......a sometimes
self-deprecating and occasional tongue-in-cheek look at ourselves and
the world around us ......
Sunday, 19 April 2009
.Newsletter
0232
News you won't find on CNN!
Interfaith Delegation in Istanbul and Rome
A
delegation of 10 Muslims
from around Australia and 10
Christians from the
Melbourne Catholic Diocese
and the Australian Catholic
University are currently on
a study tour of Istanbul's
historical and religious
sites.
After visiting places like
the Blue Mosque, the Hagia
Sophia, the Topkapi Palace
and Rumi's tomb in Konya the
delegation heads off to Rome
tomorrow to visit, amongst
other sites, the Sistine
Chapel, the Coliseum and the
Vatican.
When in Rome they will be
accommodated in a monastery
during their seven-day stay
there where they will meet
with Tim Fisher, Australia's
Ambassador to the Vatican
and take part in a general
audience with the Pope.
Amongst the delegates on
this two week tour,
organized and sponsored by
the Australian Intercultural
Society, are Mr. Ikebal
Patel, President of the
Australian Federation of
Islamic Councils, Mr.
Mustafa Ally of
Crescents of Brisbane and
CCN, Bishop Christopher
Prowse, Prof Ismail
Albayrak and other
community leaders, academics
and priests.
CCN
gets Up Close and Personal with .......... Shummis Rane
Shummis
Rane is part of the
pioneering family that
settled in Queensland more
than a century ago.
He is the oldest child of
well respected late Imam
Abdul Raheem Rane. With his
brothers, he established
Queensland’s first halal
chicken abattoir, ABD
Poultry.
Shummis was elected this
year as the President of the
Muslim Business Network (MBN)
which he has been a member
of since its inception in
2005.
His most intriguing ability
however, is his hobby of
breeding race horses.
He may not be able to ride
them anymore, but his
passion for horses has
always been his other full
time job.
What is MBN?
It is an organisation of
Muslim Business people and
professionals which inspires
and promotes activities that
make a positive impact in
Australia. We offer
opportunities where our
members can network with
each other and the wider
community. We also educate
members about business, and
we liaise with other Muslim
associations.
What does MBN do for the
community?
We have business meetings
for members and we have
speakers who talk on various
topics related to business,
health, Islamic issues, and
other areas of interest.
During Ramadhan, we
distribute dates for Iftar
to mosques and universities.
We also have the Gala Eid
dinner. Last year we held
our first Trivia night.
We also donate to government
appeals in times of need eg.
Bushfire appeal & Cyclone
Larry.
If someone has a project
that they need help with, we
consider the project and if
possible assist them. This
year our main initiative
will be that we are
endeavouring to establish a
Muslim Business Directory
which will be printed, and
distributed for free to
Muslims. We are doing this
to strengthen the community,
because Muslims should try
and engage a Muslim business
person.
Why do we need a Muslim
Business Network?
MBN was a natural
progression from SAMAQ
(Southern African Muslim
Association Queensland)
which was limited in its
membership, to Southern
Africans. We wanted an
organisation that was
representative of the
broader Muslim community
whose membership consisted
of Businessman and
professionals, to help the
community when needed. The
challenges facing the Muslim
community in Australia are
enormous. MBN, being a
strong organisation with
good links to politicians
both at federal and state
levels feel we can play a
small role in highlighting
problems related to Muslims
and hopefully bring about a
solution to some of the
problems faced.
What are the advantages
of being a member of MBN?
It’s a strong organisation
with good links to the
government. We put out a
newsletters covering topics
on the economy and to keep
our members informed on
other matters of interest,
and also offer business
advice to people who may
want to start a business or
need other business advice.
We are also looking for
investment opportunities for
our members.
Where does MBN get its
money from?
Donations from members.
When did you start
breeding horses?
I have always had a passion
for horses and I was
breeding Arabian Horses for
20 years, and now I breed
Thoroughbred race horses
which I have been doing for
the past 5 years now. I was
also bred ponies at one
stage, I showed them mainly,
and won 17 times, and also
15 times Supreme Champion.
We have 12 broodmares
(breeding female horse) at
the moment.
What do you do with them?
We sell about 8 yearlings
(horse between 1 – 2 years)
a year at the Magic Millions
(Thoroughbred Horse auction
at the Gold Coast) I have a
property at Boonah used for
breeding and rearing Foals.
Some of our yearlings have
been sold overseas to
Singapore, Iran and Hong
Kong.
A typical day for me is?
After Fajr, I attend to the
horses, then try and get to
work (at ABD) by 8am. I work
up until lunch then I go
home, attend to the horses
again, or do some farm work.
On the weekends we go to
Boonah.
Do you ride them?
In my younger days I did,
but not now.
Who has been your best
performer?
We have had a good success
rate with our horses. You
can keep an eye on them on
the internet, because the
horses are all registered
and you can tell where your
yearling has gone. One horse
called The Clandy Man Can
won 5 local races.
Between, the chickens,
the horses, and MBN do you
have much spare time?
Not a lot.
THE DEADLY DOZEN!
1. You couldn’t pay me to....
change my lifestyle
2. How long would it take to
sms a message....? (after
a long pause) I’m not up to
that.
3. What super power would
you like to have? To go
back in time. To see how the
Holy Prophet (PBUH) lived.
4. I can’t stand the taste
of... too much salt
5. I’m still better than my
kids at?... common sense
6. What sport did you always
want to play?...rugby
league
7. Where could I find you on
Sunday mornings?... with
my horses
8. Around the house I am
pretty good at?...
cooking
9. At school I excelled at?...
Maths
10. Did you like the cowboys
or the Indians? ...The
Indians, because they were
the underdogs
11. You can’t get it
anymore, but I really miss....
life at a slower pace
12. If you saw someone
stealing would you do
anything about it? Yes, I
would try to stop them, or
if I couldn’t, I would call
the police.
Sharif
Sheds Loads on Show
Local
Brisbane boy Sharif Deen
has made it through to the
semi finals in Channel Ten
weight loss show The Biggest
Loser.
Sharif who originally
weighed 178 kg has so far
lost an amazing 50 kg.
He made it back into the
show last week, after being
previously eliminated, by
winning a challenge that
required him to carry 140kg
on his shoulders.
The show is drawing to a
conclusion with only 10 days
left for the finale.
Follow Sharif’s journey on
The Biggest Loser, Channel
Ten weeknights at 7.00pm and
Sunday night at 6.30pm to
see if he makes it in the
final 4 and a chance to win
$200 000 in the Grand Final.
House
for rent
4 bedroom house for rent in
Kuraby
For more details contact
0400 205 786
Baba
Ali – Commended by local Imams
Baba
Ali, who stars in the
upcoming ‘Not Just For
Laughs’ fundraising event
has stirred numerous
responses from local
community members, the most
outstanding being the
comments from our community
leaders.
Imam Burhaan Mehtar,
presiding over the Islamic school in Perth which boasts
an impressive 2500 students, mentioned that Baba Ali’s
videos were often used in their school assemblies and
the like, to educate their students. He also noted that
it was an effective tool in doing so. He was rather
disappointed that Perth was being deprived of the
benefit of having Baba Ali perform live.
Locally, Imam Akram
from Masjid-Al-Farooq, the Kuraby masjid, had many
wonderful words of admiration for the work Baba Ali is
undertaking. In stating that today’s youth become
easily bored, especially when been taught about
religion, Imam Akram mentioned, “Baba Ali offers an
interesting approach that eliminates the boredom and
attracts the youth, who admire his humour”. He further
added, “Every episode offers something to be learnt”,
and “I support his efforts …for the better of the Ummah.”
‘Not Just For Laughs’,
presented by Muslim Aid Australia and Muslim
Women And Friends aims to raise public awareness and
funds for the Gaza crisis, a highlight of which will be
the ‘Gaza Update’, presented by Muslim Aid.
An event not to be
missed, or as Imam Akram put it, “I strongly recommend
all to take this opportunity to benefit from this event,
and to support Gaza.”
Victorian Bushfire Appeal Funds Function
A cheque of a little over
$12 000 raised by the Muslim
community of Queensland was
recently handed to Muslim
Aid Australia (MAA) to
forward on to the Bushfire
Appeal. MAA issued the
following press release at a
formal presentation held in
Sydney:
As the Victorian Bushfires Appeal comes
to an official close this 17th of April, a
$50,000 cheque, raised by various Australian Muslim
communities under the auspice of Muslim Aid Australia,
was presented to the Hon Laurie Ferguson, Federal Member
for Reid and Parliamentary Secretary to Multicultural &
Settlement Services. Acknowledging and appreciating both
the substantive and symbolic value of the contribution
he then presented the cheque to Red Cross NSW’s
Executive Director, Mr Lewis Kaplan, who also expressed
words of thanks particularly as the effort represented
their tagline of “the power of humanity”:
“Thank you very much indeed for this generous gesture an
important and significant amount of money.”
Lewis
Kaplan also reported the latest on the Appeal and the
Recovery effort, highlighting their relief at being able
to revise downwards the death toll numbers from over 200
to 173, but still a tragic outcome together with 7000
homeless, 2000 homes destroyed, along with destroyed
businesses and community infrastructure. Regarding the
road ahead, Lewis Kaplan surmised that:
“
It will take some many months before
reconstruction is completed, probably more like some
years. We expect that the funds that have been donated
will be mostly expended by the end of the year.”
Mr Iman
S.I. Partoredjo, the Executive Director of Muslim Aid
Australia said:
“The Victorian bushfires of February 2009 this year had
shocked and shaken the whole nation. But so too had it
galvanized us all, and revealed again, esp in times of
such crisis, the moral fibre that binds us, as
Australians, as Humanity”.
He went
on to say that it:
“.
. . had galvanized the Muslim community at large to
share the grief for, and the call to, this national
crisis: This was one domestic concern we could not
ignore”.
The Hon
Laurie Ferguson in his address at the function
importantly stated that:
“it
is those groups that go beyond their narrow limited
selves, to the broader society, that i think get more
respect from people. And the fact that you’ve done this
. . . , the fact that you went out to people who
probably include very few Muslims quite frankly in that
population in rural Victoria, this is so symbolic to
Australian society. It is so important not only because
it is right, but it is important as a symbol of national
acceptance. . . You gain so many points for the
community that people see your activity beyond the
narrow. So on those words thank you very much for this
effort; it’s part of a huge national binding together
activity, work, commitment, money from people. And it’s
great to be associated. . .”
The
various Australian Muslim communities participating in
this effort were the Islamic Council of NSW (the
umbrella body of the state’s mosques and associations),
the Voice of Islam Radio (broadcasting from the
Bankstown-Canterbury districts), the Australian Council
for Islamic Education in Schools (the umbrella body of
Independent Muslim schools in Australia), the Muslim
Community of Brisbane, and the Muslim Aid constituency
Australia-wide. Mr Khaled Sukkarieh, Chairman of the
Islamic Council spoke with passion saying:
“Muslims like all Australians felt with their heart for
the Victorians, and regardless of race or creed we
wanted to work hand in hand with the relief effort”
Muslim
Aid Australia is an Australian-based INGO (international
non-government organisation) working in both disaster
response and in long-term development primarily focused
abroad. It is a signatory to the Code of Conduct of both
the International Federation Red Cross/Crescent
Societies’, and of the Australian Council For
International Development (ACFID). ACFID is the umbrella
body of Australian INGOs. Muslim Aid Australia’s
operational ethos is to serve humanity irrespective of
race, colour, creed, or political belief.
Notwithstanding its international focus, the
organisation has been increasing its attention to
domestic concerns. One such other local initiative was
with Sydney’s homeless in support of Mission Australia.
Get
Engaged!
By Shaima Khan of
MYServices
Sick and tired of hearing
anti-Muslim news?
Sick of media-led
misinformation about things
you are passionate about?
Think it’s about time your
side of the story is heard?
In the half-day, hands on
Get Engaged! Media Training
for Muslim Youth on
Saturday the 25th of April,
the pros themselves will
equip you with basic skills
on engaging with various
forms of media. Learn the
tricks of the art of media
engagement.
Anyone can do it. You don’t
have to be an ‘extrovert’,
or an expert or media-savvy.
The power to influence
public opinion is in your
hands (well, you never
know!). You deserve to be
heard!
Registrations are essential.
Separate sessions for males
and females. Open to Year
11s and up. Queries from the
young at heart are also
welcome. See flyer for more
details.
Facilitators: David Busch Executive
Producer, ABC Radio National Val French Retired
Journalism Lecturer, Media
Trainer Abdul-Rahman Keri
Young Muslim Journalist
The AFIC Upcoming Elections
Nominations for the
positions on the Executive
of the Australian Federation
of Islamic Councils closed
on 9 April.
Amongst the list accepted
nominees for the position of
President of the Council are
Mr. Ikebal Patel
(current President), Mr.
Ameer Ali and Mr.
Abbas Ahmed.
Dubbo
like many regional centres
in Australia has an every
increasing number of Muslims
in areas such has medicine,
accountancy, teaching and
other professions. In
addition Dubbo had a large
abattoir producing halal
meat for export, all
requiring Muslim workers.
Dubbo is approximately half
way between Brisbane and
Melbourne making it a good
place to take that break.
Dubbo is well know for the
Western Plains Zoo and there
is many other things for the
visitor to see and do.
Dubbo is blessed by having a
Mosque. Visitors are also
welcome to use the Mosque at
any time. All Muslims are
welcome to come along and
meet the locals.
To help both local Muslims
and travelers we have
started a website
http://dubbomosque.org/
giving times of Salat,
location and other visitor
information. Please visit
us.
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.
IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING CRESWALK, FOLLOW THIS 4
WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM:
REMEMBER TEAM:
TRAIN SMART, NOT HARD!!
WEEK 1 of our 4 week training program:
Please note that the following program is suitable for
beginners. For the more competitive or serious athlete,
intensity, duration and frequency of exercises need to
be increased!
REMEMBER: NUTRITION IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR
TRAINING REGIME. SO START EATING HEALTHIER TODAY AND
DON'T FORGET TO DRINK YOUR WATER!
DAY 1:
Walk for a minimum of 30 mins. (10 mins. at a
moderate pace, 15 mins. at a more brisk pace and 5 mins.
cool down / slow pace.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO STRETCH AFTER EVERY WORKOUT!
Healthy Tip: Always keep your body hydrated - carry a
bottle of water with you daily!
DAY 2:
Similar to day 1. Increase your walking time by 5 mins.
or more if you feel comfortable and include some hills
as part of your course.
DAY 3:
Opt for some strength and resistance training (try a
pump class if possible). Ensure good posture and
technique.
DAY 4:
Get walking...the aim is to increase your time and
distance!
DAY 5:
Active recovery - Do an activity that you enjoy (low
impact). Include your stretching routine.
DAY 6:
Take on a more challenging walking course (steeper
hills, etc.). Always challenge yourself, but do not
overdo it. Listen to your body - QUALITY rather than
QUANTITY!
DAY 7:
Have a rest, recover and get ready for week 2!
PLEASE NOTE: The above training program assumes a
healthy participant. Those with medical conditions or
who are not already physically active, need to seek
clearance from their GP before starting any form of
exercise.
All questions sent in are published here anonymously and
without any references to the author of the question.
KB's Culinary Corner
Spicy Couscous Salad
Ingredients
1 ½ cups Vegetable Stock
1 ½ cups Couscous
250g Haloumi cheese
1 tsp olive oil
420g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
5 green onions thinly sliced
½ cup mint leaves, roughly chopped
2 red chillies, sliced
Dressing
1 large lemon, juiced
2 tsp paprika
¼ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
Method
1. Boil the vegetable stock.
2. Place couscous in a large heatproof bowl,
pour over boiling stock and stir with a
fork. Cover with foil and let it stand for 5
minutes. Stir gently with a fork to separate
the grains.
3. Cut haloumi into 3 lengthways. Heat oil
in a small frying pan and cook haloumi for 1
to 2 mins on either side until golden brown.
4. Cut each slice of haloumi into 10 to 12
cubes.
5. Add to the couscous with chickpeas, green
onion and chili, toss to combine.
Dressing
Whisk all the ingredients together and pour
over the salad.
Do you have a recipe
to share with CCN readers? Send in your favourite recipe to
ccn@crescentsofbrisbane.org and be our "guest chef" for
the week.
The CCN Chuckle
Mula Nasruddin was
visiting a town in Turkey when he came across a store
with a shopfront displaying some of the most beautiful
clocks he had ever seen.
He went into the
store and offered to purchase one of the clocks on
display.
The storekeeper said
he couldn't sell him one because he didn't sell clocks.
A perplexed Mula
Nasruddin asked the storekeeper why he was displaying
clocks in his shop front when he wasn't selling them.
"I am the official
circumciser in this town. What will you have me display
in my shopfront!", came the reply from the storekeeper.
University of Queensland,
323 Hawken Drive,
St. Lucia
Every Monday
Event: Weekly Learning Circle: Sharh
Riyad-us-Saliheen (An Explanation of
'Gardens of the Righteous'
Venue: Prayer Room, University of Queensland
Time: 6.45pm to 7.30pm
Every Friday
Subject:
Fiqh Made Easy
Venue:
Room E215 Building 1 (Forgan Smith),
University of Queensland
Time: 7pm to 7.50pm
Every Friday
Subject:
Tafseer al Qur'an (Explanation of the
Qur'an)
Venue: Room E215 Building 1 (Forgan Smith),
University of Queensland
Time: 8pm to 9pm
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.
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.
A
delegation of 10 Muslims
from around Australia and 10
Christians from the
Melbourne Catholic Diocese
and the Australian Catholic
University are currently on
a study tour of Istanbul's
historical and religious
sites.
Shummis
Rane is part of the
pioneering family that
settled in Queensland more
than a century ago.
Local
Brisbane boy Sharif Deen
has made it through to the
semi finals in Channel Ten
weight loss show The Biggest
Loser.
Lewis
Kaplan also reported the latest on the Appeal and the
Recovery effort, highlighting their relief at being able
to revise downwards the death toll numbers from over 200
to 173, but still a tragic outcome together with 7000
homeless, 2000 homes destroyed, along with destroyed
businesses and community infrastructure. Regarding the
road ahead, Lewis Kaplan surmised that: 
Dubbo
like many regional centres
in Australia has an every
increasing number of Muslims
in areas such has medicine,
accountancy, teaching and
other professions. In
addition Dubbo had a large
abattoir producing halal
meat for export, all
requiring Muslim workers.
Catch
Crescents
Community News at
