Building community bridges

From left, Victoria Police senior constable Riki-Lee, senior sergeant Nathan Prowd and volunteer Veer Singh at the community engagement event held by the Officer Sikh community.

Officer Sikh and Indian Temple and community centre – Siri Guru Nanak Darbar (SGND) hosted more than 60 people during a special evening organised with the intent of raising awareness about Sikh faith and building community bridges.

Friends from Rotary Club, RSL, Inner Wheel, Victoria Police and Neighbourhood Watch attended.

Volunteers Harjasnoor Kaur and Harpreet Singh enlightened guests and with the basic principles and teachings of the Sikhism.

The riveted guests asked questions to feed their curiosity and were taken for a tour around the beautiful 20-acre tree-filled property that overlooks a creek.

Attendees were made aware of the tireless journey of temple volunteers for over five years until the inauguration of SGND in January 2019.

Visitors were appraised about initiatives such as Australian, Aboriginal and Sikh flags at the entrance; extending support to Bunyip bushfire victims, installation of bird nest boxes, plantation of around 300 trees, and collaborations with Need for Feed.

The current and future plans of development of the property and the core vision of raising the place to serve as community’s asset through integration and engagement were shared with the visitors.

There are plans to start organic farming, set up a kids’ toy library, a kids play area, and facilities for communities to have music and language classes.

Environmental conservation was one of the core principles and therefore the centre was planning to install solar panels, rainwater harvesting tanks, composting pits, revegetation of creek, plantations along the Officer Road, community kitchen, and multi-purpose room.

Cardinia Shire Council former mayor George Blenkhorn, who played a key role in organising this visit said, “On behalf of all those who had the privilege of sampling the generosity of the members of the Sikh community I thank them very much and wish them success in their endeavours on their site.”