CCN0024

Sunday, 10 April 2005

Newsletter 0024

This issue of CCN is kindly sponsored by

Shelving and Shop Displays

Assalaamu-alaikum

Editorial

A reflective look at what it means to belong to a community group

There are various perspectives one can take on this subject depending on your view of the world but essentially a community is where people who may or may not have known each other meet on common ground. It helps us recognize that our lives are intertwined with others who demonstrate very similar values, tastes and ideals. It is important to understand there is a vast difference between associating with friends in our private lives and relative strangers in a public or community forum.

Community is where our resources can be generated and shared. People can pitch in to help a family in trouble, and provide support and sympathy when needed. When we live privately, then we can never learn the riches that a community life can bring. Conflicts are inevitable within the realm of the community. But these can only help strengthen us and allow us to progress and move forward as one. Community life can be interesting, entertaining and stimulating. We move from the private comfort zone of our close friends to one that contains a diversity of human beings. Being actively involved in a community helps us develop other interests and steer us from self-indulgence and self interest.

In a community people come in contact with one another and in so doing learn to care for each other. Communities also give us a chance to express our views to a wider circle than only within our close family and friends. Community is where visions can be realized and projects initiated. No vision can find full expression in the confines of a private life. It is also a place where people can become empowered and protected. For example we can lobby governments, initiate protests, and put up a united front to show the size and extent of our collective sentiments when the need arises. From this we can learn the skills of collective action and leadership, decision-making and conflict resolution.

Doc On The Road To Recovery

While on a mission to the Tsunami devastated region of Aceh in Indonesia to investigate the establishment of an orphanage there, Dr Aboobaker Chothia (73) of the Gold Coast collapsed on two separate occasions within the space of a few hours causing serious damage to his face and knees. He flew back to Queensland where his injuries were treated at a Gold Coast Hospital. At home recuperating from his ordeal as well as from having a pacemaker implanted, Dr Chothia was in good spirits and very impressed with the work being done in Indonesia by many of the foreign Muslim aid organizations.

On behalf of the Crescents Community, CCN wishes the good doctor a speedy recovery, inshaAllah, and that Allah (SWT) reward him for all his selfless efforts and for undertaking a cause that would surely have tested a man half his age.

CresWalk2005

With just FIVE weeks to go the organizing committee is once again hard at work putting the event together. The work has been divided amongst several sub-committees dealing with such matters as t-shirts, bookings, insurance, catering, trophies and medals, marshalling, sponsorships, advertising and promotion, and computerization etc. If you have any suggestions on how we could improve on last year's event please e-mail them to your theteam@crescentsofbrisbane.org. You can help us reach out to a wider community by letting people who do not have access to CCN know about the event and to encourage them to take part. We will soon be posting up the entry form for downloading from our web site www.crescentsofbrisbane.org. Entry forms will also be distributed at the local mosques and businesses.

Bald Hills Masjid To Officially Open

The Islamic Society of Bald Hills invites everyone to attend the opening of Majid Taqwah on Sunday 17 April at 119 Telegraph Road, Bald Hills (a the corner of Telegraph and Lacey Roads). The program commences at 9.30am with Quran recitations by Qaris Fida Ur Rehman, Edris, Mehboobul Haq and Abu Ghazali. Tickets will be available at the gates at $25 per family and $10 per single.

There are free children's' rides, an auction and lunch on the day's list of activities. So go along with your family and friends and celebrate this great occasion, and help make it a success. For further information, contact Haji Kurban Ali on 0401 615 272 or Dr Masroor Alam on 0418 117 707.

Safet Needs Your Help

Brother Safet Avdich is coordinating the supply of milk to 171 Afghanistan children living in a camp in Pakistan. If you would like to help Safet help 'his children' with donations please contact him on 3341 3323 or email him at plana1@dodo.com.au or you can simple deposit the money into the Commonwealth Bank Account 4170 10102151 (Springwood Branch - Vijesti Newspaper Association Inc.

Software to listen to the Quran on your PC at specified times can be downloaded from:

http://www.searchtruth.com/download.php

CCN Supporting Local Enterprise

Ladies, have you been combing the length and breadth of Brisbane in search of a skincare and beauty specialist? Then look no further than Fathima Paruk who knows just about everything there is to know about this very thing. Not only does she specialize in hair removal (Hot and Strip Wax), Lash and Brow Tinting, and Manicare and Pedicare but also Make-Up Artistry and Facial Treatments. In fact there is little our Fathima can't do if you're in need of even just a hint of a make-over. She uses only the highest quality waxes and MATIS Facial Products and is even prepared to give you a 10% discount on all MATIS facial products if you just whisper the three magic letters in her left ear (C C and N, of course!). This offer only last until the end of May 2005.

If you would like CCN to promote your business as well, why not send the details to your theteam@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

(click to enlarge)

Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation from Crescents Kids4Kids`

Rami's Thunder and his little Wonders

The kids of Rami's school of Taekwondo have made a a couple of public appearances in recent months, firstly at Kids4Kids and more recently at the IWAQ Harmony Day. On both occasions they had their audiences awed by the level of their skills, discipline and co-ordination. Part of their demonstration program incorporated a choreographed routine in the form a theatrical play. Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art resembling karate but also employing a wide range of kicking moves.

Rami's Thunder runs classes at the Wally Tate Park Community Hall (next to Masjid al Farooq in Kuraby) on Saturdays and Sundays. He has a current enrollment of over 15 children. For more information about the school contact Rami Fraij at rami_maani@yahoo.com or on (07) 3219 0514.

Message Sent To The Brisbane Catholic Church

To all our friends of the Catholic Faith, SALAAMS,

On behalf of the Muslim Community, please accept our sincere condolences on the passing of Pope John Paul 11. Regardless of our individual faith, no one can deny that he was an outstanding personality, and a great statesman. Almighty God gave him the strength and vision, to work towards peace, brotherhood and understanding, throughout the world. May Almighty God shower His mercy and blessings on him, and may He give you strength and patience during your bereavement.

In Sincerity, SALAAMS,
Hj.Sultan M. Deen

The Brisbane Arrival Lounge

With the arrival of Yunus Paruk and his family and the impending departure of his brother Edris and his family it's not just a case of 'out-with-the-old-and-in-with-the-new'. Yunus, wife Amina, and their children Ahmed (14) and Salma (16) will have some very big shoes to fill but CNN has learnt that the Paruk dynasty comes with very strong pedigree.

CCN and Crescents of Brisbane welcomes the new arrivals and trust that their stay here will be a pleasant and happy one, inshaAllah.

Madame Mumbai's Movie Memories

Madame Mumbai is offering a free family pass to CresWalk2005 (2 adults and 2 children) to the first correct entry randomly picked from the CCN inbox. All you have to do is email us with the answers to the following two questions:

1. Who is the man in picture?

2. What is his real name?

Entries close on Saturday 16 April at 5pm

The Hit Count

A graphical representation of the number of visitors to the www.crescentsofbrisbane.org web site over the past 7 days. The total hit count for the week was in excess of 350.

Tips for New Migrants

We continue this week with advice for newly arrived migrants to Brisbane or anyone planning to settle in our fair city at some future date. This week we tackle the subject of buying a business:

For business availabilities see HELPFUL WEBSITES under the Courier Mail. This is a newspaper that comes out everyday but the Saturday paper is more helpful. It will give one a view on business availabilities.
When looking for a business, you may contact the following agents to assist:-

Total Franchise Solutions

ABC Franchise Solutions

Hallmark Business Sales

Franchise Management Services

Benchmark Business Sales

Scan Business Brokers

Associated Business Sales

Business Brokers Queensland

When in the process of buying a business, ask to see the last three years accounts.
Another suggestion is to ask to see the TAX accounts for the last three years.
You can also ask to do what is called a “Due Diligence”. That is where you are given 28 or 35 days (or whatever you agree on) in which to go over their accounts and look into any matter relating to the purchase of the business.
You can also ask to stand in and operate their business for two weeks to give you an idea of the cliental and passing trade.
When in the process of buying a business, contact Smart Licence. SEE HELPFUL WEBSITES.
Smart Licence is a government organisation that assists when purchasing a business. They can give information about the business, statistics of the area, projected views, etc. This information may cost a bit, but is very helpful.
When looking for a business, keep a detailed record of what you do, whom you have met, business cards, business financial statements, etc. etc. This may be required when the 24-month survey comes up.

If you have an questions on this aspect of the advice please e-mail your CCN theteam@crescentsofbrisbane.org.

Source: Extracts from a document on the subject compiled by a CCN Reader (who wishes to remain anonymous)

A Word From This Week’s Sponsor

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Disclaimer

Articles and opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crescents of Brisbane team, CCN, its Editors or its Sponsors.