Thursday, 30 May 2024

Members statements

International Everest Day

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (09:42): I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate International Everest Day, a date which holds great significance for Nepalese people, including the vibrant Nepalese community in my electorate of Northern Metropolitan. 29 May is marked as the day that Mount Everest was first ascended in 1953 by Tenzing Norgay, sherpa of Nepal, and Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand. Mount Everest is of great cultural and spiritual importance to Nepalese people, and this day is an opportunity to honour and promote the conservation of this great natural wonder. More broadly, it is an opportunity to come together and celebrate the Nepalese culture and the great contribution made by the growing Nepalese community right here in Victoria.

Last night I had the privilege of co-hosting members of Melbourne’s Nepalese community at Parliament House to celebrate this occasion, joined by my parliamentary colleagues the member for Broadmeadows Kathleen Matthews-Ward, the member for Mulgrave Eden Foster, the member for Glen Waverley John Mullahy, the member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage, the Speaker in the other place Maree Edwards and of course our guest of honour the 49th Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan. My electorate of Northern Metropolitan is home to a vibrant Nepalese community, and I know the immense contribution that this community makes in a number of fields. In particular I wish to thank the Federation of Nepalese Community Associations of Australia for organising last night’s event and their tireless advocacy. I also wish to give a special thanks to Mr Bom Yonzon as well as Bhola Giri and Keshab Sapkota for their important contributions and for informing the community of the Nepalese community’s work.