House debates

Monday, 20 March 2017

Statements by Members

Kingsford Smith Electorate: Harmony Day

1:36 pm

Photo of Matt ThistlethwaiteMatt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | | Hansard source

Tomorrow is Harmony Day, Australia's annual celebration of multiculturalism, diversity and an inclusive community based on respect and a sense of belonging for all. Yesterday our community came together to celebrate through the annual Kingsford Smith Harmony Day cricket game, bringing together people of all backgrounds with the local police to partake in that great Australian tradition of a game of cricket and a barbecue. Despite the deluge of rain that Sydney has had over the course of the last week, it could not stop the game of cricket going ahead. We transferred it to an indoor cricket game and I am pleased to report that, despite the indoor cricket proceeding, the yellow shirts won with a score of 47 to 13, with the man of the match, Adnan Kabir, scoring 28 of the 47 runs for his team. It was very fast paced. Players of all talents played with great spirit. There was a barbecue and speeches at the conclusion.

I would like to thank the Eastern Beaches Local Area Command for their support of this wonderful annual event; the Bangladeshi community, who, like most people from the Subcontinent, are very passionate about their cricket and are great players; the umpire, Magfer Chowdhury; and the Eastern Suburbs PCYC. This is an annual highlight on the Kingsford Smith calendar and it is something I am very pleased to support. Happy Harmony Day, everyone, for tomorrow.