Dai Le (Fowler, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For those who missed their new year's resolution on 1 January, well, come to Fowler. Like the member for Werriwa, we too have new year celebrations for months on end. March is a very special month for our community. For Catholics, we have Lent and Palm Sunday just past, and, for our Assyrian and Chaldean Australian communities, it is their new year celebrations.

I want to thank Sam Yousif, president of the Chaldean League Australia; his secretary, Laith Alchino; and His Grace Bishop Mar Amel Nona for always welcoming me to their cultural activities. This year marks the 7,326th Akitu festival.

I also recently joined the Assyrian Australian community to celebrate the 6776th new year, which falls on 1 April—which is my birthday, by the way. I thank Hermiz Shahen of the Assyrian National Council and Dennis Suro, President of the Young Assyrians, for including me in their celebration.

Even in difficult times, it is remarkable to honour the Australian heritage of one of the world's oldest communities, a community at the very heart of Fowler. Families gathered to celebrate not just culture but identity and belonging—a reminder that, through collective commitment, we build a brighter future for all.

To all the Chaldean and Assyrian Australians, happy new year! May this year bring health, joy and continuous growth. In the Assyrian Aramaic language: reesh shato brikhto to everybody who celebrates the new year.