RI's 80th Anniversary In The Indonesian Consulate General In Sydney: 600 Diaspora And Indonesian Citizens Fight To Enjoy Culinary Together

JAKARTA - Hundreds of diaspora and Indonesian citizens (WNI) from various backgrounds participated in a series of celebrations of the 80th Anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia which was held by the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney, Australia on Sunday.

The series of celebrations began with a flag ceremony with the ceremony inspector of the Indonesian Consul General Sydney Young Warrior Leonard Sondakh at Kensington Park, Sydney.

The ceremony officers and flag-raising troops consisted of Indonesian students who were studying in Sydney under the direction of Lt. Czi. Aditya Prawira Jaya Viyata for two months.

In his mandate as ceremony inspector, the Indonesian Consul General in Sydney emphasized the importance of maintaining the spirit of nationalism in the midst of overseas life.

"Today we are not only commemorating the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's independence, but also reiterating that wherever we are, the spirit of nationality must continue to burn. From Sydney, we prove that Indonesia remains alive in our hearts," said the Consul General of Warriors, citing the statement from the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney, Monday, August 18.

This commemoration momentum is even more special with the presence of community leaders, including Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Assistant Minister for Immigration, The. Hon. Matt Thistlewaite MP, as well as Major of Randwick City Council, Cr. Dylan Parker.

Their presence shows the close friendship between Indonesia and Australia, especially at the local level of New South Wales, which has been an important part of Indonesia's diaspora life.

After the ceremony, the atmosphere became lively and lively with the holding of people's parties. Hundreds of residents flocked to enjoy the typical Nusantara dish served through food stalls, ranging from chicken satay, meatballs, rice rames, fried bananas, rendang pies, to traditional ice doger drinks. The warmth of togetherness was increasingly felt when residents competed for dexterity in various traditional competitions typical of August 17, facilitated by the Indonesian Student's Association (ISA) NSW, including sack racing competitions and eating crackers, which were greeted with laughter and cheers from the audience.

The Indonesian Consul General of Warriors also directly handed over trophies and medals to the winners of the series of competitions organized by the Indonesian Consulate General in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, including badminton, tennis, gaple, and fun walks tournaments as a form of appreciation for the spirit of sportsmanship and active community participation.

"Winning this match is certainly very fun, but what is more important is the togetherness that is created. It feels like returning to the country, celebrating August 17 with the big Indonesian family here," said one of the winners of the badminton tournament.

The excitement was also coupled with the distribution of voucher lotterys worth a total of 1.000 Australian dollars, providing a pleasant surprise for lucky participants.

The entertainment stage has also brought the atmosphere to life with the performance of music cornerers as well as the dances and songs of the Archipelago from the Indonesian Rainbow School which emphasizes the importance of preserving the nation's culture in overseas.