Community Recognition Statement: Wagga Wagga Vigils

In March this year nearly 1,000 people gathered in Wagga Wagga for a candlelight vigil to commemorate the lives lost during the harrowing Christchurch massacre. The support from across the community was extraordinary. As I said during the vigil, it is impossible to make sense of these horrific events, but it is important we face them together in solidarity and with kindness and love. That sentiment was echoed in the home-made signs of children that read "God loves everyone" and "Don't judge a book by its cover". Just one month later, a second candlelight vigil was held at the Victory Memorial Gardens to commemorate the lives lost as a result of the gut-wrenching Sri Lankan bombings across Easter. I am proud to say that once again hundreds of members of our community attended. I acknowledge the Wagga Aus-Sri Lanka Cultural Association community, including President Anthony Perera; members of the Muslim community, including Dr Ata-Ur Rehman and Mariam Rehman of the Muslim Association Riverina Wagga Wagga; Wagga Wagga City Council; and the Multicultural Council of Wagga. May we continue to stand together in the face of such hatred and choose not revenge but love.