“Books are the new fashion accessory, and reading a book is a good look” said local resident Vimala Sarma, who presented Redfern Community Centre with a Cup for the best under-10 indigenous reader at the Redfern Community Centre Christmas Party held to-day at the Block, Eveleigh St.

“The best skills for life that we can give our indigenous children are the ability to focus, concentrate and develop memory, which are essentials skills for learning.  I hope to set a new trend among children not only at Redfern but in other communities and community centres”.

Scott Elphinstone, Manager, who accepted the Cup on behalf of the Redfern Community Centre is delighted with the Cup, and the centre may respond with a reading program and competition.  Reading may catch on as the new trend around the Block.  The classic silver Cup, which will have the winner’s name each year engraved on it each year, will stand proudly in the Redfern Community Centre’s trophy cabinet.  Vimala sees this as a way of giving something of lasting value to the community.

Vimala Sarma previously donated a copy of the Dobell Prize-winning portrait drawing of David Gulpilil, by Craig Ruddy in 2006.  Her company, Nayika Indian Dance, is the only classical Indian dance company in the City of Sydney and has put on free Deepavali concerts (Indian Festival) for the local community at the Centre in the past; and a series of free dance workshops.  She is a regular user of the centre and her non-profit community organisation holds classes at the Redfern Community Centre and performances in the inner city.  Nayika Indian dance presents shows, including “The Blue Lotus”, a cross-Asian cultural performance of music and dance, a event in the City of Sydney Chinese New Year Festival in February this year.

The reading competition will complement other programs run by the Centre.  The Christmas party was attended by a number of aboriginal families, in spite of inclement weather.