Public celebrations were held in Canberra and Sydney to mark the 75th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama last week.

In Canberra, Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown and senior Liberal Party member Hon Peter Slipper MP were among the distinguished guests at a special function hosted by the Tibet Information Office and Tibetan Communities of Australia.

The celebration, held at the National Press Club of Australia on Wednesday, 7 July featured a rich and diverse cultural program including Tibetan musicians Tenzin Choegyal and Zompa Namsum, a Sri Lankan dance troupe, a Nepalese dancer, a virtuoso violin performance by Mr. Yang Yang of the Chinese Community and Tibetan dances performed by the Tibetan Community of New South Wales.

Mr. Shane Mortimer, an elder of the Ngambri people, performed the traditional aboriginal “welcome to country”.

In his commemorative address Senator Bob Brown described His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a “great and inspiring human being” and “Tibet’s greatest gift to the world”, emphasising the tremendous importance of the Dalai Lama’s teachings today:

“In a world driven by national interests, economic growth and short-term political games, the Dalai Lama and Tibet offer the inspiration that all humanity needs. There is no greater exponent of the alternative, long-term, compassionate and global view than the Dalai Lama. No one person has offered a more cohesive, optimistic yet practical vision for the future than His Holiness.”

Introducing the speakers and performers, local Tibetan Tsewang Thupten explained how Tibetans’ admiration of His Holiness was based “not just on blind faith but on appreciation of his practical wisdom and compassion”.

Mr. Sonam Dagpo, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, and a member of the Task Force on Negotiations with the PRC, gave a moving account of His Holiness’s life, achievements, and tireless work towards a peaceful resolution for the Tibetan people.

Hon Peter Slipper MP, a co-convenor of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, was also representing Hon Tony Abbott MP, the Leader of the Opposition. Representatives of the Taiwanese, Chinese and Buddhist communities were also present.

Australia is today home to over 600 Tibetans and has grown into a major centre of the global Tibetan Diaspora. The 70-strong Tibetan Community of the Australian Capital Territory was joined Tibetans and supporters from as far away from Brisbane and by a large contingent from Sydney.

Australia’s celebrations of His Holiness’s birthday continued on Saturday 10 July with Sydney’s “Festival of Tibet”. The event featured another elaborate program of cultural performances and speeches, along with the launch of a unique photographic exhibition titled “A Man of Compassion and Wisdom: The Dalai Lama’s Journey”.

The day was hosted by the Tibetan Community of NSW in association with Dalai Lama in Australia Limited and the Tibetan and Chinese Friendship Association and commenced with the chanting of prayers by the Tibetan monks.

Guest speakers included Mr Sonam Dagpo, Justice John Dowd, Chancellor of Southern Cross University, Rev Bill Crews, Chairman of the Exodus Foundation, the Honorable Peter Slipper MP, Mrs Mei Leech, President of the Tibetan and Chinese Friendship Association, Mr Paul Bourke, Executive Officer of Australia Tibet Council, Lynn Bain, General Manager of Dalai Lama in Australia Ltd, and Mr Jigme Dorjee, President of the Tibetan Community in NSW.

The day was also attended by other eminent visitors such as the Honorable Phillip Ruddock MP, Mr Brad Hazzard MP, the Mayor of Warringah, respected peace activist, Steve Killelea AM, and many Chinese friends and supporters.

Over a thousand well wishers attended the celebration, which included traditional Tibetan songs and dance performances, poetry readings, performances by members of the Chinese community, and a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday To You” sung with a Tibetan flavour, before the Tibetan style birthday cake in the shape of a stupa was shared among attendees.