Australia Day Award for Active Citizenship 2021
Gurjinder Singh

A resident of Richmond, with a business based in the same location, Gurjinder was this year’s inaugural Active Citizenship winner due to his generosity and support of people affected not only by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also the bushfires which occurred the previous summer.

In December 2019, when bushfires were raging across South Australia, Gurjinder’s Chahat Restaurant, in conjunction with the Australian Sikh Support Group, coordinated the delivery of food to those affected by these natural disasters.

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, Gurjinder and his restaurant were again at the forefront, offering free food and support to those who needed it. His restaurant provided around 5,000 free cooked meals to international students in need, the Emergency Department at the Lyell McEwen Hospital and people associated with the medi vac hotels. In addition to this, he provided around 2,700 free grocery essential kits and he continues to support people who are living rough by providing free breakfasts at Light and Hurtle Squares in the CBD.

Pictured: Gurjinder Singh with Carole Whitelock and Mayor Coxon.