Good triumphing over evil is a universal tale, and one that will bring the Tamil

community together for the Festival of Lights. The traditional Tamil festival

symbolically marks the homecoming of goodwill and faith after an absence. But the

guiding light is the promotion of cultural diversity.

Cultural inclusiveness and diversity are vital to creating a strong sense of community.

I am proud of Ipswich’s multiculturalism and the way each culture is respected.

This year has been one of continuing renewal and regeneration, particularly in those

areas still recovering from the disaster of the floods nearly two years ago.

Ipswich city centre is also a hive of activity with three major construction projects

underway. ICON Ipswich tower one on the corner of Brisbane and Bell streets, the

new Coles supermarket to replace the old store, and the Ipswich Hospital

expansion.

Ipswich is now home to 175,000 people with residents from 115 countries, speaking

over 80 different languages. The city is growing rapidly based on sustainable

development principles.

By valuing our strengths, particularly our sense of community, we have encouraged

partnerships and relationships with many multicultural organisations, including our

great friendship with the Tamil Association of Queensland.

On behalf of all councillors and residents, it is a pleasure to be involved in the Festival

of Lights and Ipswich wishes the management committee another successful year.

Regards,

Mayor Paul Pisasale

City of Ipswich

I would like to offer my congratulations and support to the Tamil

Association of Queensland Inc for the 2012 Deepavali Festival of

Lights.

The Festival is both a culturally and socially significant celebration

for countries all over the world. It promotes the message of peace

and friendship and ushers in the Tamil New Year.

This is a great opportunity for families from all backgrounds to get

involved and to share an array of entertainment and culinary experiences.

With Queensland being home to people from more than 200 different cultures, speaking

more than 220 languages and embracing more than 100 different religions or belief

systems, this is a chance for us all to celebrate our state’s diversity.

I wish the Tamil Association every success with this year’s Festival—I hope it is a

resounding success.

Glen Elmes MP

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and

Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier

I congratulate the Tamil Association of Queensland for hosting the

2012 Festival of Light and am honoured to be able to attend the

event.

It is an important and significant cultural and social celebration for

Queensland Tamil migrants from India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,

Singapore, Fiji and many other countries.

The celebration of the Festival of Light is also an important event internationally for Tamils

and the general community for promoting social and cultural understanding and

integration.

Congratulations and best wishes to all members of the community for a successful festival

which promotes community participation and harmony among the members of all ethnic

backgrounds.

Desley Scott

Shadow Minister for Community Services and

Multicultural Affairs Member for Woodridge

I take great pleasure in congratulating The Tamil Association of Queensland for once

again hosting what has become one of the much anticipated events of the year. You

continue to outdo yourselves each year. Deepavali celebrations have through the recent

years taken on a greater role in Queensland in terms of the development of

Multiculturalism and The Tamil Association Queensland takes a leading role in this

objective. I feel privileged to be part of this event which contributes so much to the

colourful cultural diversity of our great state of Queensland.

I would like to wish all Hindus as well as all participants today a very Happy Deepavali.

Celebrate the triumph of Goodness over evil. May this Festival of Lights usher in joy and

prosperity for all our citizens. I hope that the Festival of Lights enlightens your home and

heart with peace and serenity. As we celebrate the holy occasion of Deepavali and the

atmosphere is filled with the spirit of joy and love, here’s hoping that this festival also

brings the spirit of contentment that stays with you through the days ahead.

There is a very well known prayer in Hinduism that states, “Lead us from Untruth to truth,

from Ignorance to Enlightenment and from Death to Immortality”. This prayer articulates

perfectly the message of Deepavali. We live in a great country which has a very high

regard for all individuals and respects human rights. In this respect, I applaud The Tamil

Association Queensland for embracing the wider community to be a part of this great

event.

Best wishes on Deepavali

Dr. Maha Sinnathamby ChairmanSpringfield Land Corporation

I am very happy to know that the Tamil Association of Queensland is organizing Deepawali

like every year in a grand way .On behalf of GOPIO, I congratulate the committee and the

members for this year’s Deepawali function. The festival of Deepawali which represents the

triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil.

The greatest challenge for any community living away from their motherland is to pass on

to their children a love of their traditions and an understanding of their history and culture.

I am really impressed by the way the Tamil Association of Queensland encourages their

younger members to take part in their culture and tradition.

I wish the Association success in all their endeavours and bring much pride and joy to all

concerned.

SHYAM DAS

PRESIDENT GOPIO

We would like to wish the Tamil Association and all Hindus a Very Happy Deepavali. May

our cultures continue to flourish now and in the future. We would like to thank the Tamil

Association for their support of the ASCC QLD. Grace Tan Executive Committee

Grace Tan

President, ASCC QLD

The time of Deepavali is with us once again. It is with great pleasure that I look

forward to being a part of the annual Festival of Lights celebration in Brisbane.

This day is one that bonds old friendships, rejoices new friendships and brings

peace through understanding and compassion amongst all of us. Deepavali is

an important festival and I am pleased to extend my best wishes to all those celebrating

this auspicious occasion with families and friends from the Hindu, Sikh and Jain

communities here in Queensland.

I am truly sorry I will miss this year’s celebrations due to parliamentary commitments and

I look forward to next year’s event with great anticipation. I hope you all enjoy the

celebrations.

Wishing Happy Diwali to everyone! Deepavali Valthukkal! Shubh Diwali!

Senator Claire MooreQueensland

This week, the members of the Tamil and Indian communities in Queensland are

celebrating the Festival of Lights. As a longstanding supporter of this festival dinner during

the past few years by Multicultural Funerals, we are very proud to be part of this

multi-community event. I understand that this is a day when members of some of the

world's oldest religions celebrate the triumph of good over evil. The festival of lights

symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

In Queensland, Deepavali is celebrated as a multicultural event. It is also a time for sharing

and caring – a time when we must remember that there are always others less fortunate

then ourselves. This concept of this festival reminds us all that we should commit ourselves

to helping those in need. For many, this is also a time to gather with family and to pray. To

those celebrating festival of lights in Queensland, I take opportunity to wish them good

luck, good fortune and happiness. And to all those who are present here today to celebrate

this joyous occasion, I wish you, your families and loved ones Happy Deepavali.

Multicultural Funerals and the Tamil Association enjoy a close relationship and we

anticipate a memorable event for 2012.

Kind regards

Davina Bambrick

General Manager Qld Funerals |InvoCare

On the auspicious occasion of Diwali I wish everyone true happiness, prosperity and

fulfillment. May we all be guided by the true message of Diwali and welcome into our hearts

and minds all that is bright and life affirming. A very joyous and happy new year to you all.

We seek the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha to remove from our paths

every obstacle on the road to achieving our collective good.

Archana Singh

Mrs Archana Singh, B. A. (Hons.), M. A.

Honorary Consul of India, Queensland, AUSTRALIA

Deepavali Message from Wai Kiong CHAN, President, Australia Malaysia Business Council

Queensland (AMBCQ)

In these dynamic and challenging times, it has never been more important for all sections

of the community to unite and work towards the survival and prosperity of our nation

Australia, and its Australian values and cultural norms, and to defend progressive ideals,

liberalism, freedom of expression and freedom of speech. These are the basic values that

embody mainstream Australia that has so generously welcomed us with open arms.

Deepavali, the Hindu ‘festival of light’ provides us with such an opportunity to unite, as it

represents the ‘forces of good overcoming the forces of evil’, metaphorically represented

through ‘light overcoming darkness’.

All over the world Hindus have played a positive role. In Malaysia and Indonesia, Hindus

have contributed enormously in providing the very fundamentals of Malaysian and

Indonesian culture, rituals and language for 2000 years. In Fiji, Hindus have helped shape

the modern Fijian economy. In India, Hindus have been extremely supportive of minorities,

and have time and again shown great restraint such as in the aftermath of the Mumbai

attacks of 2008. In Africa, Hindus have served as beacons of productivity, self-discipline

and responsibility. In Ceylon, Hindus have built the country for 2000 years or more through

a strong work ethic.

The Hindu religion is neither hypersensitive nor aggressive. Rather, it is friendly and

peaceful. Hindus continue to play a respectable and responsible role in defending

freedom, and Hindus provide a beacon of light to help guide others towards tolerance and

modernity. Happy Deepavali! May light overcome darkness, and may good overcome evil!

Wai Kiong CHAN

President - Australia Malaysia Business Council Queensland (AMBCQ)

On behalf of the Management Committee of the Tamil Association Queensland, I would like to

welcome each and every one of you here tonight. We hope that you thoroughly enjoy the evening

and take away from this gathering the spirit and profound message of Deepavali. We hope that this

spirit will guide you through the coming year to accomplish, prosper and become a source of

support for others. Traditionally, Deepavali is a time when families and communities gather together

to celebrate and share, and I think that we have accomplished this ideal very well tonight.

I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the very hard working members of the Tamil

Association Queensland and all the other volunteers who have put in a tremendous amount of work

to make this evening possible. After six months of planning, attendance at numerous meetings,

ticket selling, etc., it is you who have made this happen.

Thanks also go to our numerous sponsors who continue to support us year after year. We also

hope that all our guests tonight will show appreciation by supporting our sponsors. This evening

would not be possible without the support also of The Queensland Government, Brisbane City

Council and Ipswich City Council. I would also like to thank all the many other member community

organisations that make up our multicultural community for their continuing support. Our Deepavali

function continues, year after year, to strengthen the spirit of community between the members of

the various Multicultural communities. Finally, I would like to thank all of you who have supported

this function by purchasing tickets and attending tonight; it is you who make it possible.

On behalf of all the members of the Tamil Association Queensland, I wish all of you a very Happy

Deepavali and a glorious future.

Ron PillayPresident – TAQ

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