SP Reporter
Australia, 31st May : Australia Nepal Friendship Society (ANFS) has successfully organized fundraising Gala Dinner and farewell to H.E. Mr. Mahesh Raj Dahal on Wednesday 26th May 2021 at Canberra, Australia along with the association of Australasian Nepalese Medical and Dental Association (ANMDA).
The Gala Dinner has raised $ 21728.41 to tackle COVID-19 in Nepal. “The raised amount will support Mission Karnali which has been initiated by ANMDA. ANMDA is in the process of acquiring oxygen for Birendranagar Covid Hospital in Karnali, Nepal with the fund,” said the president of ANFS- Adarsha Jung Pandey. At the dinner, beautiful photographic works from the talented photographers from Canberra were displayed for auction through which ANFS has raised $ 6138. Mr. Dipendra Ghimire, Mr. Praveen Gurung and Mr. Anup Shakya were thanked by ANFS for donating their beautiful photographs for the auction.
The winners of the auctions were: Mr. Adarsha Jung Pandey won with $1000 bid, Mr. David Smith MP (Federal Member of Bean) won with $ 500 bid, Mr. Niraj Gauli and Ms. Khusbu Neupane won with $750 bid, Mr Subarna Kunwar won with $ 888 bid and Ms. Punam Pant won with $ 3000 bid. The Gala Dinner by ANFS raised total $ 21728.41 fund in which $ 6500 was from sponsorship, $ 2090.41 was on the spot donation, $ 6138 was from the auction and from Ticket Sale approximately $ 7000 were raised in the Gala Dinner.
The message from Hon Minister Alex Hawke MP- Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migration Services and Multicultural Affairs of Australia, was read at the Dinner. The valuable presence of Guru Nhuchhe Bahadur Dangol with his Nepalese instruments like: Madal, Dhime, Khin, Dholak etc. with Nepali sound and light was the major attraction of the dinner.
It was followed by Lakhe dance. ANFS formally did farewell program to H.E. Mr. Mahesh Raj Dahal, who will be returning to Nepal after his successful tenure as the Nepalese Ambassador to Australia. In his short (1.5 years) of tenure, Mr. Dahal has done significant works to promote Nepal and has built a strong relationship with Australian Government and with Nepalese diaspora.

