Detailed Timeline 

The Association was formally Incorporated on 17 November 1988 and over the last 35 years has achieved the following milestones:

• 1989

  • May 1989 - The first Newsletter was published and has continued without interruption till today, initially, as a bimonthly and then for many years as a quarterly and now as a thrice yearly publication.

  • The Association headquarters opened at 135 Lord Street - East Perth in May 1989 and since May 1998 has been permanently located at 32 Fenwood Square - Padbury - Western Australia.

  •  Immigration Submission to the Government.

• 1990

  • November 1990 - Anglo-Indians on Air, our weekly Radio Programme, commenced broadcasting.  Saturday from noon to 1.00pm and has continued every Saturday during these last 18 years.

• 1993 - 94

  • Allocation of Land at Hepburn Heights

  • Association publication of "Bringing Generations Together".

• 1995

  • March 1995 - Hosts of the International Anglo-Indian Reunion III - 10-18 March 1995

  • May 1995 - Formation of The Australian Anglo Indian Benevolent Fund

• 1996

  • Instrumental in the formation of The International Federation of Anglo-Indian Associations 1996

• 1997

  • Signing of the official Building Contract - October 1997

• 1998

  • Official opening of The Cultural Centre - 2&3 May 1998

• 2001

  • Second Immigration Submission to Government.

• 2002

  • The first, world Anglo-Indian Day 2 August 2002,  was welcomed with a week end of celebrations, commencing with a Cultural Concert on  Friday 1 August 2002 at Fremantle Town Hall, followed by a Gala Ball at the Vasto Club on 3 August 2002 and culminating on Sunday 4 August 2002 with a luncheon at our Cultural Centre - Padbury.

• 2004

  • 18 July 2004 the official book launch of “From Both Sides Now” was held at our Cultural Centre. Among the invited guests were Mr. Tony O’Gorman MLA, representing the Premier, Dr. Gallop, Minister. John Kobelke MLA, and Mr. Rob Johnson MLA

• 2005

  • Creation of a Women’s Interest (friendship) Group focussing on providing functions and events such as cooking afternoons, book readings, etc.

  • Joined the National Federation of Anglo-Indian Association in Australia affording WA Anglo-Indians the opportunity to be involved in National matters

• 2006

  • Open Forum – Members from a cross section of our Association were invited to attend an Open Forum where they were given the opportunity to express their concerns or pleasure with the Association and to workshop ideas as to how best to address points raised. – a number of these have already been  implemented.

• 2007

  • At the Special Meeting of the International Federation of Anglo-Indian Associations in Toronto Canada 2007 awarded "hosting" of the 8th World Anglo-Indian Reunion in Perth 2010.

• 2008

  • On 17 November 2008 the Association completed 20 years of continuous service dedicated to the Anglo-Indian cause. To commemorate this occasion celebrations were held over 2 days - Sat. 8 November 2008 with a Dinner/Dance at the Embassy Ballroom - Carlisle and an Anniversary Luncheon held on Sunday 16 November 2008 at the Cultural Centre. 

• 2009

  • Final preparations for the VIII World Anglo-Indian Reunion, along with running 37 regular events that year

• 2010

  • Ran the VIII World Anglo-Indian Reunion – touted as the best to date.  Premier and senior political leaders attended the official opening ceremony

• 2011

  • Launched the ‘Anglo-Indians Helping Themselves’ project

• 2013

  • Attended IX World Anglo-Indian Reunion in Kolkata and the Association’s President spoke at the Symposium on ‘Our Genetic Makeup’.  He was re-elected as President of the International Federation of Anglo-Indians (Inc.)

• 2014

  • Introduced tele-meetings in place of regular meetings at the Cultural Centre

• 2015

  • Undertook major review of the Association’s systems and processes.   Attempted seminars for the young to gauge future direction.  First overseas tour organised for Association members.

• 2016

  • Restructured the Association and dissolved the Benevolent Fund. However, welfare activities continued under the newly formed Welfare Sub-committee.   Attended the X World Anglo-Indian Reunion in Sydney where the President spoke at the Symposium on welfare activities for disadvantaged Anglo-Indians.  Our President was re-elected President of the International Federation of Anglo-Indian Associations (Inc.)

• 2017

  • Continued with the restructuring process and introduced a new financial budgeting system which is used to track incomes and expenditures on a monthly basis

• 2018

  • Celebrated 30 years in existence with subsidised dinner/dance and lunch.  Made major improvements to the Cultural Centre and landscaped the front gardens   

• 2019

  • Assisted with the organisation of the World Anglo-Indian Reunion in Chennai.  Gordon Maher, our President, was re-elected as President of the International Federation of Anglo-Indian Associations (Inc.).

  • The interior and exterior of our Centre was freshly painted and damaged floors were repaired

• 2020

Met with numerous challenges that COVID 19 brought.  Suspended several functions which put a strain on our resources.  Showed a book loss for the financial year despite receiving a grant from the Lotteries Commission. Additionally, world famous, Troy Roberts, provided a free concert for our members and their guests and this generated much needed income for the upkeep of our cultural centre

• 2022

COVID continued to thwart our efforts to run a full programme, which in turn, affected our finances.  Gradually, with the introduction of several safeguards, we ran most of our functions.  Organised several workshops to determine the future of the Association.  Formed a special committee to look into possible solutions to overcome an ageing Executive and demographic

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION:

•   Non-profit incorporated body

•   An elected Executive of 13 positions meet once a month

•   Sub-committees that assist with the running of our functions

•   AGM held each October

•   Webpage - www.australiananglo-indianassoc.org.au

•   Constitution available to all members

•   All minutes, including finances, are available to members on request

•  President and Admin Secretary of the International Federation of AIs are from       the Association

• ‘Anglo-Indians Helping Themselves’ project started to assist AIs on the sub-continent to gain self-employment through starting small businesses