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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-04-11 Daily Xml
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Australian Sikh Games

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:54): May I congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on your rise in this place. I stand today to congratulate the South Australian Sikh community on the success of the games that were held in Adelaide over the Easter long weekend, the first time we have hosted the games since 2017.

Over 4,000 athletes came from around Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Canada to compete in 14 different sports. In addition, around 80,000 visitors from interstate and overseas came to cheer on the athletes at Ellis Park and other venues across the city.

Australia has a strong and growing Sikh community, numbering more than 200,000 people, who are proud of their heritage and of their Australian home. They contribute a massive $15 billion-plus to the national economy each year. This year, for the first time ever, the Australian Sikh Games held a women's leadership session. This groundbreaking initiative celebrated the exceptional achievements of Punjabi women with remarkable accomplishments in their respective fields.

A wonderful, intelligent woman, whose wedding I attended just a few years ago, Sharon Johal, was one of these leading speakers. A solicitor and a podcaster, Sharon has successful podcasts that touch on her life and on racism and advocating for minorities. She also spent four years as an actor. Some may know her as Dipi in Neighbours.

Another speaker was Dr Parwinder Kaur, an award-winning biotechnologist, Director of DNA Zoo Australia and Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia, who is internationally recognised for her research involving genomic techniques to help conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species.

Manpreet Singh is Program Manager at SBS and producer of the SBS Punjabi program. Manpreet is a recipient of many media awards, including being a finalist in the prestigious Walkley Awards. Manpreet has contributed to the media advisory group of Our Watch.

Akeisha Sandhu is a dynamic soccer player who represented New South Wales and Victoria and earned herself a spot in the under-19 Australian national team, affectionately dubbed 'the young Matildas'. Jyoti Goraya, a chemistry teacher and also a Punjabi schoolteacher, has led teams in the cultural coordination of festivals and women's events.

We also heard via Zoom from Her Excellency Harinder Sidhu, the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand. Her Excellency has held many roles, including with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and as Australian High Commissioner to India, Moscow and Damascus.

The very successful women's event was led by 15-year-old year 10 student Jazmine Pangly, and Isha Nagra, and it was supported by a grant from the government of South Australia providing for female-only change rooms, toilets and parenting rooms.

The women's leadership session was dedicated to promoting the advancement, development and empowerment of young Sikh women here in Australia in leadership positions. I want to acknowledge now the Sikh games committee for their tireless work, including President Balwant Singh, Vice-President Sukhwinder Pal Singh and committee members Mahanbir Singh Grewal, Parminder Singh, Harpreet Saini, Harjinder Lasara, Ishareet Nagra, Rajawant Singh and Jazmine Pangly.

The hard work of this committee, along with the support of the Malinauskas Labor government and the Adelaide City Council and the many sponsors and volunteers who provided tens of thousands of free vegetarian meals to the participants and all who attended, played a significant role in the success of the Australian Sikh Games held right here in Adelaide.

The SPEAKER: Next, to one of my favourite MPs, the member for Schubert, whom I warn that you will be named if you are out there trying to say in this place that Barossa wine is better than McLaren Vale wine. Over to you.

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