Canberra: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday was celebrated with great enthusiasm by Tibetans, supporters, and friends of Tibet across Australia.
In the Blue Mountains, to honour His Holiness the Dalai Lama on this significant occasion and to celebrate the Year of Compassion, the Tibetan community and friends of His Holiness hosted 113 Tibetan flags at various locations in the Blue Mountains City. The flag-raising ceremony was held in front of the Blue Mountains City Council and was attended by several prominent figures, including Mayor Mark Greenhill, Deputy Mayor Romola Hollywood, Federal MP Susan Templeman, State MP Trish Doyle, City Councillor Suzie Van Opdorp, Aboriginal elder Aunty Carol OAM, Tibetan MP Tenzin Phuntsok Doring, and Representative Karma Singey.
Later, a formal event was held at Katoomba Public School to celebrate the occasion, where Federal MP Susan Templeman, co-chair of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, read a statement issued by the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Tibet on His Holiness’ 90th birthday.
The statement expressed: “As His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama celebrates his 90th birthday this year, the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet would like to offer our deepest respect and heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness. We wish him a long and healthy life so he can continue to serve humanity and all sentient beings.”
It further emphasised: “As Australian parliamentarians, we reiterate that the Tibetan people are entitled to their fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to choose their own religious and spiritual leaders without government interference.”
This milestone was also celebrated grandly in Sydney, Newcastle, Nowra, the Central Coast, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, and other regions. Many prominent Australian parliamentarians and Tibet supporters, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Sharon Claydon MP, Dr. Sophie Scamps MP, Senator Paul Scarr, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, former Senator Janet Rice, ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury, along with many religious and community leaders, joined Tibetan communities in their respective regions.
In New Zealand, the Tibetan community in Auckland celebrated His Holiness’s birthday, attended by many prominent guests, including MPs Ingrid Leary and Helen White, Friends of Tibet, and members of the Tibetan Chinese Friendship Association.
-Report filed by Tibet Information Office, Canberra