Duty Senator for the Riverina, Deborah O’Neill, met with members of the community recently.

She was invited to attend a funeral prayers at the temple on August 1 for much-loved and respected community elder, who was cremated a week earlier in Wagga.

“Such a facility would also be of benefit for other Griffith people, who at the moment have to drive to hours to Wagga Wagga at a time of grief,” Ms O’Neill said.

“Cremation is a strict tradition of the Sikhs.

“As deeply religious people, they are concerned that their rituals must include a drive to Wagga Wagga,” Ms O’Neill said.

Sikh community member Harnek Dhanoa said the more than 1300 Sikhs in Griffith would start a petition for a crematorium to be built in the Riverina centre.

“We are a growing part of this region and we believe it would be something the wider community would value as well as our people,” Mr Dhanoa said.