13.5.2008
Justin Weerasooriya
Secretary SEWA
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“SEWA”
continuing on their brave and bold step of introducing
to the Sri Lankan Elders’ of Victoria the concept
of participating in a night out trip and also joining
an annual inter State excursions for the first time in
the history of Australia successfully completed a tour
of Queensland recently adding to the list of previous
trips to Canberra, NSW, Adelaide, Tasmania.
Giving
priority on a first come first serve basis “SEWA”
hired a 22 seated coach and left Melbourne on Thursday
17.04.2008 by 10.30.a.m. Covering half the journey we
booked into the Western Caravan Park Broken Hill Dubbo
to spend the night. Six cabins with all comforts found
were reserved for our group and we comfortably spend the
night. Early next morning we set off on our final leg
and called in at Brisbane our destination by about 8.00.p.m.
All
arrangements had been made at the New Market Garden Caravan
Park Brisbane for our party to spend the next four days.
The
Brisbane Visitor Information Center which arranged our
itinerary had listed a number of interests to choose from.
Among them were the Sea world on Gold Coast, Story Bridge
Adventure Climb, Warner Bros. Movie World Gold Coast,
O’Reilly’s and MT.Tamborine and the Australia
Zoo and Hinterland. The party was also keen to visit at
least one of the Buddhist Temples.
Manel
Karunasagara our Social Secretary has contacted Sugee
Kannagara of Brisbane who eventually is the kingpin of
Brisbane Sinhalese Community. We were fortunate to meet
Sugee and discuss our itinerary and got her valuable suggestions.
We found that almost every one in the group has visited
Gold Coast previously and were not keen to go to the Movie
world and Sea world. Therefore the unanimous decision
was to spend Saturday exploring the Brisbane CDB, Sunday
to attend the Sinhala/Hindu New Year celebrations of the
Brisbane Sri Lankan Community at their special invitation
and thereafter in the afternoon to visit a Buddhist Aramaya
and on Monday pay a visit to Gold Coast.
As
decided on Saturday we went to the Brisbane CBD ably guided
by Manel and her husband Sagara who were residing at Brisbane
prior to coming over to Melbourne. We commenced our City
tour from Adelaide Street and returned to our abode in
time for Tissa to go to the Hospital for his dialysis.
After dialysis Tissa was picked up at about 10.30.p.m.
Our President Tissa is a dialysis patient having lost
both his kidneys seven years back and is on dialysis three
days a week four hours a day. During all our previous
trips to Canberra and Tasmania Tissa organized his dialysis
at the respective hospitals. We very much appreciate the
dedicated scarifies he makes to keep the Elders’
of SEWA happy and comfortable.
Sunday
was a great day for the Sri Lankans of Brisbane. They
were rallying round to celebrate the Sinhala/Hindu New
Year. We received a special invitation from Sujee to participate
in the event for Avurudu Ganudenu. It was an invitation
we had to accept considering the fact that it was a very
rear opportunity we were getting to come to know intimately
Brisbane Sri Lankans and make friends. When we arrived
at the grounds we were directed to the Aluth Avurudu ‘Kema
Mesaya’ the table laid with New Year delicacies.
Kavun, Kiribath. We arrived only after the bed tea and
were longing to have a hearty breakfast. The programe
for the day was elaborative, with Kiri ithiraweema, lighting
of the pahana, new year games and most of all the recognition
of elders’ of SEWA by offering a shelve of betel
by the youth. This ritual the Brisbane organizers had
arranged to be performed by the visiting Elders’
of Melbourne ‘SEWA’. Accordingly ‘SEWA’
members lined up and received shelves of betel from the
Sri Lankan youth of Brisbane and the Melbourne Elders’
reciprocated with returning the shelves with a coin.
In the afternoon we were taken to the Sri Lnaka Buddhist
Aramaya. The Aramaya is situated in secluded place with
in a jungle atmosphere. We were fortunate to listen to
a sermon delivered by a foreign Buddhist priest.
On
Monday, we headed towards the Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise.
Every one was keen to take a ride in the Aquaduck. This
is experiencing the Gold Coast by land and water without
even leaving your seat. The return journey begins in the
heart of Surfers Paradise taking in the duckular views
of the Gold Coast beaches while wadding along the beach
front. The duck past the 5 star resorts of Palazzo Versace
and the Sheraton Mirage before ducking into the magnificent
Broadwater. That’s when the Acquaduck goes harbor
cruising, taking in the sights of Sea world, Marina Mirage
Australia Fair, Mariners Cove, The Yacht Club fabulous
millionaires’ homes, canals and more. After the
cruise we had a late lunch at park by the side of a lake.
On
Tuesday morning Tissa had to go for dialysis at 6.00.a.m.
By 11.00.a.m we picked up Tissa and commenced our journey
to come back home. Taking it easy and giving breaks frequently
we returned to Melbourne on Wednesday night by 8.30.p.m.
The
food committee did an excellent job by preparing and breakfast,
lunch and dinner during the entire period. They deserve
a special thank.
The
Captain of the coach Sujeewa Perera a cooperating, calm
and cool and obliging personality made all the difference.
So much so he has become the official coach provider for
all SEWA trips. We strongly recommend him to any potential
hirer of his coach. He can be contacted on 9799 9354.
Thus, concluded another successful tour of the Inter State
by SEWA.