Australian National Maritime Museum’s Welcome Wall to support the India Australia Business & Community Awards

Hindi Gaurav :: 05 Oct 2015 Last Updated : Printemail

The Australian National Maritime Museum is proud to announce that its Welcome Wall will be a supporting sponsor of the Indian Australian Business & Community Awards (IABCA) 2015 on 30 October 2015.

The Welcome Wall stands in honour of all those who have migrated from around the world to live in Australia. As a multicultural nation with one in four of Australia's 23 million people born overseas, it is a celebration of diversity. The wall allows today’s Australians to pay tribute to migrant forebears, family members and friends by having their names inscribed on it. Currently there are over 27,000 names on its bronze panels, hundreds of which hail from India.

The India Australia Business & Community Awards engage, connect and recognise the role played by Australian Indians in shaping Australia. It celebrates migrant entrepreneurship and community leadership. Winners of the ten awards categories are chosen by a panel of respected industry leaders from across the nation.

The link between Australia and India span hundreds of years from the beginning of the colony. India played an essential part in Australia’s survival and growth through horse trade, the transfer of troops and the supply of essential commodities.

The museum tells this important story through its collections and it was the subject of the major exhibition East of India – Forgotten Trade with Australia in 2013. A key component of the exhibition was the award winning short documentary Indian Aussies – Terms and Conditions Apply by Indian Australian film maker Anupam Sharma which explored the contemporary links between the two countries.

Museum director Kevin Sumption reflected on these links, saying, “We are delighted that the Australian National Maritime Museum can celebrate Australia’s shared history with India, and our commitment to engage with the Indian community, through our migrant Welcome Wall’s sponsorship of this important event.”

Anyone who has come to live in Australia from overseas can place their name, or their family’s names, on the Welcome Wall and tell their story on the virtual wall. Special ceremonies are held twice a year to unveil the new panels. For further information visitwww.anmm.gov.au/welcomewall.

Ahead of the main awards ceremony on 30 October, IABCA held a special preview event for past winners and finalists last night, Friday 2 October at the Australian National Maritime Museum. This event provided a flavour of what is to come at the awards night and honoured the IABCA finalists. It was a true demonstration of the calibre of candidates. Guest speakers included Consul General of India Mr Sunday Sudhir, Dr Geoff Lee MP, Member for Parramatta representing Hon. John Ajaka MLC Minister for Multiculturalism and The Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC . For further information on IABCA and a full list of finalists visit www.iabca.com.au.

comments powered by Disqus