FICQ organizes annual India-Australia Day celebration

Brisbane, January 27 (Australia India News Newsdesk)

The Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland Inc. (FICQ) organized the annual India-Australia Day celebration on 26 January, at Sunpac, Sunnybank QLD, to commemorate a unique double celebration. Shayne Neumann MP, John-Paul Langbroek MP, Charis Mullen MP, Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Cr Angela Owen - Councillor for Calamvale Ward were among the many participants in the IndiaAustralia Day celebrations.

About celebrating India-Australia Day, John-Paul Langbroek wrote in a Facebook post, “It’s Australia Day… but it’s also the 75th India Republic Day and the dancers from @margam_dance_academy were there to celebrate so was Pinky Singh @lnpqld candidate for Mansfield #shadowMinister #multiculturalism @ queenslandparliament representing Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli MP.” Charis Mullen MP, in her Facebook post wrote, “Australia Day and Indian Republic Day fall on the same day (26 Jan) which is an interesting historical coincidence. The Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ) | Australia host a special ‘India - Australia Day’ gathering which is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the strong and enduring relationship between our two nations.”

Expressing his feelings about the India-Australia Day celebrations, Milton Dick MP wrote on Facebook, “Last night I joined members from all levels of government and community members from across Queensland for an evening celebrating the ties between the Australian and Indian community.

Thanks to the Federation of Indian Communities in Qld for a wonderful celebration.

The relationship between our two countries and our two communities continues to grow.

Happy Republic Day and Australia Day!”

Dr Jim Chalmers MP echoed similar feelings for celebrating FICQ’s India Australia Day. He wrote on Facebook, “ Thank you to the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ) | Australia for the opportunity to join with so many community leaders and mates to celebrate Australia Day and India Republic Day, and to say a few words about the remarkable possibilities of the Australia-India relationship into the future.”

Australia Day is the official National Day of Australia which is celebrated annually on 26 January.

On the same day of 26 January, India celebrates becoming a republic with a constitution of its own that came into force on 26 January 1950. Australia Day marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the first fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and the raising of the flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip.

From the perspective of today’s Australia, these celebrations offer an insight into the diverse society of the nation. Therefore, these celebrations are marked by community and family events, reflections on Australian history, official community awards, and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new members of the Australian community.