As part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Malayalee Association of Victoria (MAV), a new Executive Committee has been elected for the 2025 to 2027 term. MAV is the first Malayalee organisation established in Melbourne, Australia, dating back to 1976.
The new committee was formed during a Special General Body Meeting held on Sunday, 13 July 2025, at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville. The meeting saw a strong turnout, with about 60 percent of MAV’s registered members attending.
The meeting was called following a request from nearly 90 percent of members who had paid their primary membership fees and agreed to renew annually. These members submitted self-attested documents to support the request.
It was found that most members of the previous Executive Committee no longer held valid memberships. As a result, members present at the meeting unanimously decided to dissolve the previous committee and elect a new Executive Committee and Women’s Forum.
The newly elected committee is led by Madanan Chellappan as President. The full list of office bearers is:
Executive Committee 2025–2027
- President: Madanan Chellappan
- Vice Presidents: Joseph Peter and Binu Varghese
- General Secretary: Hariharan Viswanathan
- Treasurer: Dr Prakash Nair (also Sports Coordinator)
- Joint Secretaries: Jose Plackal and Aswathi Unnikrishnan
- Public Relations Officer: Pratheesh Martin Jacob
- Sports Coordinators: Arun Sathyan, Leo George, Saju Rajan and Bijith Balakrishnan
- Executive Members: Ragesh KT, Jinesh Paul, Roymon Thomas, Gokul Kannoth, Priya Anilkumar Nair, Mohanan Kottukkal, Gautham Sankar and Amal Sasi
Aswathi Unnikrishnan, also Joint Secretary, was unanimously elected as Cultural Coordinator.
Grand Onam Celebration: “Suvarnolsavam 2025”
To mark its 50th anniversary, MAV will host this year’s Onam celebration, Suvarnolsavam 2025, on Saturday, 6 September at Springvale Town Hall, starting at 10:00 AM.
The event promises to be a colourful and joyful celebration, with highlights including:
- A mega Thiruvathira dance featuring more than 200 Malayalee women
- Pookkalam (floral carpet) competition
- Traditional Onam Sadhya (feast)
- Chenda Melam and the arrival of Mahabali
- Appearances by well-known film stars and government guests
- Performances from local dance schools, singers, and cultural groups
The MAV Onam celebration is one of the most important cultural gatherings for Malayalees in Victoria and across Australia.
In the spirit of “one land, one heritage, one culture”, MAV invites all Malayalee families, regardless of caste, religion, or political beliefs, to join in this celebration of unity and tradition.
“Suvarnolsavam 2025” is not only a tribute to the founders of MAV but also a celebration of unity, heritage, and the community’s shared future.
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