Tuesday, September 23, 2008

John Arkan's family and in(out)-laws











A bit about Woolgoolga, Coffs Harbour, Mid-north coast, NSW Australia



Guru nanak Sikh Temple of Woolgoolga can be seen from the Pacific highway. This photo is of the old building built in 1970.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

A bit about John Jorahvar Singh Arkan


Jorahvar's grandfather came in a ship to Melbourne, Austrlia in 1902. A lot of Panjabis came during late 1880's to early 1900's as sugarcane cutters. He worked in Carins and later Harwood, near Grafton, NSW. Jorahvar's father Harjeet Singh Arkan was living in Korora, Coffs Harbour, Mid-North Coast, NSW when he died after a road accident, in which three year old John was badly injured.The local newspaper in Sep 1969 mentioned the news of this accident. Nearly 40 years later, same month, local newspapers are highlighting John Arkan's success in elections.

Jovial Jorahvar is known for educating the wider community about Sikh religion. He has worked hard in the past three years to create and promote Curryfest at Woolgoolga which usually coinsides with Sikh games. Young sikhs of Sydney know Jorahvar as 'Aussie Uncle' because of his participation in the Sikh youth camps. Jorahvar says that one of the reason's he stood up for the elections is to show our children that no goal is too high. Its a free country, you can do whatever you like. Sikhi is not a barrier, its our strength.
Surinder Kaur
Wife of Jorahvar Singh/ John Arkan

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Congratulations to Arkan's for Jorahvar's election as Councillor



John Jorahvar Singh Arkan is now a Councillor for Coffs Harbour City Council. He is the first sikh to be elected in Coffs Harbour and first amritdhari gursikh to be elected in Australia. Also the first sikh to stand as a Mayor in Australia and did quite well. John's election as a Mayor would have been a miracle which we were not expecting.

We are very pleased to realise the support and his acceptance by the wider community. One of the many encouraging comments that I heard before the election day at Woolgoolga was
"It's good to see someone with a bit of a spark standing up."

It wasn't surprising to hear isolated comments like

"I want to vote for an Aussie" assuming that John wasn't a true blue Aussie just because he kept his sikh identity, disregarding the fact that his grandfather came to Austrlia sometime between 1901-1903. John has done his bit to make Arkan family proud.

Please use this blog to share your accomplishments with the rest of the family in Australia, New Zealand, England, America, Canada and India. I am not aware where else might be these Arkan's residing. I only ever worry about the Arkan in Russia, hope he never turn's out to be our lost relative.

Surinder Kaur
John Arkan's wife
note: I better congratulate my own children Saihaj, Anand and Prakaash on dady's election.