Members of Tasmania’s Nepalese community and the wider public gathered at Montrose Yacht Club this evening for a candlelight vigil honouring those killed in the Nepal floods.
Organiser Rajan told the gathering the disaster had profoundly impacted thousands of lives, “When tragedies strike Nepal, we feel that pain deeply.”
“Tonight is not just about lighting a candle. Each candle represents a life, a family, a prayer and a hope,” he said.
“For many of us sitting here in Tasmania, Nepal may be thousands of kilometres away, but our hearts are still connected to our homeland, our family, our friends and our community.”
The gathering observed a minute of silence before the Nepalese national anthem was played.
Hundreds streamed into the venue after the vigil was moved indoors from Montrose Foreshore Park due to wild weather.
A member of the Nepalese community said the turnout was larger than expected and included Australians, Nepalese and people from other cultural backgrounds.
She said the event had been moved indoors to the Montrose Yacht Club because of the weather and that the room was packed.
Children of all ages had attended, some carrying and wearing the Nepalese flag and that seeing parents bring young children to pay their respects was good for multicultural Tasmania, she said.
She said the support shown in Tasmania during a difficult time made the community feel it had a second home.
Another community member said the situation remained dire.
“The condition of Nepal is very, very worse at the moment,” he said.
“Nepal is a developing country and with technical things, everything is very, very hard to doing those things, but still they are trying their best.”
He acknowledged the volunteers working on the ground and thanked the local council and community for their support.
“I’m so much happy that I am personally getting so many messages from the Australian community,” he said.
“Tonight our candles are small, but together their light represents our love, our unity and our hope for Nepal.”
Federal Clark MP Andrew Wilkie said the nation’s heart went out to the people of Nepal and to those affected across the border and downriver.
“We stand with you shoulder to shoulder,” he said.
Wilkie said he could not imagine how hurtful the disaster was or the uncertainty facing those still waiting for news of missing people.
The vigil closed with the mayor and federal members invited to light the candles.
The floods were triggered by a glacier collapse in the Nepal-Tibet border region last Wednesday.
The combined death toll in Nepal and China has surpassed 950, with more than 4,400 people still missing.
Among the 341 missing foreign nationals are 43 Australians.
Rescuers are continuing to struggle to reach affected communities.
The vigil followed a condolence motion passed by state parliament on Tuesday, which noted more than 6,000 Tasmanians were born in Nepal and more than 7,000 speak Nepali at home.
Parliament will pause tomorrow evening so members can attend a vigil on the Parliament House lawns.
Anyone wanting to help has been urged to donate through established aid organisations.
