......a sometimes
self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and
the world around us ......
Sunday, 22 June 2008
.Newsletter
0189
News you won't find on CNN!
This week's CCN is kindly
sponsored by
RM Designs
Anver
notches up his third bronze
Anver and wife Bilkish
sporting that 'other Crescents' clobber
Dr.
Anver Omar completed the 90km South African Comrades Marathon run
from Durban to Pietermaritzburg last Sunday in a time of
10 hrs. 12mins.
Anver came ahead of some 7500
runners in a field of 11000.
Congratulations Anver! Our thoughts
were with you all the way up Polly Shorts.
Taleem Time
Ladies
Taleem on Thursday morning 11-12 the 26 of June
at Sharifa Gutta’s house: 31 Stiller Drive, Kuraby
Private
school sends strugglers to TAFE
YEAR 12 students at a private
school in Sydney are forced to complete HSC subjects at
TAFE if it appears they will not score high marks.
Malek Fahd Islamic School, in Greenacre, joined the top
10 HSC performers in the Herald's league table for the
first time last year, ranking ninth - a jump from 15th
position the previous year.
Malek Fahd students, who pay fees to attend the school,
make up close to half the free HSC chemistry class at
Bankstown TAFE this year.
Ken Enderby, who co-ordinates the Bankstown TAFE HSC
program, said in recent years students had told him they
had to take HSC subjects at TAFE because they could not
sit them at Malek Fahd. He said one Malek Fahd student
who was asked to leave the school achieved a lowest
score of 60 per cent and a highest score of 72 per cent
at TAFE.
"I have had parents in tears because their children have
not been allowed to sit subjects at the school," he
said.
"I'm happy to have those kids here. These are very good
students - well behaved and a pleasure to teach."
Rawlins
Taekwondo took first position again at the Caboolture
Open on the 15 June. There went with six entrants and
came home with 7 Gold medal. The team also took part in
the pattern (poomse) for the first time won their
first medal, a Silver.
The medalists were: Mustafaa Olomi Gold X 2; Jacob White Gold
X 1; Jahan Olomi Gold X 1; Zulaikha Deen
Gold X 1; Khaaled Olomi Gold X 1; Mousaab
Houadchia Gold X 1; Mousaab Houadchia Silver
X 1
The next event is in Korea next month and the local
competition is on 27 July at the Entertainment Centre
for the Queensland selection.
"Anyone who wants to join our winning team of champions
should please ring me on 0402716707," coach Haris
Olomi told CCN.
From
the CCN Cradle
Md. R. Rezwan and Sadia Shahnaz
Rahimullah are the proud parents of baby Ameer
Muhammad who was born a fortnight ago at the Mater
Mothers Hospital.
Little Ameer has a sister, Rinaaz aged 2 and half
years.
Congratulations from CCN!
Open
doors and arms
THE
Islamic community opened the doors to the Arundel mosque
last week and invited the public in to dispel fears
about the Muslim faith and to help build relations with
the city.
"People have fears and
misconceptions so it's important we have an open day,"
said Imam Imraan Hussein.
"We wanted to give the community a
feel that we're just like them, our kids play around and
we're just like normal Australians.
"We have the same fears that
conservative Christian families have and we're dealing
with the same problems.
"We have an open-door policy
throughout the year but tonight it's a little more
official and an excuse for people to come along.
"Until there is dialogue and
interaction, people live with their fear."
Guests enjoyed a meal with the
Coast's Islamic community before hearing from guest
speaker Yusuf Estes.
Mr Hussein was pleased with the
turnout and said most people would be surprised to learn
the mosque is made of a diverse cross-section of the
community.
"We've got people from all the
different backgrounds and different cultures," he said.
The community open night came after
a proposal to build the Gold Coast's first Islamic
school suffered setbacks when vandals defaced a nearby
Christian church with Muslim slogans.
The slogans, such as `Allah Rules'
and `Death will come to you', were written on walls at
the Community Dream Centre Church on the corner of
Nerang-Broadbeach and Chisholm Roads in Carrara which is
in the same street as the proposed Islamic school.
Mr I Hussein condemned the attacks.
"It was a very foolish thing to do. We won't tolerate
it," he said.
"I don't think any of our community
here would do such a thing, we need to establish who
did. We have an idea who it was and that person has been
banned from the mosque.
"He was a revert, he just came here
from nowhere for one month and in that time there were
some arguments and radical ideas and we told him he
wasn't allowed here."
The Brisbane-based Australian
International Islamic College applied to the council in
April for permission to develop a Muslim school at 19
Chisholm Road, Carrara, but already a dozen objections
have been lodged even though the plan has not been
advertised as part of the planning process.
They
Came, they Tried and some (if not all) were Converted
by Kareema Benjamin
It has been my absolute pleasure to be part of the
'Muslim Ladies Come and Try' program, a pioneering
program specifically targeted towards Muslim women in
Brisbane. The program was funded by Communify (Jill
Duffield) and supported by Brisbane City Council (Michelle
Lindley).
The program brought together organisations such as
Brisbane Outrigger, Brisbane River Dragons, Queensland
Canoeing, Muslim Youth Services, Jazzercise® and My
Health and Fitness in assembling a number of fun and
active programs all across Brisbane. There were 5
activities in total namely Jazzercise®, Outrigging,
Dragon Boating, Canoeing and of course 'Bootcamp'. The
ladies who participated in the program were very
appreciative of the opportunity afforded to them and
were keen to attend each of the subsequent sessions.
The success of this program was a reflection of the
support and encouragement from people like Jill and
Michelle, so thank you to both of you and your
respective organisations, Communify and Brisbane City
Council.
Aside from the odd complaint from ladies who never
thought they would get to use some of the muscles worked
during the water and other activities, everyone was very
happy with both the social and physical side of all
activities undertaken. If anything we formed a close
knit group who looked forward to the 'next Saturday'
just to catch up and experience something new!!
In conclusion, my greatest thanks to all the ladies in
the Community who 'gave up their Saturday mornings' to
come and have some fun with us!! I will keep you posted
on future activities of a similar nature!
To Jill and her group of volunteers, and Michelle, on
behalf of the rest of the TEAM (Shaima, Hazel and
myself) it's been an amazing experience and we look
forward to many more opportunities like these in the
future. You have enabled us to gain some exposure to
activities otherwise not typically associated with
Muslim Women. THANK YOU
Gala Night
to Honour Top Youth
On Friday night the Southern Star saluted its latest
YoungStars.
Sixteen bi-monthly winners were in the running for the
Star's sport, arts/education and community involvement
awards.
Before a sell-out audience at the Sebel and Citigate in
Brisbane Star's winners and the overall Quest Community
Newspapers winners for 2007-2008 were announced.
The finalists range from national and international
sportsmen to recording musicians, lifesavers,
environmental campaigners and top academic achievers.
They were among 1000 nominations received over the past
year.
"Every year we marvel at the achievements of our
YoungStars, who keep setting new standards for these
awards,'' YoungStar co-ordinator Nick Crockford said.
The awards are run by Quest and McDonald's to recognise
the achievements of those aged eight to 18 in the
circulation areas of 15 community newspapers.
One of the the Star's finalists in
the Arts/education section was Ms. Yassmin
Abdel-Magied.
At the
Movies with CCN: The Band's Visit
Unfolding as a sly, wry comedy, with overt politics only
in the background, Kolirin's feature is about an
Egyptian police band that gets stranded in Israel,
exploring culture clash and miscommunication, while
using the familiar premise of "fish out of water."
The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, a small
Egyptian band, arrives in Israel as part of a larger
mission, a cultural goodwill exchange--they are to play
at the opening of an Arab Cultural Center. Dressed in
full regalia and observing all military police protocol,
the members of the orchestra are at a pivotal time in
their careers. It’s not just the political nature of an
Arab military police band playing traditional Arab music
in Israel that makes this event so important; budget
cuts and many reorganizations have threatened the
continued existence of the Orchestra.
"A heartfelt, wry and decidedly spry film."
Will Lawrence, EMPIRE
"Something marvelous happens as the filmmaker, in his
first feature, expertly metes out small scenes of
communication between people taught, for generations, to
be wary of one another: This Band swings with the
rhythms of hope."
Lisa Schwarzbaum, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
"Both sweet-natured and sharply pointed, a film whose
poignant, emotional effects and subtle acting sneak up
on you."
Kenneth Turan, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Special Advance Screenings this weekend at Palace
Centro
Around the Muslim
World with CCN
Barack Obama says sorry
over scarfs
Sen. Barack Obama extended his personal
apologies Thursday to two Muslim women who were nixed
from sitting behind him at a Michigan event because they
wore head scarfs.
Campaign
volunteers barred Hebba Aref and Shimaa Abdelfadeel (left)
from appearing behind Obama at a Detroit rally because
they feared the women's traditional head coverings would
create a negative impression of the candidate on
national TV.
The Democratic White House hopeful spoke with
Abdelfadeel directly and left Aref a voicemail. "I spoke
with Ms. Abdelfadeel, and expressed my deepest apologies
for the incident that occurred," Obama said in a
statement.
Obama, a Christian, has been the subject of rumors that
he is a Muslim. The presidential candidate said the
volunteers' actions "were unacceptable and in no way
reflect any policy of my campaign. I take deepest
offense to and will continue to fight against
discrimination against people of any religious group or
background."
Dawud Walid of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
said the calls were a good move. "We welcome the
senator's personal apology, and we hope that he
continues to address bigotry wherever he sees it," he
said.
Saudi police have detained a woman for
violating rules banning women from driving in the
conservative Muslim country, a newspaper said.
The woman from Buraida, north of Riyadh, was stopped by
a police patrol after driving 10 kilometres to collect
her husband, al-Hayat newspaper said.
The woman's "legal guardian" - her husband - was
required to sign a declaration that he would not allow
her to drive again, it said. It was not immediately
clear if she was released or would face legal action.
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that
forbids women from driving on the basis of fatwas, or
religious opinions, from clerics who say it is
un-Islamic.
Saudi media has reported a number of cases over the past
year where women flouted the ban, which some civil
rights activists have begun lobbying the government
publicly to lift.
Starting West Moreton
South Burnett Health often has a range of positions
available in a number of work areas including:
administration (reception, administration project
officer), operational (ward staff, cleaning, food
preparation, gardening, etc) as well as nursing,
medical and allied health (social work,
physiotherapy, nutritionists, occupational therapy,
etc). These positions work in one of our many
facilities which include hospitals, community health
services, mental health or oral health services.
West Moreton South Burnett Health in partnership
with ACCES Services Inc is running a free workshop
for REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS on Employment
opportunities in Health and recruitment and
application processes. The session will cover topics
such as:
• types of jobs that are available
• where to find information on current vacancies
• writing an application and
• preparing and doing well at interview
The Workshop will be held on Friday the 25th June
from 10.00am - 4.00pm at ACCES located at 92 Carmody
Street, Woodridge.
Please note numbers will be limited to 20 people so
you will need to register your place as soon as
possible by calling Abdullah on the numbers/email
address below & attached.
This will be a very practical workshop and will
benefit anyone looking at their employment options
and/or considering or in the process of applying for
a position in any of the above mentioned work areas.
Presenters include: Desmond Suttle, Workforce
Project Officer and Linda Henniker, WMSBHSD
Multicultural Health Coordinator. .
If you have not already provided us with a copy of
your resume or if you have updated your resume,
please also forward a copy to me by the 18th June.
Please note this workshop will focus on jobs that
are available within West Moreton South Burnett
Health, however the information will be relevant to
anyone wanting to learn more about local (&
Australian) recruitment processes.
The CCN
Readers' Book Club:
You are what you read!
This week
A CCN
Reader
recommends Superstar
India: From Incredible to Unstoppable by Shobhaa
Dé
‘This is a story about India. My
India. It is a very personal story. You see, I’m exactly
as old as India is.’
It all began when, viewing the breathless preparations
for independent India’s 60th birthday celebrations--and
poised then on her own sixth decade—Shobhaa Dé was
struck by the thought: ‘Surely my life has taken the
same trajectory as the country’s?’ In an intimate
confession to her readers, she answers that question,
and many more: Does India really deserve to congratulate
itself? Has it lived up to the early promises it made to
its people? Does the author believe in India herself?
Surveying the many images of the country, Dé points out
that for every truism about India the opposite is also
true: India as the land of the meek; India as inheritor
of the earth; India gherao-ed by distinctly unfriendly
neighbours; Indians fleeing to jobs in the West and then
racing right back to a better life; Indians who ape
their erstwhile colonizers and yet cling irrationally to
tradition.
In a departure from anything else she has written,
Shobhaa Dé lasers in on Indian people and their place in
the larger human society, pointing out her country’s
historical failings and equally historical glories.
Admitting to our knee-jerk reactions to much of what is
happening at home and in the world, Dé reasons,
nevertheless, that the nation has earned superstar
status, and with humorous argumentativeness, she
convinces the reader that India is not about to lose its
glow.
Using the book
club you can see what books fellow CCN
readers have
on their shelves, what they are reading and even
what they, and others, think of them.
............and
now a word from this week's CCN sponsor.....
RM Designs
Kareema's Keep Fit Column
Q: Dear
Kareema, like many out there I have a very stressful job
and lead a hectic lifestyle. Although I run most
mornings, I've been advised to do a bit more exercise.
What do you suggest?
A: There is nothing quite like boxing to release stress.
It's also great for all over body strength and core
stability - your arms, legs, abs, everything gets a
great workout!
Depending on how hard you work, you could burn around
2000kj an hour.
It's a great cardio workout, so be prepared to puff and
sweat!
Remember great posture and technique reduces the risk of
injury and means you can work harder for longer.
Vary your workouts, you are sure to find other exercises
that suits you too as far as de-stressing is concerned.
Kedgeree (or occasionally kitcherie, kitchari
or kitchiri) is a dish consisting of flaked fish
(usually smoked haddock), boiled rice, eggs and
butter. It originated amongst the British colonials
in India hence was introduced to the United Kingdom
as a popular breakfast dish in Victorian times, part
of the then fashionable Anglo-Indian cuisine. During
that time, fish was often served for colonial
breakfasts so that fish caught in the early morning
could be eaten while it was still fresh. It is
rarely eaten for breakfast now, but is still a
popular dish. (Wikipedia)
Ingredients
400g smoked haddock or
cod
1 cup milk
6 black peppercorns
1 bay leaf
4 eggs
30g butter
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 cup basmati rice
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup cream
1/2 bunch parsley, finely chopped
1 lemon, cut in half
Method
Tasty basmati rice is used as the base for his much loved dish.
1 Put fish in a medium heavy-based pan. Pour over the milk, then add peppercorns and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stand until lukewarm. Remove the fish from the milk and discard milk. Remove skin and bones from fish. Break flesh into flakes, and set aside.
2 Put the eggs in a medium heavy-based pan and cover with cold water. Bring to a simmer and simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes. Put the pan in the sink and run cold water into the pan until the eggs are covered with water. Crack the shells on the side of the pan and leave to stand in the cold water for 5 minutes before peeling. Put the peeled hard-boiled eggs into a dish and set aside.
3 Heat the butter and oil in a medium heavy-based pan. When the butter is melted, add the onion and cook on a low heat for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is soft and golden. Add the curry powder, stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes. Pour in the stock and cream and stir to combine. Bring slowly to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes, or until all the liquid has evaporated and tunnels have formed in the rice. Cover and reduce to a very low heat. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until the rice is tender.
4 Add the prepared fish to the rice mix. Roughly chop the eggs and add to the rice with the parsley. Stir gently with a fork to combine. Add a good squeeze of lemon juice and serve immediately.
Do you have a recipe
to share with CCN readers?
Send in your favourite recipe to
theteam@crescentsofbrisbane.org and who
knows, you could be our "guest chef" for a future
edition of CCN.
The CCN Chuckle
A young man is
wandering around the zoo looking at the animals.
He suddenly
remembers about an appointment that he scheduled.
Unfortunately, he
forgot his watch.
He searches for
someone who could give him the time.
He sees Mula
Nasruddin standing next to an elephant.
"Excuse me, sir,"
says the young man "Do you know what time it is?"
Mula Nasruddin reaches for the elephant's tail, and
gives it a couple of gentle strokes.
"Mmmmm, it is about 3:00," Mula Nasruddin responds.
The young man looks at him in awe, "How did you know
that?"
Mula Nasruddin looks
back at the man, "I looked at the clock on the wall
right behind you."
Venue: University of Queensland, 323 Hawken
Drive, St. Lucia
Contact: 0421 731 797
Time: 6.45pm to 7.45pm
Sunnah Inspirations is a
non-profit organisation to cater for Muslim
social support and supplying information to
Muslims and non-Muslims. They have been
doing various activities around Australia,
and have organised Da'wah information stalls
at various universities in Brisbane. More
info can be found on their website above.
Write For Us
The
best ideas and the best feedback come from our community
of readers. If you have a topic or opinion that you want
to write about or want seen covered or any news item
that you think might be of benefit to the Crescents
Community please e-mail
Share
your thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our community
through CCN.
If
there is someone you know who would like to subscribe to
CCN please encourage them to send an e-mail to
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org with the words
“Subscribe Me” in the subject line.
Disclaimer
Articles and opinions appearing in this newsletter do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crescents of
Brisbane Team, CCN, its Editor or its Sponsors,
particularly if they eventually turn out to be libelous,
unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious, offensive,
slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of CCN to include
from time to time, notices of events that some readers
may find interesting or relevant. Such notices are often
posted as received. Including such messages or providing
the details of such events does not necessarily imply
endorsement of the contents of these events by either
CCN or Crescents of Brisbane Inc.
Rawlins
Taekwondo took first position again at the Caboolture
Open on the 15 June. There went with six entrants and
came home with 7 Gold medal. The team also took part in
the pattern (poomse) for the first time won their
first medal, a Silver.
THE
Islamic community opened the doors to the Arundel mosque
last week and invited the public in to dispel fears
about the Muslim faith and to help build relations with
the city. 
Campaign
volunteers barred Hebba Aref and Shimaa Abdelfadeel (left)
from appearing behind Obama at a Detroit rally because
they feared the women's traditional head coverings would
create a negative impression of the candidate on
national TV. 
Health Services Recruitment 
