HONOURS BUILDING CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

Professor

Mahalingam Sinnathamby, AM

In the early nineties, an enterprising property developer purchased 2860 hectares of bushland near Brisbane that had been beset by planning problems. He set about transforming it into Australia’s largest fully master-planned city, the only other since Canberra. The multi-award winning city is projected to have a population of 138,000 by 2030.

Lobbying various governmental departments over the last three decades to make this vision a reality, Greater Springfield is Malaysia-born and UNSW-trained civil engineer, MahalingamSinnathamby’s dream come true. As a major economic driver, it is also a vision of Australia’s urban future, boasting combined health, education, technology and transport precincts.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull rightly described it as a national and nation building project.

“This is not my recognition alone. It has been a twenty six-year journey with eleven schools, three thousand teachers and forty one thousand individuals. When it went to the parliament for approval, eighty-nine members voted unanimously for it. The credit goes to every single person along the way who helped to achieve this vision,” Sinnathamby, who will turn eighty this year, told Indian Link.

As Chairman of the Springfield City Group, he has overseen the single largest planned city built by individuals. The project was awarded World’s Best Master Planned Community by International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) and Australia’s Best Master Planned Community by Urban Development Institute of Australia. It also won Urban Development Institute of Australia’s National President’s Award as well as Property Council of Australia’s Best Master Planned Community besides numerous state level recognitions.

By creating a master-planned community where people can live, learn, work and play in a city, while fully supported by high quality infrastructure, commercially viable and sustainable development, his goal is to enrich society and make a difference at an individual level.

Outlining the substantial legacy he has helped shape, Sinnathambysaid with great humility,“I owe it to my wife, my business partner and our families. If anything needs recognition, it is the breadth of opportunities this great country offers. With 1.8% of India’s population spread across a country that is two and a half times bigger, Australians have unlimited natural resources, beautiful weather and a stable democratic system, where everyone is equal. What else can we ask for? Seize the opportunity, rise up and aspire for better.”

Despite very humble beginnings, his relentless work ethic and indomitable resilience have seen Sinnathamby stave off failures to become one of the wealthiest people in Australia. A recent publication Stop Not Till Goal Is Reached unpacks his philosophy in life, drawing inspiration from the legendary Swami Vivekanada. He values education above anything else, reiterating its importance at every occasion. “Education is the currency of the future. It is one thing that can be cashed anywhere and at any time. No one can take it away from you.”

As patron of the Singapore Business Council, former president of Australian Malaysia Business Council and former member, Australia India Business Council, he has lent his business acumen to support emerging entrepreneurs.

He is also a patron of the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland and Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (Queensland branch).

Inspired by the philosophy of Sri Ramakrishna and Mahatma Gandhi, he believes in giving. Philanthropy has been a big part of his life, be it to his alma mater, where a number of equity scholarships have been established, or to community groups and cultural organisations. He is a patron of the Vedanta Centre Sydney and a founding patron of its Brisbane chapter.

Exuding positivity at all times, Sinnathamby is an inspirational speaker who believes life’s challenges make one’s destiny. Always emulating simplicity, he is a firm believer that adversity and hardship have ingrained mental toughness in him.

Prior to the Order of Australia recognition, has been conferred with many accolades, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Southern Queensland, Centenary Medal for contribution to Regional Development; 2003 Ernst and Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year (Northern Region), Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International, Australian Institute of Management Medal for Management Innovation and the GOPIO International Renowned Entrepreneur Excellence Award. Usha Ramanujam Arvind of the Canberra Interfaith Forum, thus not only contributing to his Hindu faith, but making a mark among people of other faiths too. As Chair of the Hindu Mandir, he has successfully lobbied the ACT Government for a larger temple and is in the process of fund-raising for this project.

In addition, Dr Nadimpalli has also been active in the International Mother Language Movement. Cricket, his other love, continues to feature in his life in Australia, such as in organising multicultural cricket tournaments.

What would he say is his proudest achievement?

“I would say, the introduction of the Art of Living Foundation’s PrisonSmart program for the rehabilitation of prisoners in Canberra. My motto is ‘Serving for Empowerment’, and this is what I really want to do.”

He is grateful to his wife Lakshmi, who supports him fully in all his activities. He has two sons and is soon to be a grandfather.

Talking about his OAM, Dr Krihna chose characteristically to downplay it: I am happy, he said, sounding content.

True humility, one could not help thinking.

Then he said, “It actually inspires me to do more. I have decided to retire and devote my life to community service. First there is the temple to build. But then, my dream is to have Wellness Centres across Australia that deal with mental health issues, cancer and other terminal illnesses, and drug and alcohol addiction. I would like to see a drug-free Australia.”

Vinaya Rai