Sada-e-Watan
Sydney ™
sadaewatan@gmail.com
MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES DROUGHT ASSISTANCE
The Hon. SHAOQUETT MOSELMANE (22:43): I
make a short contribution on this terrible drought that our State is currently
experiencing. It is a crisis that is likely to be the worst for many decades.
Farmers consider this drought to be the worst they have faced for years, which
is impacting on them emotionally and financially. The drought has hit other
States but New South Wales has been hit hardest. Approximately 99 per cent of
the State is officially in drought. With grazing pastures turned to dust and
feed scarce, the drought is having an impact on livestock and farmers alike.
Desperate farmers are being forced to slaughter livestock by the thousands and
it will take years for their numbers to recover. Farmers are struggling
financially and are in psychological distress. Australia's culture of mateship
and solidarity has always been an essential part of our national identity.
People go out of their way to assist their brothers and sisters in need. They
step up to the challenge when any part of our society is in need of help. This
is what we have seen across multicultural Australia. We feel a great sense of
pride when we see communities step up and join in to raise funds to help
farmers who are devastated by this drought. Those communities have stood side
by side to help drought-affected farmers.
In the middle of September
Muslim Aid Australia, in partnership with other Muslim charities in New South
Wales and Queensland, delivered 33 tonnes of hay bales to farmers hit hard by
the ongoing drought. Three trucks rolled into Goondiwindi on the New South
Wales and Queensland border, where the aid was delivered to dozens of farmers
who are struggling to survive. Many more truckloads of hay bales are planned
for distribution to farmers during October. On Sunday 23 September 2018 Human
Appeal Australia commenced a charity ride organised by Sydney Muslim cyclists.
More than $90,000 was raised for our drought-stricken farmers. The funds raised
provided food hampers, water and hay bales for livestock as well as case
support for some financial relief. Many mosques and Islamic centres across
Australia have used the holy festivities to raise funds for affected farmers
and their families. In early August a car convoy from the Russian, Indian and
Nepalese communities left Sydney, delivering much-needed food and water to
drought-stricken farmers in regional New South Wales, including canned food,
coffee, toiletries and more than 8,500 litres of drinking
water.
On 14 August the Pakistan Association
of Australia celebrated Pakistan Independence Day, marking the nation's
seventy-first anniversary with a fundraiser for drought relief. The United
Indian Associations [UIA] Incorporated organised a walk from Sydney to Canberra
to raise funds for drought relief in New South Wales. It called its initiative
Our Farmers, Our Pride. On Saturday 22 September, UIA members set off from
Parramatta and will arrive in Canberra on Monday 1 October. They hope to raise
$150,000 for drought-stricken families. The Australian Chinese Community
Association joined in the fundraising by holding a community drought relief
charity concert, bringing together artists with big hearts, raising donations
from many of their warm-hearted members. Mateship and multiculturalism have
gone hand in hand, bringing the best out of our people regardless of their
cultural origin, religion or ethnicity.
Australians have come together to provide the best they can for their colleagues
in need. The drought has brought our multicultural communities closer,
strengthening our bound. From adversity comes goodness and from diversity comes
unity. I am delighted to note that my good friend the first Mayor of Bayside,
His Worship Councillor Bill Saravinovski—otherwise known as "the people's
mayor"—has thrown down a challenge to other councils. Bayside Council will
donate $5,000 with an additional $1,000 for every donation of $5,000 that other
councils make. I am informed that a number of councils have responded to the
mayor's challenge. To date, they have raised $394,000, and there is more to
come. On behalf of our hardworking farmers, I thank all our community groups,
individuals, councils and institutions that have made a contribution towards
drought relief by whatever means.
