A true Aussie ambassador

Sydney-based film-maker Anupam Sharma is named Australia Day Ambassador

Working behjnd the scenes, dream mercham Anupam Sharma has over di e past two decades adop ted many different roles - cin=atographer, casting di rector, consultant, writer, facilitator and fiLn expert. ln the process he has forged strong links with individuals, companies and countries carving a niche fo r himself in the fickle world o f films. ms brainchi ld PiJms & Casting Ternple is an icon in the entertainment industry and crerured widi sing le -handedly bringing Inrua and Australia together, se lling their individual brands like never before

Nominated by r S\\7 Premier Barry O'Farrell, in 2013 Sharma has tal,en on yet another exciting ro le - that of Ausrra]ja Day Ambassador.

The Australia Day Ambassador program is a nationwide iruriative diat sees high achieving and proud Australians attend local Austra lia Day celebrations in towns and cities acro ss the nation.

"As an Inruan who made Australia home, it is humbling to receive diis honour nor only because it also h appens to be

] ndian Republi c Day bur also because it indirecdy hon ours die ream of people with me who have been tireless ly wodcing for stro ng /iL,1 links bel:\veen India and Austra]ja ", Sharma to ld Judi1111 Link

Prom relatively humble origi ns in 1990, today there are around 400 ambassadors who vol u n tee r dieir rime and energy to inspire pride and celebration in hundreds of local communities.

Anupam Shanna's place of choice was 3000 stro ng comm uni ty of Coonaba rabran in \Xla.rrumbungle S hire of northern I S\'.i7.

"Cou n try Australia has al\vays been so appealing to me. The landscape and die scene r y are qw re breadita.king. 1 have done location surveys in this region (thanks to Screen NS\XI), have filmed in Dubbo, as well as in man y regio nal areas of Australia and NS\V, so I jumped at the opporttmity co visit such a friendly and beautiful region again," he e.xplai ned.

" To be an Australia Day Ambassa dor in Coonabarabran

,vhich h as been ravaged by bush fires, and engage w itb die locals, was even more poignant", he added.

" The whole experience was so ful filling. le was like a cherry o n m y cake. I was supposed to be an Ambassado r but felt more like an apprentice learning from t he c o mmunity, their ani azing spirit of mateship, of vo luntee r work, and h umanity which i s fast eroding in d1e husde bu stle of big cities but refreshingly alive i11 small tow ns," he acknowledged

Ir was so touching that despite having faced so much hardship barely d1e week before, t he whole community rallied around fo r Austr alia Day, he pointed.

\YhiJe he was moved by camarad erie and hospita]jt)' of tl1e country region, one woman certainly made a lasting impression on the respected filmmaker. ·'The conductor of the local band was particulatl}' bu bbly and enthus iastic, making sure I w as well looked after 1 saw her at die breakfast meeting and again at several function s throughout the day. When l finall)' got talking much later, l found out, s he had lost eve r ything in the recen t fire. Yet she was warm and welcoming Thi s struck a deep ch ord. This i s the true spiri t of Australia," he remarked.

"Australia Day may have starred primarily to celebrate tli e arrival of the first fleet, bm over the years it ha s developed into a celebration of all dungs Australian s for all of us mi grants," he ad ded Sharma who was recently named as o ne of the 50 m ost powerful and infl uential film professionals in Ausu a]ja by die pre stigious Encore Magazine took part in a range of activities diro ughout the day, including Rag hoisting and citizenship ceremoru es.

Address ing d1e communitj1 gatheri n g earlier, Sh arma stated, "I r is your resilience and Aussie spirit which makes the te rrible fires of las r week look li ke hlstory It is your Aussie spirit w hich won "

Usha Ramanujam Arvind

Colour, music and fancy Bol/ywood dancing made the Indian contingent distinctive at the Australia Day parade

Auscralians and Indians have a reason co gee togethet and celebrate 011 January 26. It is a doubly special day for all Indians, being Repub lic Day and Australia Day, a time to celebrate two significant events.

This year, as A u stralians of all nati o nalities were preparing for the parade, us of Indian o rig in were ready to put up our own spectacular s how. As the day neared dusk and the sw1 showing n o signs o f setting, people from all over Adelaide, of every na tio nali ty flocked on the streets of King William Road co watch the Australia Day parade and cheer for their respective communities. Some even started celebrating much earlier in the day, indulging in famil y picnic s in the beauti ful ambience of our famous Elder Park.

The parade started off with the flying past of an F I S Hornet, followed b y a march past of all groups. The crowd was mesmerized by a huge number of culn1ral and ethnic groups, flamboyantly dressed in their traditional costumes and gaily decorated floats that proudly marched down the s tre ets, accompanied by resounding and encouraging cheers of 1.he public.

But the o nes who recei ved the most attention and app lause were the Indian community as t he y went past in co lourful sarees and traditional outfits, dancing and singing co the accompaniment of lo ud music. Making their way down the street , members o f the lndian Australian Association of South Australia (IAASA) dre sse d in traditional kurtas, proudly held aloft their banner. Following behind then1 were Gurjari SA commw1ity, driving in the.ir pompous van, waving and dancing to garba music. The Ben gali community wasn't too far behind, beautifully dressed in sarees of every hue , si n gin g enticing Bengali so ngs. Leading the Sikh co mmunity, wearing b lue chola.r and turban s were little children Aauming traditional (ye t harmless) weaponry, as adults waved their Sikh flag.

Even car enthus iasts weren't disappointed as almo st a hundred vintage vehicles drove down the streets.

The procession tl1en merged on to Elder Par k for the twilight Australia Day concert. The crowd enjoyed performances by Wies Carr, winner of Australian Idol 2008 and Pocbellez. The n ig ht can1e co an end witl1 a wonderful display o f fireworks.

Ausu·alia Da y is celebrated annually o n January 26 and commemorates me establishment in 1778 of the first European settlement at Port Jack so n, now pare of Sydney. An official public holiday is observed in every state and territory of Australia with celebrations across the nati on in the form of community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies An increasing numb er of people are taking up Australian citizenship, leading to increased multicul turalism in tlus land