minute silence was observed during the ‘Last Post’, followed by the ‘Rouse’.
All the guests, led by Hugh Polson, sang the National Anthem of Australia. Petra Milaudi performed the Benediction.
Mr. Prasad thanked all present at the ceremony and concluded the service at 4.30 pm. Mr Prasad also invited all the guests to the fundraising dinner to be followed at 6:30 pm.
The first annual fundraising dinner started at 6:30pm at Michael’s Oriental Restaurant. About 150 people attended the event. The evening started with Dr Naidu Bodapati as the Master of Ceremonies, who has acknowledged the traditional owners of this land, and welcome all the guests.
The guests include Cr Kim Marx representing Lord Mayor, Cr Angela Owen, Ambassador of the Indian Community of the Year, Graham Perrett MP, Federal Member for Morton; Archana Singh, Honorary Consul of India & her husband Dr Vagesh Singh; Hugh Polson President of Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch, Wendy Taylor of RSL Queensland; John Burgess envoy to RSL consular corps, Lewis Lee OAM, Chairperson of ACHWMC and its members; Dr. Ram Mohan, President, and Anoop Nannuru, Vice-President of FICQ; Mr Manjit Boparai, editor of the newspaper, the Punjab; Jasjot Singh President of Brisbane Sikh Temple, and Prof Prasad Yarlagadda, and Mr Paramjit Sarai, Past President, and Vice-President of FICQ and Secretary Indoz Sikh Community, respectively.
To celebrate the anniversary of the unveiling of the Memorial which was dedicated on 18 November 2017 to Australians of Indian Heritage who have served in all conflicts as members of the Australian Defence Force.
The funds raised at this dinner will be used to provide student bursaries to primary schools in our region.
To our knowledge, AIHWMC is the only Indian group sponsoring the bursaries to the primary school students in the region.
The Grace was offered by Petra Milaudi, RSL Honorary Chaplain. Mr. Surendra Prasad in his speech thanked the Federal Government for funding to construct the Monument. Most importantly, Mr Prasad said, “One 100 years after the sacrifices of Indian men and women, on 18th November, 2017 we made history in Brisbane by erecting the Monument. This will remain for ever in Queensland’s history, as the day soldiers of Indian Heritage were finally acknowledged”.
Mr. Prasad on behalf of the Indian diaspora offered his gratitude to Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch and its President Mr Polson and Vice-President Mr Claassen for their support in building the Monument.
The other speakers of the night include Cr Angela Owen, Hugh Polson, Graham Perrett, Cr. Kim Marx, and Archana Singh. Stuart Seabrook, Secretary, Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch offered the Toast to the Queen, and Harry Claassen, Vice-President, Sunnybank RSL Sub-Branch offered the Toast to the Ladies at the dinner. Parnam Heir, Treasurer, AIHWMC offered the Vote of Thanks for all involved in the event.
On behalf of the AIHWMC Mr Polson and Mr Prasad awarded mementos to Lewis Lee OAM, Chairperson of ACHWC and Dr Ruwan Fernando of Griffith University. Mr. Lee provided much needed information on all aspects of the project based on their previous experience of Chinese Monument. Dr Fernando involved Architectural students to choose the design concept.
Dr. Naidu Bodapati explained the significance of the Monument concept developed by Bianca Archer of Griffith University. The large sphere represents our earth and the unification of humanity. The weight of this monument embodies a ‘heavy’ death toll with the cracks upon its surface representing the broken promise of British independence, and a damaged Indian culture. The missing piece of this sphere is intentional as it symbolizes the missing piece of history in which the story of the Indian Soldiers had been previously omitted. By ‘unearthing’ this piece of history, we are able to begin to reconstruct their place in history.
The guests were entertained by a folk dance by Mrs Chaitra Mahesh, and Bhangra dance by Ms Gunkirat Kaur.
The raffle prizes were sponsored by Shyam Das of Targett Travels (a return ticket to Sydney), Michelle Allso of Robertson Garden Hotel (one-night accommodation), Jack Sun (Natural Pharmaceutical Products), Peter Zheng of Australian China Cultural Economic & Promotion Association (6 bottles of wine), and Ms Prabha (elderly care products).
The evening was a great success for the great cause of fund raising to support bursaries to primary school students on behalf of the AIHWMC.
