Canberra: On the auspicious occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th Birthday, the Tibetan Community across Australia Celebrates the day with great pomp and grandeur along with the friends and Supporters of the Tibetan people.
In Canberra, the Tibet Information Office and Canberra Tibetan Community celebrated the His Holiness’s 88th birthday at Southern Cross Club on 6th July 2023. The event was presided over by Hon. Marisa Paterson, MLA on behalf of the Chief Minister and Multicultural Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. Among the other distinguished guests were Hon. Emma Davidson, MLA, Hon Peter Cain and diplomats and Tibet supporters from various embassies and community organisations. As part of the celebration, the Canberra Tibetan community distributed gift hampers to the elderlies of the Old People’s Home in the Hunsur Tibetan settlement in India and helped for buying books in the Public library in the Sonamling Tibetan settlement in Ladakh.
The day was also celebrated by the Tibetan Buddhist Society of Canberra at Virupa Retreat Centre where Representative Karma Singey attended as a special guest and spoke briefly about the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his four Principal Commitments. The event was joined by many spiritual friends including Ven. Thich Quang Ba and the monks and nuns from the Shakyamuni Buddhist Temple, Lyneham, ACT.
In Sydney, around 800 Tibetans and supporters gathered at the Mackellar Girl’s School on 8th July, 2023 to celebrate the His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday where Hon. Member of Parliament Dr. Sophie Scamps was invited as the chief guest. She greeted His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 88th birthday and shared experiences of her recent visit to Dharamsala as part of the Australian parliamentary delegation visit.
Representative Karma Singey took the opportunity to thank Hon. Dr. Sophie Scamps, MP for acknowledging the Hon. Sikyong Penpa Tsering in the Australian Parliament and raising the Tibet issue during Sikyong’s visit to Australia last month. The Sydney Tibetan Community presented a “Thank You Award” to Hon. Dr. Sophie for her unwavering support and friendship for the people of Tibet and appreciated her commitment and dedication. The Mayor of Northern Beaches Council Sue Heins, the Executive Officer of Australia Tibet Council Dr. Zoe Bedford and the President of New Zealand and Australia Alliance of Victims of CCP Prof Choegyi Feng were amongst the prominent guests on that special day.
In New Castle, Hon. Deputy Speaker of House of Representative Sharon Claydon MP, Councilor Dr. Elizabeth Adamczyk and Education Officer of Hunter Community Languages Kara Matheson attended the celebration. The Tibet Information Office’s Chinese Liaison Officer Dawa also attended the function and read out the kashag’s statement on the occasion. As a part of the special occasion, the Tibetan Community launched a special project of free distribution of around one thousand books namely Beyond the Religion, The Art of Happiness and the Book of Joy authored by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama to create awareness about his message of promotion of human values like compassion, love, non-violence and inter-religious harmony.
In the Blue Mountains, Hon. Susan Templeman, the Co-chair of the All Australian Parliamentary Group for Tibet and Councillor Suzie Van Opdorp presided over the event and they expressed their best wishes to His Holiness and the Tibetan Community in Australia.
Similar events celebrating His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday were held in several Australian cities and regions, including Melbourne, Nowra and Brisbane.
Hon. Dr. Sophie Scamps cutting the birthday cake with Representative Karma Singey.
Hon. Susan Templeman MP and Councillor Suzie Van Opdorp cutting birthday cake at the Blue Mountains Tibetan Community’s celebration Of HH’s 88th Birthday.
Hon. Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon MP and Councilor Dr. Elizabeth Adamczyk cutting cake at New Castle Tibetan Community Celebration of HH 88th birthday.
Elderlies of Hunsur Old People’s Home receiving gift hampers sent by Canberra Tibetan Community.