Sikh conference to be held in Sydney in September

The World Sikh Conference will be held in Sydney, Australia, on September 18-19, and discuss issues affecting the community and promote an understanding of Sikhism.

It will include delegates from India, Canada, the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

The conference will be funded by the New South Wales Community Relation Commission's 2004 Community Development Grants Programme, NSW premier Bob Carr said. "They are a hard working, well-respected community who have made a significant contribution to the state," he added.

The first Sikhs arrived on Australian shores in the late 19th century as workers on sugarcane plantations in the state of Queensland. Today, there is a significant Sikh population on the mid-North Coast around Coffs Harbour, where they run banana plantations.

According to the 2001 Census, 8,604 people in NSW identified their faith as Sikhism and there were over 17,000 Sikhs across Australia.