By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A tireless advocate and helper for refugees and asylum seekers as well as servant for the Tamil community is City of Greater Dandenong’s 2019 Citizen of the Year.
Wicki Vikramasingham says it’s important to remember the contributions that new arrivals make to the community.
Fifteen Year 12 students from the local Tamil community scored ATARs of 98-and-more in 2018. Two of his own grandchildren are studying medicine.
Like many Tamils, Mr Vikramasingham fled war-stricken Sri Lanka. He migrated to Australia on humanitarian grounds in 1988, quickly determined to preserve the Tamil language and culture.
Hence he founded several organisations such as a long-running Tamil radio station 97.1 FM, the Tamil Cultural Association and the Victorian Tamil Cultural School.
Since 1993, Mr Vikramasingham has been a board member of Southern Migrant and Refugee Resource Centre, helping asylum seekers and refugees settle locally.
He has also interpreted on behalf of asylum seekers in detention centres on the Australian mainland, Christmas Island, Manus Island and Nauru.
In 2016, he wrote a publication with City of Greater Dandenong to help new arrivals settle and point them to getting drivers’ licences, opening bank accounts and other essential tasks.
He says he loves Greater Dandenong’s diversity. You can see a multicultural program run locally every week.
“I love my country. At this moment, it’s my home town and home country.”
Mr Vikramasingham also regularly speaks up for Tamils – and refugees and asylum seekers generally – in forums with federal home affairs and immigration departments.
He’s particularly worried about the hardship facing asylum-seeker families stripped of Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) payments. Without jobs or income, many face destitution.
“Asylum seekers are struggling in this country,” he said.
Other awardees included Young Leader of the Year Prachi Rane, who led the council’s Elevate Youth project.
Susan Anderson and Weda Mohseni were joint awardees of Volunteer of the Year.
Former police detective Kim Culpin, who works to end homelessness with WAYSS, claimed the Leadership Award.
The other recipients were philanthropist and pharmacist Richard Lim (Multicultural Award), Special Olympic basketballer Jessica McCulloch (Sportsperson of the Year), Hilton Manufacturing’s Todd Hartley (Corporate Citizen of the Year), Noble Park Cricket Club president Craig Ortland (Sports Hall of Fame) and council ambassador Ludmila Karganova (Community Hall of Fame).
