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

I pay tribute to the North Sunshine Eagles, who again successfully hosted the Albanian Cup last weekend. This annual soccer tournament draws teams from around Australia. It is a celebration of the national Albanian community and also the food, culture and customs of Albania. Congratulations to the incredible committee and dozens of volunteers who organised an event that drew the attendance of over 10,000 people, with over 2.1 million views on social media and counting. Congratulations to the winning team, Shepparton, who defeated last year's champions, Adelaide, 2-1 in the final.

Recently, I attended the mid-autumn festival in Sunshine. This event, hosted by the Vietnamese Museum Australia, has become a highlight on the calendar. It celebrated the contribution of Vietnamese refugees and migrants and their families and all they have given to Fraser and beyond. For decades now this community has been weaving its influence into the fabric of Melbourne's west. This festival has a family focus and included a lantern parade for young children. I would like to thank the VMA for putting on such a fantastic event, and I hope to score an invite for next year.

I also had the honour of attending the Republic of Vietnam veterans ceremony. Many in our community experienced the fall of Saigon and the tumultuous period that followed. The hardships and heartache of that time are carried in the memories of so many who fled to our shores and made their home in Fraser. They have contributed so much to the community since. But, just as we remember the fall, we honour the fight. The courage and the valour of the Vietnamese veterans inspire us all. I thank the Vietnam Veterans Association for the invitation to such an important and moving event, particularly in this year when we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese settlement in Australia.

I had the pleasure of attending the Diwali festival at the Melbourne mandir. The festival was a kaleidoscope of colour, lights, dancing and traditional food, a testament to the beauty and vibrance of Hindu culture. The festival's core theme, the celebration of triumph of good over evil, is befitting of an organisation that gives so much to the people it serves. I thank the Melbourne mandir for their hospitality.

Of course, because one Diwali isn't enough, last weekend I also celebrated Diwali with the West Footscray Traders Association. The traders association put on a phenomenal event, along with the Footscray Bulldogs. I thank them for hosting that also. I'd also like to take the time to recognise the representation that they offer to small businesses of the west. For decades, the association has served as a bulwark for local entrepreneurship. They continue today to represent the interests of some of our community's most industrious members. I thank the association for their invitation to this event, which has become such an important item on the calendar of Fraser and Melbourne's broader west.