Daniel Mulino (Fraser, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Saturday, it was my great pleasure to attend the annual celebration of St Michael, at Debre Genet St Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Church. A very significant proportion of Melbourne's Ethiopian community identifies as Orthodox, and a massive crowd was in attendance on the weekend, despite temperatures soaring into the mid-30s.

I acknowledge Father Melake Tsehay, who, along with other fathers and religious leaders, led much of the service. We were also in the presence of a senior member of the church visiting from Ethiopia. Haileluel Gebre-selassie OAM, who does so much for the broader community, was also a key part of the celebrations, and, indeed, of making them happen.

St Michael is one of the most important figures in the Orthodox tradition. He is one of the archangels and symbolises the conquest of Satan and the dragon. He symbolises protection and healing.

The Ethiopian community in Victoria is the largest in Australia, with over 20,000 people claiming the ancestry. It is a young community, with over half under the age of 24, based on the last census.

One of the most uplifting aspects of Saturday's celebration was the presence of numerous leaders from the Indian community, across Melbourne's west, to offer support. Events like that on Saturday offer an opportunity for people to come together to celebrate their faith, as well as to strengthen bonds across the community.