David Moncrieff (Hughes, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world. It traces its origins to the travels of St Thomas in the first century. I'm very honoured that my electorate of Hughes contains the St Thomas cathedral of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and it was my honour this week to welcome to Sydney His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II on behalf of the Australian government. His Holiness is the Catholicos of the Indian Orthodox Church throughout the world and the spiritual leader of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Christians. His visit was a moment of great significance for the Indian orthodox community in Australia and in Hughes. It offered an opportunity for families, young people and elders to come together in celebration of their heritage and their faith.

This sense of unity and pride was on display at the dinner held in honour of His Holiness at St Thomas Indian Orthodox Cathedral in Wattle Grove in my electorate of Hughes. The warmth and generosity on display from the congregation was outstanding and reflected the strong community spirit that defines so many of our local cultural and religious groups. It was amazing to see so many people from different orthodox and non-orthodox traditions of Christianity come together in a spirit of ecumenism, recognise the significance of the moment of His Holiness's visit and acknowledge the deep spiritual connection that his presence provided.

Hughes is home to a thriving and growing Indian community, and events like this highlight the value of multiculturalism and the way people from diverse backgrounds strengthen our nation. We were deeply honoured by the presence of His Holiness and grateful for the time he spent encouraging and uplifting those he met. I also want to pay tribute to him for his longstanding efforts to promote peace, mutual understanding and the importance of living with purpose and service to others. It was also great to meet with His Holiness again during his visit this week in Canberra, and I want to thank him for his commitment to Indian orthodox communities in Australia.

It was also a great privilege to attend the opening of Sylvanvale's new head office in Sutherland. Sylvanvale has been a significant part of the community in the Sutherland Shire for decades, but this milestone represents a continued commitment to support people with disability and strengthen services across the Sutherland Shire. It has operated for over 60 years and has built a reputation for delivering support that's practical, respectful and centred on the individual.

The new Sutherland head office brings staff and services together in a modern space designed for collaboration and better outcomes. It creates a strong base for the organisation's future and reinforces Sylvanvale's longstanding connection to the Sutherland Shire. I congratulate Sylvanvale on this significant step and thank them for the contribution they continue to make to our community.