Thursday, 31 October 2019

 Ms KILKENNY (Carrum) (09:49): Our local community has lost a very special and unique person with the very sad passing of Simon Charan, just 56. I joined with 700 people to farewell Simon at Bunurong Memorial Park. The number of people was extraordinary, but not the least surprising. Simon was so incredibly well regarded and loved.

Simon gave his time selflessly. Born in Fiji, he migrated to Australia in 1987. A fitter and turner by trade, he was a dedicated member of the Fiji Business Association of Victoria and was absolutely committed to helping his community in Victoria maintain important cultural and social links. His was the face of multicultural Victoria—using every single opportunity to promote the values of cultural harmony, peace and mutual respect. If you get a chance, take a look at episode two of the miniseries How to Talk Australians. Released in 2014, this wonderful production uses humour to disarm cultural clashes and racism and replace them with joy. And that was Simon.

Simon worked with senior citizens, including as president of the Kingston Indian Senior Citizens Association. He was a founding member of the Dandenong Hindi Fellowship and was inducted as the Australian coordinator for an international Hindi-speaking fellowship, using his voice, his energy and his passion to raise funds for so many projects helping to improve the lives of so many. And of course, he was program director at Radio Bula Namaste. I know his team at RBN and his listeners are devastated to have lost Simon, someone who played such an important and pivotal part of their everyday lives by reaching out to them each morning with Coffee with SC, by connecting with them and by just making them feel included and special.

My deepest sympathies to his wife, Shaleni, daughter Shannon, mother Bhagyavati, niece Shantelle and nephew Shaun, his extended family and the extraordinary network of friends he fostered, not just locally but around the world. Simon made a real difference. We are all the better for it.