Thursday, 31 October 2024

 Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Jobs and Industry, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Women) (10:12): October is an amazing month to celebrate for Hindus and Indians across my electorate and across the state, beginning with Navaratri, which is a nine-day festival, which blends into Dandiya and then of course many other events, including the fantastic celebrations around Diwali. I attended two weeks ago the Dandiya event hosted by the Multicultural Association of Community Empowerment in my electorate. The founder Deepti coordinated a team of women who put this amazing event on. I want to do a shout-out to Smita, Kylie, Meenakshi, Ranu and Dawn Gurpreet, who all put on an amazing event with over 1000 people attending. The RMG live orchestra played. Thanks to Manish Patel and Sunny Louis. They played at six different Dandiya events across the state – all sold out. Can I acknowledge the small businesses that were at the event: the Alamanda Cafe & Bistro, the Mana Godavari Ruchulu, Frozio Pty Ltd, Friends Tapri, Mumbai Cutting, Wanderlust Scarves, Soyscense Candles and Legal Wings Migration. Thank you all for your stalls. Also I have been in attendance at a number of Diwali events over the weekend – one huge one at Marvel Stadium.