Gold Coast Mosque Fund Raiser Attracts Some One Thousand Visitors
Get It Off Your Chest!
In the last issue we tried to make a case for writing to the media and to your local politicians. This week we provide some tips to help you get published:
• Write your Letter to the Editor as soon as an issue arises. If you leave it too long, it will ‘go off the boil’ and your letter will not be published.
• You will probably feel strongly about the issue you are writing about – otherwise you would not be writing. A strong emotion can add feeling to your letter, but avoid using offensive words or abuse. Being assertive but polite will help you get published and/or get you a respectful answer.
• If you are writing to a newspaper in response to an article or someone else’s letter, refer to the date, page number, author and topic of the other article or letter.
• Keep it short. Readers appreciate short, concise letters. Long, rambling letters may be time consuming to read and difficult to follow and will not easily engage the reader’s attention.
• Keep it simple. Use plain English and express your ideas concisely.
• Stick to one (preferably) or two main points. Avoid side issues. If you have more than one or two different issues to write about, write two or more letters, each on a different issue.
• Ger someone else to read your letter before you send it. They may be able to make helpful suggestions to improve it.
• Type your letter if possible. Handwritten letters are more difficult to read.
• Include all information which is required - usually, your name and address and a contact phone number.
• Don’t lose heart if your letter is not published or does not elicit a satisfactory response. You can be sure that someone has read it and noted your opinion. Keep trying and encourage your family and friends to write or phone also.
In 2005 the Brisbane Writers Festival will focus on writings from post-apartheid South Africa.
One of South Africa’s most celebrated authors, Achmat Dangor balances his writing with work as a director at the UN, Geneva.
“I am an African with Asian and Dutch blood in me, I don’t know what race I am, and I don’t care”, with this description of himself, Achmat Dangor also describes the central themes of his literary work: heritage and a sense of belonging. He was born in a Muslim and Indian environment in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1948, the year that marked the beginning of apartheid in South Africa. As a result of the racial classification, he was considered a “coloured person”. He spoke Afrikaans and Sotho until he started school. Today he writes in English. Dangor’s book Bitter Fruit was shortlisted for the 2004 Booker Prize.
At the time of his studies, he was a member of the group Black Thoughts whose goal was to strengthen the black movement through literature, theatre, and music. As a result of this involvement, he was “banned” from 1973 to 1979; he was confined to Johannesburg and could not attending any social or political gatherings. In the 80s Dangor, one of the cofounders of the South African Writer’s Congress, started to publish books in South Africa which were translated into five languages: short stories, books of poetry and to date three novels. Dangor’s prose is lyrical and rich in metaphors. It is reminiscent of Salman Rushdie, who has been an influence on Dangor. At the request of Bishop Tutu, he took over the direction of the newly founded Kagiso Trust, the largest foundation directed by blacks in South Africa, and politics accordingly again assumed a larger role in Dangor’s life. Dangor was the director of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund until the end 2001 and since then has lived in Johannesburg, New York and currently Geneva Switzerland where he
is Director of Advocacy and Communications at the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS).
“This is a haunting story of a family disintegrating, wonderfully authentic on its context, gender and generation, its progress like slow dancing.” Barbara Trapido, The Independent, UK
“Bitter Fruit has a shocking ability to surprise the reader with the persistence of racial feeling in South Africa” The Guardian, UK
“Dangor's vivid prose, narrative fluency and facility for literary experiment make Bitter Fruit a considerable achievement.” The Daily Telegraph,UK
CCN welcomes the Abdoolla family to Queensland and the Crescents Community. Faisal and Zarina arrived two months ago with their family, Shamiez (18), Waseem (13) and Aadila (10) from Overport, Durban and have settled in the Gold Coast.
Faisal is a domestic appliance technician with Major Appliance Services.
(Surely this plug deserves at the very least a discounted service call for an Asko dishwasher that is causing some grief at the Editor's household )
The Deputy State Minister of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA), Michael Kennedy, delivered a presentation on the workings of his Department at an Archerfield Rotary meeting held during the week.
In the wake of the damaging Palmer Report that highlighted systemic weaknesses in the running of his Department as a result of its handling of several immigration cases recently, Mr. Kennedy told the audience of 70 Rotarians and Friends of Rotarians that DIMIA employed over 5000 people worldwide and dealt with an average of 500 visa applications a day. He was particularly enthused by the drive and ambition of the Sudanese refugees that DIMIA settled in the Toowoomba region recently, praising their desire to succeed on their own accord and not wanting to rely on Centrelink handouts.
Chairman Ray (aka. Haji Abdul Rahman Deen), left in picture below, managed the evening's proceedings decked out in the kind of Georgio Armanial sartorial splendour usually reserved exclusively for Prime Ministerial summits and the like. (Not many might know this but Mr. Deen was hand-picked by none other than the Prime Minister himself to attend the recent conference of Muslim leaders).
Ray Deen started out by making the point that as third and fourth generation migrants they were an integral and intrinsic part of the community - Australians who happened also to be Muslims. Together with brother Sultan they have served as members of Rotary for the past 20 years quietly getting on with the job of helping and supporting all parts of the community.
After a rousing rendition of the Australian National Anthem, and a toast to the Queen (this is Queensland, after all) the Rotarians went about their formal business and then onto the 'fines' wherein individuals had to drop in a dollar for 'misdemeanors' carried out during the course of the week.
Where There's A Will..............................................(there are relatives)
Ebrahim Iqbal Lambat has written a publication entitled "Australian and Islamic Laws of Inheritance - Part 1" which he is kindly distributing to anyone who would like a copy.
Published by the Lambat Trust, Part 1 covers drafting a will and explains, inter alia, the key differences between Australian and Islamic laws; why, as a Muslim, you will need a will in Australia; the clauses you need to include in your will to give effect to an Islamic distribution; and the persons who inherit under Islamic law and what alternative actions you can take to benefit them.
If you would like to obtain a copy of this booklet you can contact Faisel Essof, who is distributing them, on 34230116 (home), 38007811 (bus), 0402575410 (mobile), or fessof@hotmail.com.
Iqbal was born and raised in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe where he qualified as a chartered accountant. He migrated to South Africa in 1989 and to Australia in 2000. He has engaged with a number of South African organizations that focused on Islamic education. The laws of inheritance and trusts have been a focus of Iqbal's for a number of years. Under the tutelage of the late Prof. Doi and Imam Yusuf Patel, Iqbal authored his first book entitled: Wills and Inheritance: An Islamic and South African Law Perspective. He has since authored a number of publications on Islamic law in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Open Wedding Invitation To The Crescents Community
(Click To Enlarge)
CCN's Global Reach
CCN is read in many parts of the world. Last week CCN was read in the following towns, cities and countries:
Swaziland, Botswana, and various parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe;
Arizona, Seattle, New York, Texas, Buffalo, California;
Toronto, Vancouver:
Ireland, UK;
Mauritius; Maldives; Madagascar;
Kuala Lumpur;
Dubai;
Hobart and all the capital cities in our country;
and who knows by how many government agencies like ASIO, MI6, Interpol, CIA and the FBI
An Offer Too Good To Be True?
Would you like to undertake a task that:
gives immeasurable personal satisfaction and gratification,
contributes to the education and upliftment of the Muslim community,
requires no previous experience and minimal personal expense on your part,
has flexible working hours with as little as 30-40 minutes per week, and
offers no pay (but rewards in the hereafter, inshaAllah)
then why not volunteer as a Religious Education (RE) teacher at one of our local State schools.
For more information and how to register, contact:
Could you please convey our sincere gratitude to the Brisbane community for their kind support and sympathy on the occasion of the passing away of Zarina's father.
We would also like to thank Crescents of Brisbane and others who got the information out to all our friends and family here and abroad.
Jazakallah O'kairan
Ahmed and Zarina Kadwa and Family
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.
One of South Africa’s most celebrated authors, Achmat Dangor balances his writing with work as a director at the UN, Geneva.
The Brisbane Arrival Lounge
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The Deputy State Minister of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA), Michael Kennedy, delivered a presentation on the workings of his Department at an Archerfield Rotary meeting held during the week. 
CCN's Global Reach
