Sikh community supports Salvos' cyclone relief

Sydney-based charity Turbans 4 Australia organised the donation and delivery of groceries and water for distribution by The Salvation Army in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Marcia which hit central Queensland last month.

Amar Singh, President of Turbans 4 Australia, said the donation, to the value of $4500, also had the intention of building cultural bridges between the Sikh community and the general Australian public.

“At times, elders of our community experience a lot of discrimination and abuse, and this is our way to also say, ‘look we are citizens of this nation and we care and we are giving back to the community’. It is a way of promoting mutual respect,” he said.

“I find Salvos are hands-on and big on getting into the field and rolling their sleeves up, which I really relate to. That’s what I love about Salvos – they’re always out there in the remotest parts of Australia.”

Amar contacted Major Colin Maxwell, the Capricorn Region Corps Officer, to ask what items were most needed in the recovery phase.

The Turbans 4 Australia group organised the delivery of dry goods, cleaning materials, baby products and pallets of water. These helped complement The Salvation Army’s Fill A Fridge campaign, which assisted a large number of households in Rockhampton, Yeppoon and other affected outlying area.

The bulk of funding came from international charity Khalsa Aid, with Brisbane Sikh temple donating water and some donations from the Sydney Sikh community.

By Naomi Singlehurst

Photo caption: Manny Sandhu, Manjot Singh, Mp Singh, Amar Singh, Dr Ramita Sharma and Sukh Cheema with Major Colin Maxwell and Salvos volunteers.