1980s: How it all began
In August 1989, a 'breakaway' group from the Hindu Society of Victoria, decided to build a Vinayagar temple.
Amongst this group, a core team of people set up the 'Pro Tem' Management Committee and along with other likeminded individuals, began the gigantic task of building the first Vinayagar temple - Sri Vakratunda Vinayagar Temple - in Victoria.
A trip to India - Twists and Turns
It had already been decided that a Vinayagar Vigraham and the necessary implements required for conducting poojas were to be purchased to set up the first Vinayagar temple in Victoria. Coincidentally, the Treasurer at the time, Mr Shan Pillai, his wife Parameswary and his mother-in-law Mrs A. Subramaniam, were going to India on a pilgrimage and offered to obtain the said items during their trip. They set out on their pilgrimage in late September 1989.
On arrival in Chennai, they placed an order with a promised delivery time of 25 October 1989. Special instructions were given to the Sthapathi that he had to prepare two Panchaloga Vigrahams, which would both be taken to Kanchi Swamigal in Kanchi Mutt to select one Vigraham.
Upon returning to Chennai from their pilgrimage, the Pillai's discovered that the statues had not been completed and only the implements had been molded.
1989: A solution presents itself
Mr and Mrs Pillai visited the family of Sri Gnanasekara Kurrukkal and were introduced to their friend, Suresh who suggested that they all should visit Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya Swamigal at Kancheepuram to explain their predicament and seek his guidance. It was more for their own peace of mind that they decided to make this trip.The entourage arrived in Kancheepuram on 3 November 1989 and met with Sri Jeyandra Saraswathi Swamigal. They explained their predicament to the Swamigal and to their amazement he ordered his assistant to request the Kancheepuram Stapathi to bring the Vinayagar statue that he had just completed. Swamigal blessed the granite statue and provided a letter stating that the statue was for consecration in Australia. This was a great help in taking the statue out of India.
1989: A solution presents itself
Mr and Mrs Pillai visited the family of Sri Gnanasekara Kurrukkal and were introduced to their friend, Suresh who suggested that they all should visit Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya Swamigal at Kancheepuram to explain their predicament and seek his guidance. It was more for their own peace of mind that they decided to make this trip.The entourage arrived in Kancheepuram on 3 November 1989 and met with Sri Jeyandra Saraswathi Swamigal. They explained their predicament to the Swamigal and to their amazement he ordered his assistant to request the Kancheepuram Stapathi to bring the Vinayagar statue that he had just completed. Swamigal blessed the granite statue and provided a letter stating that the statue was for consecration in Australia. This was a great help in taking the statue out of India.
The first 'Pro Tem' Management Committee from September 1989 to June 1994.
Standing left to right: Mr Shanmugaratnam K Pillai (Treasurer), Mr Sivagnanam K Pillai, Dr J Maheswaran, Mr K Thanabalasingam, Mr M Maheswaran, Mr K Thuraisingam, Mr K Balendra, Mr V Canagalingam
Seated left to right: Mrs P Somasundram, Mr S Somasundram, Dr K Shanmuganathan (Vice President), Dr S Selvendra, Mrs M Selvendra
Absent: Mr Nirmalan K Pillai (President), Dr G R Rajendra, Mr P Senthooran (Secretary), Mr A Dhanabalan, Mr M Kamaeswaran, Mr K Somasundaram, Mr T Sritharan, Mr V Thuraisingam