CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Dr GARLAND (Chisholm) (10:09): It's always wonderful to have the opportunity to provide the House with an update on some of the celebrations and events happening in my community of Chisholm in the wonderful multicultural suburbs of Melbourne. On Monday, the Mid-Autumn Festival began—a festival with a long tradition of unity, harmony and gratitude. It is a time for coming together to celebrate and enjoy each other's company.
This festival, also known as the Moon Festival, celebrates the harvest, and I note the beautiful harvest moon we were all able to enjoy this week. I recently had the chance to attend the Mid-Autumn Festival opening ceremony at the Queen Victoria Markets, organised by the terrific Asian Business Association of Whitehorse. I thank them very much and congratulate them very much for organising such a terrific event and being such important contributors in our community.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is symbolic of the full moon, mutual respect, the togetherness of families and the collective efforts of the harvest, and its celebration is a testament to the strength of Chisholm's Chinese Australian community. The Chinese community has undeniably enriched our society, and multiculturalism makes us all better off as people and should always be celebrated.
A celebration just around the corner is Diwali, and I have no doubt that Chisholm will light up in celebration over the five-day festival. Diwali is a time for lighting lamps, gift-giving, feasting and celebrating the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The values of compassion, goodwill and hope, which find prominence in Diwali celebrations, are values which all of us should be guided by, and this is an important moment of reflection for all of us.
Diwali is an incredibly important celebration for the Indian community—including, of course, the Indian community in Chisholm. Each year, the Diwali celebrations exemplify the vibrance of the multicultural fabric which makes up Australia, woven in part by the contributions of the wonderful Indian community. I look forward to celebrating Diwali together with the community of Chisholm, and I wish everyone celebrating Diwali a very happy Diwali.