Latest news with #SikhVolunteersAustralia
The Advertiser
30-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Sikhs are back in town: warming tummies and hearts during flood crisis
They were there for the community during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and again in the March 2021 floods. And the Sikhs are back again to help a flood-stricken NSW region recover from the worst flooding disaster in its history - even though they hail from cities far away. On hearing about the flooding crisis in the Manning Valley on the mid-north coast, head of Sikh Volunteers Australia Jaswinder Singh, mobilised a team of volunteers and a fleet of vehicles, including a very big food truck and one small campervan, to drive the nearly 1200 kilometres from Melbourne to Taree. They've been here more than a week already and say they will stay until they aren't needed anymore. Every day, the crew has been providing up to 2000 vegetarian meals a day. Some of those meals they give out at their base at the Bunnings Car Park in Taree. The rest they distribute to outlying flood affected areas: Wingham, Croki, Cundletown, Manning Point, Oxley Island and even Kempsey with two vans. "On our Facebook page every morning at around 7.30am or 8am, we put our schedule of where we will be," Jaswinder said. As if that is enough time spent driving, most of the volunteers are staying in Newcastle with a family that is giving them free accommodation. They drive up every morning, and back every evening. "They are looking after us very well with a very loving and caring attitude and they are a very nice family," Jaswinder said. Sikh Volunteers Australia is not the only Sikh volunteer organisation up here helping our communities. Khalsa Aid Australia has been working with the Taree Lions Club. They have brought multiple trucks up from Sydney with pallets of water, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and essential supplies. Yet another Sikh volunteer organisation, Turbans 4 Australia, is also in the area, helping out with organising pantry items for the Lions Club, pallets of water, fodder supplies for farmers, tools, generators and all manner of items. For Sikhs, giving generously to the community, 'langar' (Punjabi language), is deeply ingrained in their spiritual life. It is probably best explained by the words on the Sikh Volunteers Australia food truck. "The concept of 'langar' was initiated by the first Sikh Guru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Guru Amardass Ji, the third Sikh Guru, institutionalised this concept of sharing and caring. "It is a process where everyone shares their honest earnings to provide food for everyone - it was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed age, gender or social status. "In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind." They were there for the community during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and again in the March 2021 floods. And the Sikhs are back again to help a flood-stricken NSW region recover from the worst flooding disaster in its history - even though they hail from cities far away. On hearing about the flooding crisis in the Manning Valley on the mid-north coast, head of Sikh Volunteers Australia Jaswinder Singh, mobilised a team of volunteers and a fleet of vehicles, including a very big food truck and one small campervan, to drive the nearly 1200 kilometres from Melbourne to Taree. They've been here more than a week already and say they will stay until they aren't needed anymore. Every day, the crew has been providing up to 2000 vegetarian meals a day. Some of those meals they give out at their base at the Bunnings Car Park in Taree. The rest they distribute to outlying flood affected areas: Wingham, Croki, Cundletown, Manning Point, Oxley Island and even Kempsey with two vans. "On our Facebook page every morning at around 7.30am or 8am, we put our schedule of where we will be," Jaswinder said. As if that is enough time spent driving, most of the volunteers are staying in Newcastle with a family that is giving them free accommodation. They drive up every morning, and back every evening. "They are looking after us very well with a very loving and caring attitude and they are a very nice family," Jaswinder said. Sikh Volunteers Australia is not the only Sikh volunteer organisation up here helping our communities. Khalsa Aid Australia has been working with the Taree Lions Club. They have brought multiple trucks up from Sydney with pallets of water, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and essential supplies. Yet another Sikh volunteer organisation, Turbans 4 Australia, is also in the area, helping out with organising pantry items for the Lions Club, pallets of water, fodder supplies for farmers, tools, generators and all manner of items. For Sikhs, giving generously to the community, 'langar' (Punjabi language), is deeply ingrained in their spiritual life. It is probably best explained by the words on the Sikh Volunteers Australia food truck. "The concept of 'langar' was initiated by the first Sikh Guru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Guru Amardass Ji, the third Sikh Guru, institutionalised this concept of sharing and caring. "It is a process where everyone shares their honest earnings to provide food for everyone - it was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed age, gender or social status. "In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind." They were there for the community during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and again in the March 2021 floods. And the Sikhs are back again to help a flood-stricken NSW region recover from the worst flooding disaster in its history - even though they hail from cities far away. On hearing about the flooding crisis in the Manning Valley on the mid-north coast, head of Sikh Volunteers Australia Jaswinder Singh, mobilised a team of volunteers and a fleet of vehicles, including a very big food truck and one small campervan, to drive the nearly 1200 kilometres from Melbourne to Taree. They've been here more than a week already and say they will stay until they aren't needed anymore. Every day, the crew has been providing up to 2000 vegetarian meals a day. Some of those meals they give out at their base at the Bunnings Car Park in Taree. The rest they distribute to outlying flood affected areas: Wingham, Croki, Cundletown, Manning Point, Oxley Island and even Kempsey with two vans. "On our Facebook page every morning at around 7.30am or 8am, we put our schedule of where we will be," Jaswinder said. As if that is enough time spent driving, most of the volunteers are staying in Newcastle with a family that is giving them free accommodation. They drive up every morning, and back every evening. "They are looking after us very well with a very loving and caring attitude and they are a very nice family," Jaswinder said. Sikh Volunteers Australia is not the only Sikh volunteer organisation up here helping our communities. Khalsa Aid Australia has been working with the Taree Lions Club. They have brought multiple trucks up from Sydney with pallets of water, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and essential supplies. Yet another Sikh volunteer organisation, Turbans 4 Australia, is also in the area, helping out with organising pantry items for the Lions Club, pallets of water, fodder supplies for farmers, tools, generators and all manner of items. For Sikhs, giving generously to the community, 'langar' (Punjabi language), is deeply ingrained in their spiritual life. It is probably best explained by the words on the Sikh Volunteers Australia food truck. "The concept of 'langar' was initiated by the first Sikh Guru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Guru Amardass Ji, the third Sikh Guru, institutionalised this concept of sharing and caring. "It is a process where everyone shares their honest earnings to provide food for everyone - it was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed age, gender or social status. "In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind." They were there for the community during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and again in the March 2021 floods. And the Sikhs are back again to help a flood-stricken NSW region recover from the worst flooding disaster in its history - even though they hail from cities far away. On hearing about the flooding crisis in the Manning Valley on the mid-north coast, head of Sikh Volunteers Australia Jaswinder Singh, mobilised a team of volunteers and a fleet of vehicles, including a very big food truck and one small campervan, to drive the nearly 1200 kilometres from Melbourne to Taree. They've been here more than a week already and say they will stay until they aren't needed anymore. Every day, the crew has been providing up to 2000 vegetarian meals a day. Some of those meals they give out at their base at the Bunnings Car Park in Taree. The rest they distribute to outlying flood affected areas: Wingham, Croki, Cundletown, Manning Point, Oxley Island and even Kempsey with two vans. "On our Facebook page every morning at around 7.30am or 8am, we put our schedule of where we will be," Jaswinder said. As if that is enough time spent driving, most of the volunteers are staying in Newcastle with a family that is giving them free accommodation. They drive up every morning, and back every evening. "They are looking after us very well with a very loving and caring attitude and they are a very nice family," Jaswinder said. Sikh Volunteers Australia is not the only Sikh volunteer organisation up here helping our communities. Khalsa Aid Australia has been working with the Taree Lions Club. They have brought multiple trucks up from Sydney with pallets of water, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and essential supplies. Yet another Sikh volunteer organisation, Turbans 4 Australia, is also in the area, helping out with organising pantry items for the Lions Club, pallets of water, fodder supplies for farmers, tools, generators and all manner of items. For Sikhs, giving generously to the community, 'langar' (Punjabi language), is deeply ingrained in their spiritual life. It is probably best explained by the words on the Sikh Volunteers Australia food truck. "The concept of 'langar' was initiated by the first Sikh Guru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Guru Amardass Ji, the third Sikh Guru, institutionalised this concept of sharing and caring. "It is a process where everyone shares their honest earnings to provide food for everyone - it was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed age, gender or social status. "In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind."
NDTV
27-05-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
Sikh Volunteers Serve Hot Meals To Flood Victims In Australia
Australia: Farmer Mark Kappa was enjoying his first hot drink in three days as he waited patiently for his meal in front of a food truck run by a Sikh charity, after incessant rain in Australia's southeast cut off towns and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Melbourne-based Sikh Volunteers Australia travelled nearly 1,200 km (746 miles) to the rural town of Taree in New South Wales, one of the worst-hit from last week's floods in Australia's most populous state, to set up their mobile kitchen in the parking area of a hardware store. "They said about 20 minutes or so, I'll tuck in then," Kappa said as the volunteers prepared pasta, rice and vegetarian curry. More than 50,000 people in the Hunter and Mid North coast regions of New South Wales, around 300 km (186 miles) north of Sydney, were isolated last week after fast-rising waters burst river banks, destroyed homes and washed away roads. Five deaths have been linked to the floods. "We've had no power for three days out at the farm. We lost our milk. We lost everything," Kappa said. After serving almost 3,000 fresh meals over the last three days, Sikh Volunteers Australia head Jaswinder Singh said: "In times of disasters, I've seen the spirit of the Australians come even better, closer to each other ... so that's a good thing. That has a very positive impact." Despite the small space available, the charity has been distributing food neatly packed in small boxes. "To be able to know that you can turn up and just get some food is - it's just heart-warming," said Ashari Hudson, who was picking up food for a friend hit by floods. The Sikh volunteers have provided free food since 2017 during several crises, including bush fires and floods. Australia has been hit with increasing extreme weather events that some experts say are the result of climate change. Following droughts and devastating bushfires at the end of last decade, frequent floods have destroyed since early 2021.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Sikh food charity serves up free hot meals for flood-hit Australians
GHINNI GHINNI: Farmer Mark Kappa was enjoying his first hot drink in three days as he waited patiently for his meal in front of a food truck run by a Sikh charity, after incessant rain in Australia's southeast cut off towns and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Melbourne-based Sikh Volunteers Australia travelled nearly 1,200 km (746 miles) to the rural town of Taree in New South Wales, one of the worst-hit from last week's floods in Australia's most populous state, to set up their mobile kitchen in the parking area of a hardware store. 'They said about 20 minutes or so, I'll tuck in then,' Kappa said as the volunteers prepared pasta, rice and vegetarian curry. More than 50,000 people in the Hunter and Mid North coast regions of New South Wales, around 300 km (186 miles) north of Sydney, were isolated last week after fast-rising waters burst river banks, destroyed homes and washed away roads. Five deaths have been linked to the floods. 'We've had no power for three days out at the farm. We lost our milk. We lost everything,' Kappa said. After serving almost 3,000 fresh meals over the last three days, Sikh Volunteers Australia head Jaswinder Singh said: 'In times of disasters, I've seen the spirit of the Australians come even better, closer to each other ... so that's a good thing. That has a very positive impact.' Despite the small space available, the charity has been distributing food neatly packed in small boxes. 'To be able to know that you can turn up and just get some food is - it's just heart-warming,' said Ashari Hudson, who was picking up food for a friend hit by floods. The Sikh volunteers have provided free food since 2017 during several crises, including bush fires and floods. Australia has been hit with increasing extreme weather events that some experts say are the result of climate change. Following droughts and devastating bushfires at the end of last decade, frequent floods have wreaked havoc since early 2021.
AsiaOne
27-05-2025
- Climate
- AsiaOne
Sikh food charity serves up free hot meals for flood-hit Australians, World News
GHINNI GHINNI, Australia — Farmer Mark Kappa was enjoying his first hot drink in three days as he waited patiently for his meal in front of a food truck run by a Sikh charity, after incessant rain in Australia's southeast cut off towns and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Melbourne-based Sikh Volunteers Australia travelled nearly 1,200km to the rural town of Taree in New South Wales, one of the worst-hit from last week's floods in Australia's most populous state, to set up their mobile kitchen in the parking area of a hardware store. "They said about 20 minutes or so, I'll tuck in then," Kappa said as the volunteers prepared pasta, rice and vegetarian curry. More than 50,000 people in the Hunter and Mid North coast regions of New South Wales, around 300km north of Sydney, were isolated last week after fast-rising waters burst river banks, destroyed homes and washed away roads. Five deaths have been linked to the floods. "We've had no power for three days out at the farm. We lost our milk. We lost everything," Kappa said. After serving almost 3,000 fresh meals over the last three days, Sikh Volunteers Australia head Jaswinder Singh said: "In times of disasters, I've seen the spirit of the Australians come even better, closer to each other... so that's a good thing. That has a very positive impact." Despite the small space available, the charity has been distributing food neatly packed in small boxes. "To be able to know that you can turn up and just get some food is — it's just heart-warming," said Ashari Hudson, who was picking up food for a friend hit by floods. The Sikh volunteers have provided free food since 2017 during several crises, including bush fires and floods. Australia has been hit with increasing extreme weather events that some experts say are the result of climate change. Following droughts and devastating bushfires at the end of last decade, frequent floods have wreaked havoc since early 2021. [[nid:718363]]
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Hope in a curry box: Sikh volunteers drive 1,200km to feed flood-hit Australians
GHINNI GHINNI (Australia), May 27 — Farmer Mark Kappa was enjoying his first hot drink in three days as he waited patiently for his meal in front of a food truck run by a Sikh charity, after incessant rain in Australia's southeast cut off towns and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Melbourne-based Sikh Volunteers Australia travelled nearly 1,200 kilometres to the rural town of Taree in New South Wales, one of the worst-hit from last week's floods in Australia's most populous state, to set up their mobile kitchen in the parking area of a hardware store. 'They said about 20 minutes or so, I'll tuck in then,' Kappa said as the volunteers prepared pasta, rice and vegetarian curry. More than 50,000 people in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales, around 300 kilometres north of Sydney, were isolated last week after fast-rising waters burst river banks, destroyed homes and washed away roads. Five deaths have been linked to the floods. 'We've had no power for three days out at the farm. We lost our milk. We lost everything,' Kappa said. After serving almost 3,000 fresh meals over the last three days, Sikh Volunteers Australia head Jaswinder Singh said: 'In times of disasters, I've seen the spirit of the Australians come even better, closer to each other ... so that's a good thing. That has a very positive impact.' Despite the small space available, the charity has been distributing food neatly packed in small boxes. 'To be able to know that you can turn up and just get some food is – it's just heart-warming,' said Ashari Hudson, who was picking up food for a friend hit by floods. The Sikh volunteers have provided free food since 2017 during several crises, including bush fires and floods. Australia has been hit with increasing extreme weather events that some experts say are the result of climate change. Following droughts and devastating bushfires at the end of last decade, frequent floods have wreaked havoc since early 2021. — Reuters
