Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 14: The Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, in partnership with The Tibetan Community in Victoria and the Australia Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG), hosted a special celebration at the Victorian Parliament on Wednesday to honour the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and mark the “Year of Compassion,” tibet.net, the official portal of the Central Tibetan Administration, reported.
The event was attended by prominent political leaders, including Hon. Maree Edwards, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, as the chief guest, and Hon. Shaun Leane, President of the Legislative Council, as a special guest. Also present were Co-chair of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet MP Kaite Hall, MP Tim Read, parliamentarians from various parties, and long-time friends and supporters of Tibet.
In her address, Speaker Maree Edwards conveyed her deep respect and warm wishes to His Holiness, calling it a privilege to join the occasion. President Shaun Leane praised the Dalai Lama’s lifelong vision of peace, stating that if the world sought a true source of harmony, it could be found in His Holiness’ teachings and influence.
Representative of the Office of Tibet, Karma Singey, highlighted the continued relevance of the Dalai Lama’s message of peace and compassion in the face of global challenges. He also emphasised the pressing situation in Tibet under Chinese repressive rule and urged the international community to protect Tibet’s distinct culture, language, religion, and identity.
Member of the 17th Parliament in Exile, Tenzin Phuntsok Doring, reflected on the Dalai Lama’s recent statement on his reincarnation and lauded his extraordinary contributions to humanity and world peace.
Co-chair Kaite Hall and MP Tim Read expressed their joy in co-hosting the event and reaffirmed their steadfast support for Tibet and its people. The guests were presented with His Holiness’ latest book, Voice for the Voiceless, and treated to Tibetan delicacies such as khapsey (traditional cookies) and butter tea. The celebration concluded with a vibrant performance of traditional Tibetan dances by the Ama-la Group of the Victorian Tibetan Community.
