By Brendan Rees
Casey’s South Sudanese community has expressed their “overwhelming sense of joy” after a plaque recognising the South Sudanese-Australian Academic Society (SSAS) was unveiled in Cranbourne East.
Andrew Gai, president and co-founder of SSAS described the unveiling of the plaque on the Wall of Global Friendships as a “historic occasion”.
The wall, which is located at the Balla Balla Community Centre, now has 23 community plaques following the addition of three more at the celebration on Saturday 29 June.
Formed in November 2014, the SSAS aims to unite and support South Sudanese-Australian graduates and students to reach their full potential in their career and education endeavours.
Mr Gai said the ceremony recognised Casey’s cultural diversity and providing the South Sudanese community with a “symbolic sense of belonging to the City of Casey and Australia.”
“Some of the South Sudanese community members were present at the ceremony while many others watched on Facebook across Australia and even in South Sudan,” he said.
“An overwhelming sense of joy of feeling at home was felt by the community.”
Speaking at the event, which also celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Wall of Global Friendships, an honoured Mr Gai said the plaque would serve as a reminder for the South Sudanese Australian children in particular, of their heritage.
“The questions of belonging and where one comes from are ongoing challenging questions but we can make it easier for the next generation to find answers to those questions,” he said.
“I believe that the Wall of Global Friendships is the right place to trigger meaningful conversation about how and where many of us came from before making Australia our home.
“On behalf of my community, I thank the City of Casey for its cohesive approach to embracing cultural diversity, which is very much reflected in this Wall of Global Friendships,” Mr Gai said.
The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, and the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre each had a plaque also added.
