Victoria’s state government honours two Nepalis

  • November 22, 2019

Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence has bestowed two people of Nepali origin with the Award for Meritious Service to the Community for their individual contributions in community building.

The award honours outstanding individuals and organisations that foster cross-cultural understanding, support migrants and refugees, and celebrate and preserve the diversity of cultures that make Victoria such a great place to live.

Bhakta Bhattarai bagged the Award for Meritious Service to the Community under the Individuals – Voluntary Work category. Bhattarai was recognized “for his work organising community events that foster social cohesion and in bringing people from diverse cultural backgrounds together in the Albury Wodonga region,” according to Victorian Multicultural Commission’s website.

This particular award recognises the outstanding achievements of groups or individuals who have enhanced multiculturalism in their community.

Similarly, Dr Raju Adhikari also received the Award for Meritious Service to the Community under the Individuals – Voluntary Work category “for founding the Federation of Nepali Community Association of Australia and for his leadership in bringing over 200 Nepali communities together across Australia to make direct contributions to Australian and Victorian government policy development.”

Hosted by Governor of Victoria, Linda Dessau AC, and Anthony Howard AM QC, the 18th ceremony of Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence was held at Government House on November 19.

Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence recognises the outstanding achievements of people and organisations who strengthen multiculturalism.

The award has 10 categories, including Award for Meritorious Service to the Community, Community Innovation Award, Education and Early Childhood Award, Emerging Leadership in Multiculturalism Award, Government and Civic Leadership Award, Media Award, Multicultural Business Award, Multicultural Police Awards, Premier’s Award for Community Harmony and Youth Award.