Press release: 1st Gogrial Community Association in Australia Conference
October 15, 2017 (SSB) — The members of Gogrial communities across Australia converged in Melbourne, Victoria on the 7th and 8th of October 2017, to participate in Community Conference. Among the items discussed during the 1st Day of the conference includes:
- Unity of Gogrial community both in Australia and in Gogrial State (South Sudan).
- Formation of one peak body to represent Gogrial community Australian wide, which led to the election of (below) an executive committee.
During the 1st Day conference, members of Gogrial Communities deliberated, agreed, reiterate and reaffirm the need and importance for the unity of Gogrial Community both in Gogrial State (South Sudan) and in Australia (Diaspora). The members firmly believed that Gogrial community needs to have a united voice in order to effectively address numerous issues facing their community, which led to the formation of the leadership of one Gogrial Community Association in Australia, to represent all its members Australia wide.
All the members of Gogrial community from different States agreed to pursue the Unity of Gogrial Community and peaceful cohesion, in the form of;
- Supporting one another, both in Australia and in South Sudan, notably, Gogrial State, and find ways of resolving settlement challenges affecting its members in Australia
- Working together to foster peace and unity among its members in Australia
- Initiating strategies that will lead to a complete end to the unnecessary communal conflict in Gogrial State
- Initiating and maintaining direct communication with Gogrial members at home, both at National and State levels to promote peace and harmony
- Initiating developmental projects for the development of Gogrial State through donations, fundraising, etc.
- Maintaining and promoting Gogrial culture to the younger generation in Australia and beyond
- Establishing or maintaining good friendship/relations with its neighbors, friends and all South Sudanese
The conference ended with the election of the following executive to lead Gogrial Community Association in Australia for the next two years – a peak body elected is as followed:
| # | Name | Position |
| 1 | Dr. Santino Atem Deng Anyuon | Chairperson |
| 2 | Madam Nyibol Tong Aleu | Deputy Chairperson |
| 3 | Wol Door Athuai | General Secretary |
| 4 | Deng Dhol Yuot | Deputy Secretary |
| 5 | Apet Manyual Lual | Treasurer |
| 6 | Clement Angui Deng Manyang | Deputy Treasurer |
| 7 | Dominic Deng Madut Akec | Secretary for Public Relation and Information |
The 2nd day (8th Oct 2017) was a colorful celebration in which friends of Gogrial gave valuable pieces of advice, particularly emphasizes the significance of unity among the people of Gogrial State and beyond.
For further information about the formation of Gogrial Community Association in Australia, please don’t hesitate to contact either: Chairperson (atemdeng@gmail.com) or Secretary (wolskidoor@gmail.com).
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