Tracey Roberts (Pearce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I rise to acknowledge one of the largest cultural groups in my home electorate of Pearce, the BAPS community, a global sociospiritual organisation with centres in all state capitals and many regional centres across Australia. This year is remarkable for the entire BAPS community worldwide, as it is the hundred-year celebration of the birth of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The BAPS community emulates the values and attitudes of His Holiness, who is described as a rare soul who always lived for others, a peaceful, humble, spiritual personality. The community believe that in the joy of others lies our own by building better individuals, better families and better communities.

In 2020, the Yanchep Two Rocks area experienced the worst bushfires in history, and the BAPS community provided daily meals for the career and volunteer firefighters. They also support the community with their annual can collection program and often participate in local neighbourhood clean-ups and tree planting. What a magnificent ethos to live by! Building better communities and providing support to others truly creates strong roots for any community to thrive.

We are a proud multicultural electorate in Pearce, and we congratulate the BAPS community and wish them well in continuing the legacy of His Holiness.