BRISBANE GOPIO Queensland hosted a very successful gala dinner to raise much-needed funds for Iconic India Day Fair. Embracing cultural diversity, Landmark restaurant in Sunnybank was chosen as the venue for this year’s gala dinner. Traditionally the gala dinner is held earlier in the year, around April or May. Still, there were too many events, and we had the King’s coronation, all of which resulted in June 2nd being the chosen date.
The MC for the night was Lewis Lee, who is second to none and has an incredible grasp of the names and positions of elected representatives and community leaders. Everyone present applauded his presentation style and the smooth running of the event.
Amongst the dignitaries were Cr Kim Marx, Representing Lord Mayor Vicki Howard, Central Ward, Cr Charles Strunk, Inala/Forest Lake Ward, Cr Tracy Davis, McDowell Ward
Umesh Chandra OAM, Founder President GOPIO Qld, GOPIO International Executive Vice President, Pars Ram Punj, GOPIO International Gold Life Member, Indu Kant Sharma, President, GOPIO Qld, Pradip Gorasia, President, GOPIO Gold Coast, Rakesh Sharma, GOPIO Qld Founding Member and former President, Executive Members, GOPIO Qld, Awadhesh Sharma, Brisbane Indian Times Correspondent and author, Janeth Deen OAM, President, QLD Multicultural Council, Edward Lin, World Arts & Multi-Culture Inc., Grace Yu, Grace Education & Migration, Tapas Mandal, President, Bengali Society of QLD, Irene Bayldon, Convenor Fijian Program Radio 4EB, Pragya Ohja Sharma, Hindi Program Radio 4EB
Pankaj Aggarwal, ISKCON, Pinky Singh OAM, Immigration & Citizenship Policy Chair LNP
Sailesh & Marina Chand, Sai Saileswara Temple, Prerna Pahwa, Simply Human,
Dr Jishu Das Gupta (JD), Bangladesh Association of Brisbane and White Ribbon Qld
Preethi Suraj, President, The India Australia Society of Queensland, Palani O Thevar, FICQ – Former President, Jayakaran Weylyn, Tamil association (Forest Lake Local), Natarajan Kanthasamy, Volunteer -, Mr Balasubramanian Naidu, Tamil Association President
Mai, Vietnamese Women Association, Hue - Secretary, Vietnamese Women Association
Yen Nguyen, PLO – Vietnamese community, Steve Simones, President of Blue Fin Fishing Club, Prem Weerasekara, Buddhist Monastery, Mahesh Fernando, Buddhist Monastery,
Suman & Jolly Dua, Nationwide Migration, Upma Kite, Ravishing Fashionistas Francesca Webster, Owner Brazilian Beauty, Sarah Hutson, Owner & Creative Designer, SFH Designs Boutique, Sher Lo, Owner & Designer Anannasa, Founder Liz Murrihy Events & Influencer, Kelly Kingston, Founder - Happy & well, Sam and Shabam, Dreamstyle Decorators, Neelu Balgovind, Austec Securities – Long-time sponsors of GOPIO
Sudha Rani, Kon Kon Pty Ltd (Startup Company), Jennifer Samuta, Samuta McComber Lawyers Stones Corner
The performers for the night were Prana Dance Co, a Bollywood fusion dance company that performs at various events across Brisbane and Gold Coast. The group consists of dancers from all different parts of the country, aiming to represent the diversity of Indian culture and dance styles through their performance.
The second group was Tapori Squad, the talk of the town whether it is Interstate. International. Or into your hearts. This team has been rocking it all over. A close-knit group of 30+ Dancers from all walks of life who come together with one goal: entertainment. They do different styles, from classical to Garba, Bollywood to Kuthu.
The delightful night featured speeches, dance performances, an auction, and raffles. Landmark restaurant served eight-course Veg/ non Veg dinner. Irene Bayldon sponsored the wine.
GOPIO Queensland thanked all the sponsors, Auction and Raffles donors, speakers, performers, Sound and av personnel and the GOPIO Queensland team who worked tirelessly to make this night a great success. The Date of the India Day Fair was also announced; India Day Fair will be held on 19th August at Roma Street Parkland.
