In
1969 the first organisation of the Sikh community in Sydney was
formed. At that time, it was named the 'Sikh Cultural Society'.
it was registered as a Charitable Organisation with teh Government
of New South Wales in 1970. Since that time it has been a dream
to establish a 'Sikh Centre', which could cater adequately for
the many needs of the Sikh community (Sadh Sangat) in the
modern progressive society of Australia. The opening of the Gurdwara
(Sikh place of worship, prayer, meditation and religious congregation)
was the first step in the fulfilment of these aspirations.
Since
1970, a number of changes and developments in the organisation
have occured. In 1997 the construction works of the Sikh Centre
commenced and PHASE I of the Sikh Centre was inaugurated. In 1983,
the 'Australian Sikh Club' and the 'Sikh Cultural Society' decided
to merge together and the name of the new organisation became
the 'Australian Sikh Association'. A new constitution was drawin
up to include the desires and objectives of both megring organisations.
In
1988, the ASA constitution was again revised so that it could
be incorporated according to the Association Incorporation Act
1984 of the Government of New South Wales.
The
basic Sikh principles guide Sikhs to perform Devotion (naam
japo), Labour (keerat karo) and Charity (vand chackho).
The Australian Sikh Association Charitable Trust was formed to
fulfil these basic objectives. It would help ensure that distress,
sickness and financial suffering in disadvantaged people could
be releived by direct help and by giving them temperory residency
accommodation.
In
2000 the ASA Resource Centre, a major project was conceptualised.
The Resource Centre is an on going project and will continuously
look at the needs of the Community and find resources (such as
Government Grants, Volunteers, Information, Plan, Develop and
Implement Projects etc) to fulfil those needs.
Some
of these projects (for which resources are always needed) are: