Hon David Coleman organised a Dashain greeting meeting with Nepalese community leaders. Assistant Minister to the Prime minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Honourable David Coleman – Member for Banks organised a Dashain greeting program on a virtual platform with Nepalese Penshurst Community on Tuesday 12 October.
The meeting facilitated by Dr Prakash Paudel was joined by the Nepalese community leaders and over a dozen of members of the Nepalese community living in Sydney and Canberra.
Nepalese Penshurst Community President Laxman Shrestha welcomed all the invited guests and attendees, and informed about the community activities happening with the ongoing financial support through David Coleman’s office.
Nepalese community leaders, FeNCAA’s President Dr Krishna Hamal highlighted the need for Australian work visa policy change to accommodate Nepalese nationality for work visa in agricultural industries and pointed out the benefits of both countries.
NRNA Global Vice President Mana KC briefed about the importance and traditional culture of celebrating Dashain festival and also sought active support of the minister on changing the government’s decision so as to allow international students from Nepal to visit Australia even if they have had received Covid Seal and Sinovac.
Honorary Consulate General of Nepal to NSW Deepak Khadka also added the need of Australian government help to Nepal on a humanitarian cause providing Astrazeneca vaccines that are near to expiry dates in Australia. He acknowledged David as an action leader for the entire Nepalese community in Australia and his popularity among Nepalese in Nepal too. All the Nepalese leaders greeted everyone a happy Dashain and thanked Hon David Coleman for recent $7m COVID support to Nepal, $1m for Nepalese community building in Banks and offered him the best wishes for the future.
Honourable David Coleman expressed his solidarity and positive notes to the community issues and will come up with the answers after meeting the related individuals and/or agencies. He also wished a happy Dashain to all Nepalese living in Australia.
He also appreciated the volunteer work of the members of the Nepalese Penshurst community with a special mention about the exemplary work of Acharya Rajan Sharma who has been contributing through Yoga and Meditation virtual sessions to more than 600 people daily. Acharya Rajan Sharma spoke at the end of this program on behalf of the volunteers and thanked the minister for his acknowledgment and motivation to do more for the community.
The program was attended by the respected members of the community Shree Napit, Sanjeev Sharma, Dr Devendra Sapkota, Nabaraj Kharal, Bal Krishna Bashyal, NRNA leaders and members of the Nepalese Penshurst Community.
