ACF celebrates its Diamond Jubilee – By Marie Pietersz, Melbourne Story: Marie Pietersz, Melbourne Photographs courtesy of: various (Scroll to the end of the article to view Photos) The Australia Ceylon Fellowship (ACF) celebrated its 60th year since inauguration with a fine food and silver service Gala Dinner Dance held at The Grand on Princes, Mulgrave, on 23 June 2018. The event was well patronised by members and guests and an impressive line-up of VIPs representing the governments of Australia and Sri Lanka were also present to help celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. Among them were: High Commissioner of Sri Lanka HE Somasundaram Skandakumar, Sri Lankan Consulate-General W. G. S. Prasanna, Hon Julian Hill Member for Bruce, Hon Craig Ondarchie MP, Ann-Marie Hermans Member for Cranbourne, Gary Maas Member for Narre Warren and Dilkie Perera, President Australia-Sri Lanka Business Council. I was so proud to meet the many Sri Lankan Burgher Parliamentary candidates,” said Dilkie Perera, who was a special guest on the night. ...
Marie Pietersz
Animal SOS Sri Lanka has friends in Australia – By Marie Pietersz Fathima Zareen is a caring young adult who has become an ambassador for young Australians with Sri Lankan heritage. Graduating as a finalist in the Miss Sri Lanka Australia Pageant 2016, she has taken her training in raising awareness of her heritage and working in the community space to another level. The most recent demonstration of her passion and dedication to community causes was her decision to put her efforts behind Animal SOS Sri Lanka, a UK registered charity (1119902) dedicated to improving the lives of suffering stray cats and dogs in Sri Lanka. She was instrumental in organising the Kindness Project, a fund-raiser high tea at the Manningham Hotel, Melbourne, on 7 July, with Maheema Lansakara, Medical Scientist at the Peter McCallum Cancer Institute, who lives by her motto of love and kindness. The event was sponsored by Archie Argawal (SpecialCandles4u) and patronised ...
Isipathana OBA Vic – Green Breeze Dinner Dance 2018 – Story by Marie Pietersz, Melbourne | Photography courtesy of Blue Tulip Creative The 19th Annual Dinner Dance of the Isipathana College OBA Vic Inc, Green Breeze 2018, held at the Box Hill Town Hall on Saturday, 2 June, was a sold-out event. Rarely had this gracious hall looked more splendid than with the decor created by Melbourne Glee – silhouettes of dancers in shades of green, stood atop elegant table centrepieces, while flashing strobe and disco lights gave the venue a fairyland feel. The Pathana boys were well represented on the night, looking resplendent in their double green College ties (formerly Greenlands College), proudly displayed during the line-up for singing of the College anthem in Sinhala. There was no doubt that President Manoj Fernando, ably assisted by his OBA Committee of 2017-18, had excelled in their efforts to provide an all-round quality event for members, families, well-wishers, and friends, supported with generous financial and non-financial donations from OBA sponsors and associates. Past President Randy Pietersz was a guest of the President, while Amal Edisooriya, President of ...
Gary and Dalrene win Gold – Story by Marie Pietersz | Photographs courtesy of the family Gary Joseph and Dalrene Sharelle (nee Achilles) Pompeus celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a grand party at the Melrose Reception Centre, Airport West, on Sunday, 11 March 2018. A thanksgiving ceremony preceded the celebrations and was presided over by celebrant Deacon Pou’kesi Vaka’uta. It included a blessing of rings and thanksgiving prayers led by the five grandchildren and god-daughter, Jeanine Pompeus, one of three god-children present. Dalrene was very excited as she described how Gary and she had waited so long for this special day and a further declaration of their love for each other. Special moments of the evening that moved her included the rendition of the love song, I found lasting love, by Sal Mineo, sung to her by Gary, the speeches by her grandchildren and the specially choreographed dance performed for them by three of the grandsons. The 165 guests were ...
Malith Perera performs at the Lankan Fest 2018 in Melbourne – Video thanks to Marie Pietersz ——- ...
‘LineTheFloor’ the way to go for a fitter, social you – by Marie Pietersz (Melbourne) Marie Pietersz has been teaching line dancing for over fifteen years at many venues in the eastern and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. She teaches Nuline dancing, a gentler form of line dancing incorporating ballroom and Latin moves and steps as a fun and fitness cardio exercise. Nuline dancing caters for a wider age group ranging from children to seniors and is danced to many genres of music including contemporary and pop music. The original American ‘boot scooting’ form of line dancing was generally danced to country and western music and was harder on the knees and legs and therefore limited the age group of dancers. Marie’s classes are very popular and held most days of the week catering for ultra-beginners, beginners, improvers and intermediate. A dedicated and experienced teacher, choreographer and demonstrator, she specialised in teaching beginners and is passionate about keeping ...
A 1948 model Rolls-Royce turns 70! – story and pics by Marie Pietersz click on the photos below or on this link to view more photos on eLanka Facebook A 1948 model Rolls-Royce turns 70! – story and pics by Marie Pietersz The 70th birthday party of Gavin Angus Rodie held at the Walawwe (The Bungalow) Restaurant and Bar, Noble Park, on 10 February was a specially memorable night because not often does one get to celebrate the milestone birthday of a son of Sri Lanka, born in British Ceylon, who served under the flag of his country of adoption, Australia, in a foreign land (Vietnam). Guests included family, friends from his youth and a contingent of his former Army comrades from Perth, Adelaide and Queensland, all drafted into national service in 1968 and all turning 70 this year. Party entertainment included music by Elmo Wells-Jansz, guest singers Everard Hoffman and Reg Bartholomeusz, Trinity College song, Waltzing Matilda nationalist ballad and Army ...
Sri Lankan Business and Investment Promotion in Melbourne: Story by Marie Pietersz, Melbourne Click here or on the photos below to vist eLanka Facebook page to tag photos Sri Lankan Business and Investment Promotion in Melbourne: Story by Marie Pietersz, Melbourne The Minister for Trade and Investment, Innovation & Digital Economy, Small Business and International Education, Hon Philip Didakis, MLC, in association with the Aus-Lanka Business Council, hosted Sri Lankan and Australian business representatives to a trade and investment promotion at the Investment Centre of Victoria, ANZ Tower, 55 Collins Street, Melbourne, on 23 February. Minister Didakis is due to visit Sri Lanka in March to build on the strong trade relationships the two countries already have and to encourage further investment by Sri Lankan businesses into Victoria and vice versa. About 150 invitees attended and included senior Government officials of the Victorian Government, Consul General of Sri Lanka for Victoria, Consul (Commercial) of the Consulate-General in Sydney, present and ...
Cycling veteran turns 80! – Story and pics by Marie Pietersz. Melbourne If you like to tag the photos, then please click here or on the photos to visit eLanka Facebook page. Felix and Mavo Felix and cake Felix Riding Cycling veteran turns 80! – Story and pics by Marie Pietersz. Melbourne Felix George de Jong (affectionately known as Filo) celebrated his 80th birthday recently with a luncheon for family and friends at the Walawwe (The Bungalow) Restaurant and Bar, Noble Park. Felix was born in Kirillapone, Sri Lanka, to parents Victor and Rachel (nee Misso) de Jong, tenth in line and sole survivor of eleven children. He married in 1970 and has a daughter, Sabrina, with wife Genevieve, and two grandchildren, William and Ivy. Felix’s reputation preceded him when he migrated to Melbourne in 1971. The Sri Lankan community in Melbourne remembered him as dashing, debonair and fast on the pedals. He ...
Papare Band Melbourne – a taste of Sri Lankan culture – Story by Marie Pietersz – Photos courtesy of Band Papare Band Melbourne – a taste of Sri Lankan culture: Story by Marie Pietersz Photos courtesy of Band This year the Papare Band made an appearance at the Australia Day parade in Melbourne at the invitation of the Consular General of Sri Lanka for Victoria, W.G.S. Prasanna. The Sri Lankan community sees the band as a significant part of the Sri Lankan culture in sport and this has now extended to other Australian events. The Papare Band Melbourne is a well-known feature of sideline entertainment at Australian cricket matches. They now have a presence in the Australian sporting calendar, performing at AFL and Soccer League games and in demand by Councils for community events. Dihan Nammuni Dewage is the leader of the Band and has this to say on how it started: “I first ...
