the goan I network
NEW SOUTH WALES
Tracing GOA NSW’s foundation down under, GOA NSW president Tony Colaco took centrestage and shared the journey of the association.
Colaco recalled that in the 70s, after the Australian government abandoned the White Australia policy and had relaxed immigration rules, Alvito Coutinho, at his daughter’s birthday party spoke about connecting with other fellow Goans in Sydney and decided to organise a dance and test if it would bring the community together. To their surprise, they were inundated with bookings. The dance was a grand success and led to the formation of the GOA NSW on February 27, 1977.
Acknowledging the contributions of their founding members, Colaco led the guests in saluting those stalwarts.
What began as a simple dance that gave the GOA its first steps has, over the decades, led to a long and wide repertoire of events that included Christmas and anniversary dances, Australia Day picnics, Karaoke and fish curry nites (KFC), annual sports day and golf tournaments, among other programmes.
Awards such as the ‘Goan of the Year’ and HSC awards were launched to honour academic excellence and showcase the contribution to the wider community. To prepare the leaders of future, the GOA Toastmasters Club was formed to foster better communication and leadership skills.
The GOA NSW High Achiever 2016 HSC awards, sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, were won by Stephanie Noronha and Kelly-Ann D’Sylva.
Lizanne Sequeira, who recently visited Goa through the ‘Know-Goa programme’ organized by the government of Goa, shared that Goa is not just the land of beaches or Xitt-Kodi, but is an experience and feeling that lingers on.
President of the GOA Youth group Dr Clinton Colaco said he felt fortunate to lead his fellow youth in learning and celebrating Goan culture. With Konkani language classes, they have ensured that Konkani continues to live among the future generations.
While raising the toast, Tony Colaco celebrated the past, cherished the present and welcomed the future.
The dance floor was later thrown open and 400 guests danced well into the night with the band Moon Shine Drive in attendance along with DJ Raj while Malcolm Britto sang oldies Portuguese/Goan songs. Among others present were presidents from inter-state GOA associations “ Tony Mendes (Club de Goa, Brisbane) and Gerard Lobo (GAA Melbourne), as well as presidents from the Anglo-Indian Association, Melroy Farquharson (NSW) and Joe Bailey (Canberra) and Max French, chairman from the ARIA in Sydney.
