Ten years of social service at IWA T

his year marks the 10th anniversary of the Indian Welfare Association of NSW (IWA), a not-for-profit organisation formed in August 1999.

The organisation marked the occasion with the first of two annual sight-seeing tours and picnic to the Napean and Cordeaux Dams on 10 October. The event was open to both members and non members and 35 turned up to avail of the fantastic opportunity to mingle and have fun. Saraswathi Venugopalan, secretary of IWA, maintained the numbers were relatively low owing to many cancellations by seniors due to the prevailing unpredictable weather conditions.

The tour departed from Parramatta at 8.30 am on a one-hour drive to Cordeaux dam. But due to security reasons only the catchment area was made accessible to visitors. That didn’t deter the picnic goers, however, from having a good time and enjoying morning tea by the waters. The party then headed to the Napean Dam for lunch which was catered by IWA and included in the admission cost. The families enjoyed music and games and embarked on the return trip at 4.30pm, stopping at a park to stretch before reaching home by 5.00pm.

According to Saraswathy, “The excursion was a huge success as everybody loved it and we received positive feedback from the members.”

The organisation was established with the main objective of providing a platform to the Indian community to socialize and form a network. IWA acquired its initial 50 members

Saraswathy insists, “The main aim of IWA is to serve the community. The Association has been motivated by a strong desire to promote measures for the welfare of the community as a whole and the elderly in particular.” She highlighted the fact that there is already a sizeable number of Indian seniors in Sydney which is set to grow with the influx of Indian migrants into Australia in the coming years. And that ‘the initial joy of being reunited with their dear ones often gets diminished in an external atmosphere of cultural differences.’ So the need for an association catering to the unique requirements of this section of the community ‘assumes greater relevance and importance.’

The organisation looks after the special needs of senior citizens by organising periodical tours and visits to places of interest and establishing retirement residences and nursing homes for those who prefer to live in independence. IWA also strives to provide relief to those with disability caused by old age by arranging for special home care and housing adapted to their needs.

Other agendas on the calender are the planning, directing and carrying out of educational, recreational and benevolent social services for the community like organised temple tours, picnics, sightseeing tours, cruises and retreats.

The organisation is striving to encourage the younger members and their families to participate and volunteer in the restoration of educational and literary sessions for its members and is planning to introduce stress management courses for the younger members to help them deal with the day-to-day pressures of living in a foreign country.

The members can also take advantage of the well stocked Library with over 600 Tamil books on philosophy and religion by well known writers, in addition to weekly, fortnightly and monthly magazines from India.

Saraswathy highlighted some of the past achievements of the association as follows.

“We extended our moral and financial support for nearly a year to an Indian family with a handicapped child till they got settled in Sydney. Our help also extended to a young man from India on a work visa who suddenly took ill and who needed intensive medical care and treatment. We raised funds for relief measures in Gujarat earthquake and also for the Tsunami victims. We arranged to buy and donate fibre glass fishing boats to the fishermen in Cuddalore District. We also raised funds for the relief measures for victims in Canberra Fire in 2002-03 and Queensland Cyclone in 2006.”

In addition, the association is constantly striving to add and improve its facilities, which is indicative in the setting up of a hobby and learning centre in October 2008 to organise group activities and to promote art, religion and handicrafts etc. A Study Circle was inaugurated on 28th September 2009 to involve members in group discussions.

Indian Welfare Association also organises two tours or picnics every year of which the next one is set to be a day cruise in January 2010.

The membership fee is a nominal $20 per annum for families and $10 for singles.

Farzana Shakir