On the auspicious occasion that His Majesty the King graciously bestowed the Royal Kathina Robe upon Mrs. Pattama Siasanguan to be presented to the Sangha who had spent the 3-month rain retreat at Wat Thai Buddharam, Brisbane, as part of the support and preservation of Buddhism, on Sunday, 8 November 2026, Ms. Jitvipa Benjasil, Minister of the Royal Thai Embassy in Australia attended the Royal Kathina Robe Presentation Ceremony at Wat Thai Buddharam.

The ceremony was presided over by Venerable Sophonkanchanaporn, Deputy Provincial Governor of Sangha of Kanchanaburi Province and joined by Venerable Siphutthiwithet, Abbot of Wat Thai Buddharam along with other 21 monks. The ceremony included a parade, a prayer, alms offering and the Royal Kathina Robe presentation to the monks. The event was well-attended by a large number of Buddhist devotees in Queensland. The Honourable Mrs Leeanne Enoch, Shadow Minister for Closing the Gap and Reconciliation, Shadow Minister for Seniors and Disability Services, Shadow Minister for Integrity, Shadow Minister for the Arts, and Member for Algester as well as Mrs Chearanai Tina Ratanavaraha Field, Honorary Consul in Brisbane and spouse also participated in the ceremony.

On this occasion, Ms. Benjasil delivered remarks, which included a message of best wishes from the Ambassador. She expressed appreciation to the Royal Kathina recipient, all participants, and those who contributed to the food offerings and highlighted that the Kathina ceremony provides an opportunity to express faith, unity, and generosity through merit-making, which contributes to the preservation of Buddhist tradition and Thai cultural heritage. She also congratulated the temple supporters for the completion of the Nawamintharachuthit Ordination Hall in 2025.

The event also featured Thai cultural performances by young Thai-Australians as well as the volunteers trained by Brisbane Thai Culture and Language School. In the afternoon of the same day, the organisers also arranged a Special Dharma Talk by Venerable Suthee Wachira Patiphan, the Assistant Abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram and Venerable Maha Adisak Apipanyo, the Abbot of Wat Borom Sathon, to provide the audiences with guidance on relevant Buddhist teachings and religious wisdom.

Photos courtesy of Wat Thai Buddharam Facebook page.