The SSIO of Australia and Papua New Guinea participated in a Christmas celebration on the morning of 12th December 2015 in Blacktown, NSW. The event was organised in collaboration with the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) organisation’s Aged Care and Disability Services, who provide free services to people with disabilities, mental illness, chronic conditions, terminal illness, or the aged, and SydWest Multicultural Services, which supports ethnic minorities of various cultures. These organisations have worked together closely over the last two years to make Christmas a joyful and memorable event for the migrant, multicultural, senior residents of western Sydney. The event’s intention was to welcome minorities and make them feel at home, as an integral part of the Australian nation of generous and hospitable people. The Hon. Michelle Rowland, Member of Parliament, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism, and Federal Member for Greenway, sent a message in praise of the selfless efforts of the Sathya Sai volunteers. The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, attended the event and applauded the efforts taken to embrace the migrant communities and make them feel loved and welcomed. The event came alive with Turkish, Serbian, and Greek dances, and everyone joined in the festivities. A beautiful skit presented by Sathya Sai children, depicting the human values of love, forgiveness, truth, and nonviolence, touched the audience. About 20 Chinese seniors together rendered a melodious Chinese folk song and a Christmas carol in Chinese, to the delight of the audience, and talented musicians from the SSIO also made wonderful presentations. The SSIO was honoured with a Certification of Appreciation by SydWest Multicultural Services, which was accepted by Mr. Krishnan Nair, SSIO Central Coordinator for Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand.
