History - Sri Lankan Elders' Welfare Association

History

History - Sri Lankan Elders' Welfare Association

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When Australia opened its door to Multiculturalism people from all over the world migrated to Australia. Sri Lankans were among them. Sri Lankans are a mixture of the Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burgher communities. The Sinhalese people for generations have maintained the culture of family ties linked to the -�ancestral home' concept. No one left the ancestral home even after marriage, if they were compelled to do so they choose a place closer to the ancestral home. Therefore parents and children developed a strong bond. Under the Australian skill immigration policy a large number youths from Sri Lanka migrated to Australia. Driven by the parent children strong bond the younger crowd sponsored their parents to join them in Australia. These parents most of them with a non English speaking background were altogether from a different cultural, social and religious background and as time went on they began to feel lonely, isolated, bored, and frustrated and virtually they became prisoners within the four walls of their luxurious homes.

This was something that the community together with the government had to address fast. There were Sri Lankan Associations attempting to address this problem but that did not directly meet with the requirements of the Elders'. The only solution to this problem was to set up an organization that directly addressed the needs of the elders' with a commitment to -�Of the Elders' For the Elders' By the Elders'. Initiative was taken by two eminent personalities respected and adored by the Sinhalese Community in Melbourne to form such an Association. One was late Mr. P Mahawela a retired Senior Executive of the Sri Lanka Co-operative Department who migrated with his wife a retired Nursing Sister to join the family of their only daughter. The other was late Mr. L B Ekanayake a scholar retired Principal of a school who migrated with his wife a professional teacher also to join the family of their only daughter. Mahawela/Ekanayake combination with the support of Messer's Bandu Dissanayake (President), Tissa Amarasekera (Secretary) and Sunil Pushpasiri (Executive Committee Member) of the Sri Lankan Study Center for the Advancement of Technology and Social Welfare Inc. also known as -�SCATS' untiringly worked for the founding of the SRI LANKAN ELDERS' WELFARE ASSOCIATION known the  -�SEWA-�.

On 4th April 1999 about 30 elders of the Sri Lankan Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and the Burgher community met at No.2 Podmore Street Dandenong Victoria and formed the SRI LANKAN ELDERS' WELFARE ASSOCIATION the -�SEWA-� on the understanding that it shall be an Association OF THE SRI LANKAN ELDERS' FOR THE SRI LANKAN ELDERS' AND RUN BY THE SRI LANKAN ELDERS'.

-�SEWA-� Constitution was approved at the AGM of 2001. -�SEWA-� was incorporated under the Victorian Associations Incorporations ACT 1981 effective 04th December 2002 (A0043466A). SEWA has its own ABN 67 363 805 307. In accordance with the SEWA Constitution there is provision for those over the age of 55 years to become ordinary members. However, to accommodate those under the age of 55 and who sincerely and regularly continue to contribute and care for the elders' and also to accommodate those elders over 55 years of age who visit Australia for a short holiday -�SEWA-� constitution provides for an Associate Membership. Associate members do not have the right to hold office and or to vote.

In the verdant City of Casey, Largest and Fast Growing Municipality in Victoria Australia the ancestral home of the Bunurong and the Wurundjeri people and at the village of DOVETON in Myuna Ward the John Pandazopolous Public Hall is the home of -�SEWA'.-�SEWA' is proud to be associated with the City of Casey.    

At the John Pandazopolous Public Hall the members meet every Monday from 10.00.a.m to about 3.00.pm. They meet to have a chit chat with fellow elders, read newspapers and magazines from the home Country, view teledramas from Sri Lanka, play indoor games such as Billiard, Cards, Carom and draft., join hands to dance and sing especially the songs of the yester year, and to enjoy a lunch prepared by the food committee including all the delicacies they were used to at home not missing the malluma, polos ambula, dry fish tempered and manioc and including the special pork curry prepared by our ladies from Moratuwa and Negombo. Most recently a Computer program was introduced by the courtesy of Telstra under their 'Telstra Connect Seniors' project to educate senoirs of the use of mobile phones and the internet. This program is now in progress at the centre.   Commenced on Monday 31 March 2008. Arrangements are in place to educate those joining the Association after this date to get help from members who followed this course.                                

-�SEWA' has installed computers at the center for the benefit of the elders'.through a grant from the Victorian Department of Communities. 'SEWA' was fortunate to have a volunteer (Mr. Upa Upadasa) who conducted computer classes for the benefit of elders'. Sri Lankan Sinhalese language have a font in the Sinhalese language. So that through the internet the son or the daughter in Australia can communicate within few seconds with the mother or the father in Sri Lanka in their own language. With this web site -�SEWA' has linked the  Sri Lankan elders' of Melbourne Australia to the whole world. -�SEWA' has broaden this field by securing a grant from Telstra under the telstra project of 'Telstra Seniors Connect' and are conducting classes on Introduction to Mobile phone 1, Introduction to Mobile phone 2. Introduction to Mobile phone 3 and Introduction to Internet 1 and Introduction to Interner 2.     

-�SEWA' has been fortunate to receive funding for its activities. Under the Commonwealth Government IVY 2001 (International Year of volunteers) Small Equipment Grant -�SEWA' received a grant of $5000.00 to purchase audio and video equipment for the elders' On a Victorian Multicultural Commission on going funding agreement -�SEWA-� received funds under the VMC 2003-04 Grants Program, 2004-05 Round two Festivals and Events program and awaiting funds under the 2005-06 Community Grants Program. -�SEWA-� has also received funding from the Department for Victorian Communities to install the basic computer course. Other grants are from the City of Casey and donations from well wishers.