I acknowledge that we are on Gadigal land and pay my respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.
Welcome to the inaugural Maitri Lecture, to be delivered tonight by Dr Rolf Gomes.
Maitri, is a Sanskrit word that encompasses many meanings – kindness, goodwill, and friendship.
And it doesn’t hurt that it sounds a bit like mate…
It’s in this spirit of kindness, goodwill, friendship, and mateship, that we celebrate the relationship between Australia and India…
And come together to recognise the significant contribution of the Indian diaspora to Australia.
This lecture provides an opportunity for an extraordinary Australian, with Indian heritage, to tell their story.
A story, of how their origin, and culture, has shaped who they are, their work, and the contribution they have made that has shaped Australia for the better.
It’s a story which we see across our country.
People who travel from far at great personal cost, often giving everything up and starting again.
To give their children, and their children’s children, an opportunity for a better life.
It’s the story of Australia.
A country, home to the longest living culture of the world.
A multicultural country, home to generations of migrants, from convicts, to settlers, pearl divers and cameleers…
Those escaping war, and persecution, famine, or poverty, and those simply here for the promise of education, or work.
Their being here, their hard work, and ingenuity, makes us stronger, wealthier, and more resilient.
And in their diversity and difference we find both a national strength and a point of pride.
They are great Australians.
Tonight you will hear the story of one of those remarkable Australians: Dr Rolf Gomes.
You’ll hear about his childhood in India…
His parents’ decision to move to Australia when he was nine, with four kids in tow and little more…
And how he found his place in the Australian bush, a love for its people…
And with this too, his life’s purpose.
To bring, in his words, a “mobile Wickham Terrace” to the bush.
So that regional and rural patients could get the same standard of care they would get if they lived in the city.
It’s an extraordinary story oenge of being a migrant in Australia, overcome through struggle, and sacrifice, hard work, and aspiration…
Which we see many times, all over this country, including in our Indian diaspora of over one million people.
Thank you, to the Centre for Australia-India Relations, and to the ABC, for hosting this important event.
And thank you, to Dr Gomes, for joining us tonight as our first Maitri speaker, and allowing us to hear your story in person.
We are better, and stronger, and healthier, as a nation because of it.
Thank you.