Rai is named Bhutanese Australian of the Year 2019

Former teacher and social worker Tek Bahadur Rai has been awarded Bhutanese Australian of the Year 2019 at the Bhutanese Annual Settlement Day celebration in Adelaide on Saturday.

The award is presented by Radio Pahichan every year to an individual who have contributed tremendously towards the community, voluntarily.

Born in 1959 in southern Bhutan, Rai served in the agriculture department of the Royal Government of Bhutan until being expelled in 1992. Since arriving in Beldangi I in 1992, he served the community as volunteer teacher for over 16 years.

Since being resettled to Adelaide in 2008, he continued his community service. He has served in Bhutanese Australian Association of South Australia (BAASA) and Punya Foundation in various capacity. He contribution towards the service of the community continues as the chairperson of the Bhutanese Ethnic School of South Australia that caters over 150 young students for Nepali language classes.

His contributions towards the community at his personal capacity are much more.

The prestigious award is given every year on Annual Settlement Day Celebration.

The settlement day was attended by ministers from state government, member of parliament, executives from service providers and community members in large number. Organised by BAASA every year on second Saturday of May, the day marks the arrival of first four exiled Bhutanese family to Australia under third country resettlement programme.