Australian Capital Territory NewsRECOGNITION FOR AIBC ACT PRESIDENT added:22/12/11Australian Capital Territory Multicultural Ball and Awards Night 2011
Canberra Multicultural Community Forum Inc and the ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs presented the official launch of the 2012 National Multicultural Festival at the Multicultural Awards Night Dinner Dance on Wednesday 30 November 2011, at the Hellenic Club in Woden.
This year's theme for the Multicultural Ball was Bollywood Bliss. The evening’s hosts were Ms Kumud Merani and Ms Manpreet Kaur Singh – both are current SBS radio announcers. Both the MCs were very entertaining and professional in hosting such a huge event attended by more than 400 people. To highlight the Bollywood theme, there were excellent performances by Canberra's Indian community groups, which included Bollywood dance groups, bhangra and Gujarati dandia dance. In addition to dance items, there were couple of excellent karaoke singers, who entertained the audience with songs from Bollywood movies. The Bollywood themed entertainment was well appreciated, together with the Indian entree of onion pakoras, vegetarian samosas, tandoori chicken and kebabs, followed by delicious Indian mains.
Prior to the Multicultural Awards Night Dinner Dance, nominations of individuals and organisations were invited whose efforts have strengthened the ACT’s multicultural identity; built positive multicultural community relations; and promoted the benefit of multiculturalism in the ACT. The ACT Multicultural Awards recognised people and groups who worked hard to make the Capital such a vibrant, caring and harmonious place to live. An independent selection panel comprising representatives with relevant expertise assessed the nominations. The ACT Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Joy Burch MLA, announced the winners at the Multicultural Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
It was extremely pleasing for the Indian community to see Mr Deepak Raj Gupta, President of Australia India Business Council, recognised for his effort in promoting multiculturalism in Canberra and organising an excellent event – India in the City, in 2011. Deepak was one of the first recipients of the awards from the Minister. India in the City has been marked as one of the signature events in the National Multicultural Festival in 2012. 
Other multicultural award winners were Ms Chin Wong, recognised as outstanding volunteer, and Ms Sele Taufa, who was awarded the Multicultural Advocate of the Year. In the business category, Fyshwick Fresh Food Market won the 2011 Wolf Blass Multicultural Award for Private Enterprise while Housing ACT was winner of the Multicultural Award for Public Sector. An ethnic radio station (91.1 FM) which broadcasts in many languages, was also one of the winners of the multicultural awards and Mr RJ Manish of Radio Manpasand was part of the group that received the award.
Minister Burch also announced Wolf Blass as the Face of the 2012 National Multicultural Festival and award-winning singer Anthony Callea was revealed as the headline act for the festival.
The National Multicultural Festival will be held in Canberra City from 10-12 February 2012. This multicultural festival in the national capital will provide an excellent opportunity to indulge in music, dancing, cultural heritage and of course fantastic food. Summer visitors to Canberra should plan their visit during the multicultural festival weekend and make the most of what the Capital has to offer. top of page Management CommitteeACT Management Committee added:10/06/09
President Deepak-Raj Gupta
Vice President Scott Cass-Dunbar
Secretary Harmandeep Singh
Treasurer Bikram Ray
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