MESSAGE FROM HON. FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, JULIA GILLARD
I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations on the establishment of Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir magazine, which I’m sure will inform and entertain all who read it. Choosing a place for the temple and blessing the land in the initial Bhoomi Poojan earlier this year not only created a foundation for the temple, but also symbolises the deepening of Hindu roots in Australian soil.
I truly appreciate the hard work and commitment needed to establish new cultural institutions like the temple and now Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir. These are the latest chapters in your community’s development and are a tribute to the vibrancy of the Hindu tradition in Australia.
It is through the efforts of our many migrant communities that we build a nation enriched by diversity, a nation able to embrace the future and meet any challenge. I am always excited to hear of new ventures like yours, which, by nourishing the faith and values your own community, nourish and strengthen Australia as a whole.
I warmly wish the new Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir magazine every success.
MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND, CAMPBELL NEWMAN
My Congratulations go to Indian communities of Logan and Brisbane’s south on the commencement of your temple project at North Mclean.
Queensland prides itself on being a state of diversity and cultural acceptance where different beliefs and traditions can be observed in harmony, side by side.
Our State’s strong multicultural ideals can be seen in growing popularity among the wider community, of public religious celebrations, such as Deepavali.
I was one of the hundreds of Brisbane residents from all backgrounds and all walks of life who gathered recently at King George Square to celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights.
The construction of your new temple is another example of multiculturalism in action. I applaud you for your vision, hard work and careful planning to establish the Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir centre of worship for local followers of the Hindu faith.
Thank you for joining the Queensland Government and other faith communities in nurturing and protecting, and celebrating and promoting multiculturalism in our State.
MESSAGE FROM MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP, CHRIS BOWEN
It is with great pleasure that I extend my congratulations to the Hindu community and worshipers of the Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir on the occasion of the publication of your first magazine.
I also offer my best wishes for your plans to construct a Hindu temple and spiritual education centre to serve the growing Hindu community in the south of Brisbane and Logan.
With increasing migration from South Asia, Hinduism is now one of the fastest growing religions in Australia. For many Australians, the Hindu faith is a source of strength, comfort and meaning.
The observance and celebration of our diverse religious and cultural traditions make Australia a place of welcome for people from every faith and culture in the world. This enriches all of Australia and builds a more vibrant, creative and harmonious nation.
I acknowledge the work of Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir in serving the Hindu community, and in particular, providing services in diverse traditions; from Punjab, Gujarat, Nepal, Assam and many other states and regions of India and the Sub-Continent.
In acknowledgment of the valuable contribution that the Sub-Continent community has made Australian cultural, social and economic life, the Australian Government has established the Sub-Continent Ministerial Consultative Committee to ensure the views of your community are heard at the highest levels of government. This is especially important as our nation seeks to build on our success and seek future opportunities in this, the Asian Century.
On behalf of the Australian Government, as we look forward to the New Year, I wish you all peace, unity and prosperity.