Thursday, 12 September 2024

 Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (10:01): I would like to acknowledge the Ballarat Hindu community, who over last weekend held their annual Ganesh Festival, which for those that might not be aware won a pretty significant award the previous year. I want to particularly acknowledge my good friend Pradush, who is the president of BHTCC – the Ballarat Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre. I want to acknowledge him and the entire committee for the great work that they do in supporting the Hindu community, particularly in Ballarat after a recent tragedy which has impacted a family. They were very, very awful circumstances, but I have seen the Hindu community and indeed the broader Indian community rally around this family and support them. The event was full of fun, laughter, life and great food. If you have not ever been to a Ganesh festival, I encourage you to go along. I want to put on the record too that I 100 per cent support BHTCC and their push for a temple to be built out at Ross Creek. It has been a long time coming, and I really do support the Hindu community and their right to worship, and worship in a way that suits them. I have long been working with them to help encourage the Golden Plains council to work with the BHTCC committee in order to get it working, and hopefully it will come to fruition sooner rather than later. Thank you to BHTCC and well done on your work.