Premier   John   Brumby,   Australian   cricket   legend  Shane  Warne  and international students from India today gathered for a picnic at Parliament House to celebrate Victoria’s cultural diversity.

At  the Parliament House gardens in Melbourne, Mr Brumby joined Shane Warne and  more  than  20  Indian  students studying in Victoria to discuss their experiences and re-affirm the mmunity’s commitment in its solidarity with the Indian community.

Mr  Brumby  said it was great to meet the students and thanked Mr Warne for his  dedication  to  using  his  fame in  Australia  and  India to promote Melbourne’s reputation as a peaceful and riendly city.
 

International students arriving at Melbourne airport this month will receive a warm welcome and practical information on living and studying in Melbourne through a student welcome desk initiative, co-funded by the City of Melbourne and the State Government.

Independent Senator for South Australia Nick Xenophon and Australian Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young have successfully introduced an amendment into the Australian Parliament with the support of the Coalition, that will see overseas students compensated for out-of-pocket expenses if their educational institution goes bankrupt or closes its doors.

"These valued students deserve the highest possible protection Australia can offer," Senator Xenophon said.

With the chanting of sacred Sanskrit hymns in the early hours of Thursday 4 February began a new chapter in the history of Indian associations in Melbourne.

After many years at Chapel Street, Prahran, the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria (FIAV), the umbrella organisation of Indian associations in Victoria, has now moved to Unit 3, 85 Foster Street, Dandenong.

PARISHIONERS at one of Melbourne's most famous churches were yesterday urged to pray for forgiveness for dishonouring other cultures and failing to listen to the concerns of members of the Indian community, who were described by an Anglican bishop as "oppressed in this land".

Bishop of the northern and western regions, Philip Huggins, led prayers at St Paul's Cathedral, in which he asked for forgiveness for "our prejudice and indifference" to people from different countries.

From Monday, 1 February 2010, SBS Television’s WorldWatch service will expand to include news bulletins in Hindi. 

The Hindi news (from public broadcast DDI India) will air:

First Australian Politician to visit a Sikh Temple, after arson attack in Lyndhurst Sikh Temple

Sun 31st Jan: The State Opposition leader Mr. Ted Baillieu along with Liberal MP Mr. Nick Kotsiras, Cr. Mark Rose (Vic Police), and Liberal Members Justine & Sohail Badar visited the Gurudwara Sahib in Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing.

Recently an Indian Voice reader of Anglo-Saxon background contacted us to condemn the spate of recent attacks against Indians. He was surprised ‘why don’t Indians defend themselves’ when they are being attacked.