FiRSt Sikh to ReCeive auStRalian honouR

For service to the Sikh community in Australia

the Order of Australia (OAM), one of Australia’s highest civilian honours.

Bawa Jagdev oam

BY RITAM MITRA

Sikh Australians around the country celebrated a moment in history on January 26, as the Secretary of the Sikh Council of Australia (SCA), S. Bawa Singh Jagdev, proudly accepted the Medal of

As Secretary of SCA, Bawa Singh’s work has involved a passion to protect and gain recognition for Sikh rights, as well as a longstanding ambition to safeguard human rights and fight for humanitarian issues.

“I truly feel humbled to be the recipient of this prestigious award,” said Bawa Singh. “I may be the first Sikh to receive this honour, but I personally feel that the award belongs to all those who helped me and worked along with me over the years to solve our community problems of which there were many, and achieve what, as a community, we have accomplished. I thank them all.”

Bawa Singh has enjoyed an immensely colourful and successful life, having been born in Punjab, educated in the United Kingdom, worked in Africa and