Wellington Indian Association recognises community service heroes

Four Community Service awardees with the Indian High Commissioner (tweet by the High Commissioner)

Started in 2015 by the Wellington Indian Association, this year’s Community Service Awards held last weekend in the capital, recognised four individuals for “outstanding dedicated service” to the community. These included Karuna Ranchod, Sumati Lala, Santi Damania, and Jay Shaw.

“Congratulations to all the recipients of this year's Community Service Awards. We are proud of these humbling volunteers who give their all, often without praise. You so deserve to be recognised,” said the Association in a Facebook post.

Along with the Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Muktesh Pardeshi, city’s Mayor Andy Foster, local MPs Chris Bishop, Diane Calvert, and Paul Eagle, also attended the event, which saw a dance performance by the Shivam Dance Academy. Also present was Steph Dyhrberg - the 2018 Wellingtonian of the Year.

Notably, the Association, along with the city’s Multicultural Council participated in the Welly Christmas Parade in November showcasing the diversity of New Zealand. It also organised a well-attended Namaste Wellington – Diwali Fest 2019 on October 26.

Another of its year-round initiative is the radio programme Aakashwani Bharat Bhavan, which is broadcast every Monday from 6 to 7pm, on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM. “Listeners get the latest in community, local, sports and overseas news. The programme also has exclusive interviews with local and overseas community and sports personalities, mixed with a wide range of devotional, Gujarati and Bollywood music,” informs the Association.

-TIN Bureau

Wellington Indian Association members at the Welly Christmas Parade (pic courtesy WIA)

Namaste Wellington – Diwali Fest 2019 on October 26, organised by the Wellington Indian Association (pic courtesy - Photography by Ruchika)