Our way of giving back
We are an emerging community in Albury-Wodonga from Bhutan and we are proud to make Albury-Wodonga our home. We have a community organisation named Bhutanese Australian community support Group Albury-Wodonga Inc.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
We hold activities for adults and the elderly so that they don't feel isolated, and we have been running a youth-related event so that our youth could be the best support to their parents for bridging their language barrier and turning to a positive contribution in the local communities.
Our community is really shocked about the bushfire crisis, and came together to discuss how we could support the victims. This small emerging community sent almost $1200 in September. When the bushfire crisis spread, we purchased food items to donate and our entertainment group of BACSGAW handed $200 to local fire brigades in Lavington.
A week before that I got calls from dozens of members that wanted to help but did not know how, with language barriers and not knowing the procedures to donate online. The Bhutanese Australian Community support group took the lead and $2366 was raised. It may seem a small amount but the positive attitude and giving back to the local community in the hour of need is immense.
People from this community came from refugee backgrounds and are in the recovery stage from their past trauma. They know that even a small support can make a big difference in the healing process of the victims. Our community feels proud to be in this beautiful country and never forget to join hand and give back to as per their capacity to the citizens when nation is mourning.
Tika Poudyel, Community Advocate
Cash for consultants
All residents of Indigo Shire should download a copy of the document "Request for quotation, Beechworth Historic Precinct Masterplan (RFQ No.19/4948)" from the Indigo Shire website, or obtain a copy from the Shire offices. This document has been advertised during the Christmas holidays (an interesting time to do so).
Indigo Shire is again seeking to spend money on consultants to do something that should be done by their own bureaucrats, i.e. manage the Beechworth Historic Precinct. I have lived in Beechworth for almost three decades. In that time there have been many consultants' reports about the Historic Precinct costing many tens of thousands of dollars. How many more consultants does Indigo Shire need to hire before it can manage the Historic Precinct properly?
Please note that the tender documents include The Old Beechworth Gaol. It seems that Indigo Shire is prepared to spend taxpayers' dollars on promoting what is clearly a private business that should take its chances in the market place like any other business in Indigo Shire. If the Shire wishes to involve the Old Gaol in the Historic Precinct it should either purchase or lease the property. Otherwise it is up to the owners not the ratepayers to promote that business.
Instead of spending ratepayer money on endless consultants' reports, use the money to preserve and protect the Beechworth Historic Precinct. Hire someone who is committed to Australia's colonial history to manage it. Regrettably, if the Shire's track record is anything to go by, we will probably end up with a cycling hub, a theme park or a "pseudo" historic shopping centre.