BASS MP Brian Paynter has joined the Sikh community of Pakenham over the weekend to celebrate the opening of a new Sikh community centre.
Members of the group had previously been hiring a room at Homegarth Community Centre, but have recently switched to a house on James Street in Pakenham.
Spokesman Amarjeet Singh said they were currently leasing, but hoped to buy a property in the future.
“We used to hire a hall at the community centre, and it’s great now we have our own space,” he said.
“We have 11 permanent members and up to one hundred others in the Pakenham area that come occasionally.”
At the 2011 census, there were 72,000 Sikhs in Australia, with the closest temples being in Lynbrook and Keysborough.
Mr Paynter joined the group on Sunday, and said he had a deep respect for followers of the religion.
“It was sort of the official opening of their new place at Pakenham. It’s a rental property and it’s all privately funded,” he said.
“I felt really privileged to be invited to join. They are an honest and peace-loving group who care about humanity above all else.”
The centre will be used daily for worship by the Sikh community as well as teaching music and the Punjabi language. The group also plans to organise a blood donation drive and provide free food to the local community in the near future.
Sikh community centre opens at Pakenham Victoria
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