Melbourne:
A 41-year-old Sikh volunteer of Indian descent, who faced ethnic slander for his beard and turban, was honored with three others with the prestigious New South Wales Australian of the Year Award 2023 for supporting the community during floods, bushfires, drought and pandemic. The New South Wales government made the announcement on November 3 in the “local hero” category.
The national award honored the achievements of community members while also highlighting the importance of service to the nation of Australia.
Applause for these four #AusoftheYear finalists pic.twitter.com/7do6Wbc48n
— AusoftheYearAwards (@ausoftheyear) Nov 2, 2022
Seven years ago, Amar Singh, a Sikh, founded “Turbans 4 Australia”, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting the displaced and vulnerable affected by natural disasters.
Singh, a leading advocate of multiculturalism and social cohesion, has experienced ethnic slander over his beard and turban, according to a press release from the New South Wales government.
“The 41-year-old believes that helping others should not be limited by religion, language or cultural background,” the statement said.
“Every week, Turbans 4 Australia packs and distributes up to 450 food and grocery packages to people experiencing food insecurity in Western Sydney South Coast; and food hampers the isolated and vulnerable during COVID-19 lockdowns,” it added.
“I would like to thank all the volunteers on my team who worked effortlessly day and night – the credit goes to them,” said Mr Singh on the news portal sbs.com.au.
“With a charity van in Brisbane, Queensland and a new warehouse in Victoria’s northern suburb of Thomastown, I can proudly say that we are a national charity and as a humble Sikh I hope our team continues to promote charity, compassion and multiculturalism for many years to come. he explained.
Mr Singh moved to Australia as a teenager and said he was passionate about community service from an early age, the report said.
“I have also volunteered at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Invictus Games, Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and many other community events,” he quoted him as saying.
Singh and three other recipients of this award will join those from other states and territories as finalists for the national awards ceremony to be held in Canberra next January, the NSW government’s press release said.
New South Wales Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet congratulated the winners and said the winners’ leadership and activism for change positively impacts the public and makes a tangible difference in people’s lives.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
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