Thursday, 31 October 2024

 Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (10:06): I would like to take this opportunity to wish a happy Diwali to all those celebrating in the Kalkallo electorate. The Festival of Lights, Diwali symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali is celebrated by the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain communities across Kalkallo. They are strong, vibrant and engaged communities, and with such a diverse and growing electorate, there have been many Diwali celebrations this year, in families, in community settings, in schools and in temples.

I particularly want to mention the Hume Diwali Mela, which took place on Saturday 19 October in Anzac Park in Craigieburn. Thousands of people came together to celebrate and to enjoy the food, the music and dance performances, the camel and carnival rides and of course the fireworks. It was a terrific event, a great showcasing of the range of local businesses and a terrific opportunity for people to come together and celebrate. Thank you to Raj Mann, Nikki Jain and the team for arranging this great event.

Thank you also to Shanthi Antony and the multicultural playgroup teams at Beveridge Primary School and Kilmore Primary for the Diwali celebration at the Greater Beveridge Community Centre last Friday, with many cultural performances, food and even a Bollywood workshop. And on Friday thousands of locals will head to the Kali Mata Mandir temple from 7 am to 11 pm for this most significant day of devotion, blessings and celebrations with Bhawna and the team. Diwali is one of the biggest celebrations in the Kalkallo electorate, and I am very pleased to see this continue to grow year after year.