Celebrating Culture, Supporting Each Other
I hope, like me, you’re enjoying the cooler weather and beautiful Winter days as embrace the month of August.I truly appreciate all the feedback I have received last month and when I have been out and about in the community! It has been wonderful to hear from readers about what is important to you.
I would like to start this month by acknowledging that some of our readers are going throw difficult times, many I have been told are experiencing poor health, financial hardship or have lost a loved one recently. What makes us different at the Brisbane Indian Times is that family and community matter and we are here for you in difficult and good times. We hope you take comfort in our paper.
August is a month filled with joy as many people celebrate India Day, Janmashtami, and Onam in Kerala. These occasions hold great significance for locals in Queensland and around the world. I know that many have marked these important dates by celebrating with family at home or participating in local community events.
On behalf of the team, I would like to congratulate the GOPIO Qld committee and all involved for organizing another successful India Day Fair at Roma St, Parklands. Witnessing thousands of families, both young and old, from diverse backgrounds coming together throughout the day brought immense joy to me and so many. I have fond memories of attending this event since I was very young, and it has become a tradition for me to volunteer and celebrate with the community members, who I now consider as my extended family. These events hold a special place in my heart, and I am delighted to see the increasing participation of young people this year, whether it’s through dance, accompanying their parents, helping their parents in the food stalls, or simply showing their respect.
It was wonderful to hear and see that so many families decided celebrate at home by wearing traditional clothing, making and sharing delicious Indian dishes, while signing and listening to their favourite Indian music. Witnessing individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those of Indian descent and those who are not, unite to partake in the festivities was truly heartwarming. This particular year held added significance for me, as I was given a lesson on preparing authentic Masala Chai tea at a friend’s residence.
I am pleased to announce that the feedback received from my July survey has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the diverse ways in which we celebrate culture and promote inclusivity in society. I want to express my gratitude to all the readers who took the time to share their thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Interestingly, 33% of our readers discovered Indian Times through word of mouth for the first time. The majority, 70%, indicated a preference for reading the paper online, while the remaining 33% still enjoy the traditional paper copy. This is encouraging news, as it shows our commitment, along with the Deo family, to ensuring that everyone, regardless of internet access or income, can still engage with our informative and community content. According to our readers, local news is the most popular category, followed by National, Environmental, cultural, political, and sports news.
I would like to emphasize the feedback we received from a reader who suggested that we concentrate more on homelessness, particularly concerning middle-aged women, women of cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) and domestic and family violence (DFV) issues within multicultural communities. Additionally, there are studies on the integration of youth and seniors, highlighting the advantages of social events for these groups, as well as addressing the pressing issue of the current housing crisis in our community.
I believe it is crucial to recognize these comments, as I recently I attended a DV fundraiser. This is one of many that I have attended despite my age. During the event, I listened to a Domestic Violence (DV) survivor share her story and emphasize the importance of educating our youth about DV while taking proactive steps to prevent it. Additionally, I discovered that there are over 40,000 Queensland Women aged 55 and above experiencing financial difficulties due to various factors such as increasing living expenses, unemployment, inadequate superannuation, and limited affordable housing options. I thank raising these significant issues with us.
Some important numbers:
Kids Helpline:1800 551 800
1800 RESPECT: 1800 727 732
DVCnnectWomensline: 1800 811 811
DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636
I’m pleased to report that I completed the 48Km Kokoda youth challenge in 15.5 hours and was in the top 5 out of 1,232 fundraiser. I’m thinking next year we have a senior and youth Brisbane Indian Times team take part. Watch this space.
More information can be found at https://www.housing.qld.gov.au/initiatives/housing-older-women
Thanks to feedback, my August survey is centered around determining the preferred topics for articles. Feel free to scan the QR code or approach me for a discussion on how we can further support the Deo and team’s objectives of producing a more informative and diverse newspaper for both seniors and youth by scanning the barcode.
Link: https://us17.list-manage.com/survey?u=e2a27a9d91a2076e4df41b4e0&id=5733a2587e&attribution=false
