Using his impressive contacts with the (then) federal government Abdul Rahman (Ray) Deen, now in his 20th year as member of the Rotary Club of Archerfield, obtained funding for the Fred Hollows' Pakistan – Australia Sub-Specialty Eye Care Project (PASEC) to the tune of $5.23 million over five years.

Through former MP Gary Hardgrave Mr. Deen facilitated the meeting with the then Prime Minister John Howard and representatives of The Fred Hollows Foundation on 6 September 2006. As a result of this meeting a proposal for funding the Pakistan program was submitted to AusAID.

The PASEC project will focus on provision of services for childhood blindness and diabetes related eye diseases. Once these services are up and running it is estimated that over half a million children will access them each year and have their sight fully restored. Similarly, the project will enable the public health sector of Pakistan to tackle eye diseases due to the emerging problem of diabetes in the population.

At their 25th Changeover evening held a fortnight ago at Souths Sports Club at Acacia Ridge, Lester Drew, Past President of the Rotary Club of Archerfield, had this to say about Ray Deen:

FHF Southern African Campaign (click on image on left)

In conjunction with Fred Hollows Foundation Qld. and the national body via Sue Larsen (Hon. Rotarian) and with further support from the Islamic Council Queensland. Inc., Crescents of Brisbane Inc., the Muslim Business Network and Rotary Club of Archerfield, a major fundraising programme is about to start in mid August 2009.

Reconstructing Jihad amid Competing International Norms by Dr Halim Rane was launched at Griffith University in Brisbane on 13 July.

The book, which has already been internationally praised as a groundbreaking study of jihad, conflict resolution and Islamic law, was officially launched by the world-renowned professor of Islamic law, Mohammad Hashim Kamali.

Reconstructing Jihad amid Competing International Norms is based on Dr Rane’s acclaimed PhD thesis which was awarded the prestigious Chancellor’s Medal for Excellence in the Doctor of Philosophy. Dr Halim Rane is the Deputy Director of the Griffith Islamic Research Unit and a Lecturer in the National Centre of Excellence in Islamic Studies at Griffith University. Further details about Dr Rane and his research can be found on his official website www.halimrane.com.

Press Release

The Federation of Australian Muslim Students & Youth(FAMSY) proudly presents The 27th Annual FAMSY Conference; “The Sirah Tour”.
 

The Sirah Tour is the central theme for this year’s conference, and it will also be the subject delivered to a variety of other tour cities.

As well as Melbourne, The Sirah Tour will visit; Auckland (New Zealand), Brisbane, Canberra, and Sydney.

The 2009 Sirah Tour will attempt to celebrate and communicate the life and message of the final Prophet, Muhammad.

Never before has an event like this graced the shores of Australia, and as such a number of international and local speakers will attempt to convey the important and valuable messages from the life of the final Prophet.

This unique Conference and Tour is an opportunity for all Australians & Muslims to find out more about the final Prophet, Muhammad.

So please join us in learning and celebrating the life of a man who has changed the world.
 

The newly established Islamic School on the Gold Coast will be allowed to keep its doors open longer but has been refused extra concessions by the Gold Coast City Council.

The Carrara school, was granted approval in February but sought to alter eight conditions imposed by the council.

Mayor Ron Clarke has signed off on three changes despite a groundswell of opposition against the city's first Islamic school.

More than 1174 submissions were made against the application.

City planning boss Cr Ted Shepherd said the school would now be allowed to keep its doors open from 7am to 6pm and to operate a public address system during the day.

"We've looked at the application and we feel that this is the best outcome," said Cr Shepherd.

"This is the same as other schools in the city offer."

He said the council would also allow a relaxation on a condition to enforce the construction of a toilet block until when the school roll exceeded 46.

School trustee Keysar Trad had criticised the council's handling of the application, which is backed by the Australian International Islamic College.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin Wednesday 15/7/2009

How sure are you that you are praying in the right direction towards the Qiblah?

Check out the Qibla Locator.

Enter your location or street address, select map, hybrid or any one of the other options and point your mussallah (prayer mat) in the direction of the red line.

Then again, you can always get hold of a prayer carpet designed in Turkey that will glow when the mat is pointing perfectly in the direction of the Qibla.

Şehnaz Tahir-Gürçağlar, Associate Professor of Translation Studies at the Bogazici University, Istanbul, in Turkey was attending the Conference of the International Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies In Melbourne when she was interviewed on ABC Radio National on the subject of the Azan in Turkey.

For a period of 18 years, between 1932 and 1950, the Islamic call to prayer - the azan - called five times daily, was compulsorily delivered in the Turkish language, rather than in Arabic.

Listen to the discussion here.

The staff of the Muslim Welfare shop in Woodridge continue to focus on the welfare of people who have approached them for various reasons in the past few weeks.

They have helped three different needy families set up home with merchandise and household goods since opening the shop, all with goods donated by the Muslim community.

There is a particular case that CCN readers might be able to help with:

A Muslim brother from Pakistan came out on a 457 visa to work as a mechanic on a four year contract. He worked for two years and then had enough money to bring his wife and family out here in January. In February, the company he worked for, closed its Rocklea office and left the workers without jobs. He was one of the workers, and the only one from overseas. He has managed to survive on the small savings he accumulated after bringing the family from Pakistan. He had been trying to find a new sponsor failing which he will have to return to Pakistan by 31 July.

This man has a very impressive resume and references. He has been trained in mechanics through the Pakistan Air Force and can work on diesel and petrol engines. He can build and service bus, car and truck engines. He is also a qualified fitter and turner and has done six months of a carpentry course.

He is willing to go anywhere in Australia for work. The family love the country and would be entitled to stay if he can only find a sponsor before the end of July.

If you have any suggestions as to how this family can be helped please call contact the Welfare Shop on 0435 086 796.

Western Australia: A Muslim group ordered to stop holding big prayer meetings at a Cannington industrial unit says it is not causing problems and numbers have ballooned because the group’s religion says people cannot be turned away.

The State Administrative Tribunal rejected the Daawah Association of WA’s application for a review of a Canning City Council decision not to allow bigger Friday prayer services, known as Jumu’ah salah.

The city granted the association approval for “community purpose and educational establishment” in 2001 on the condition there were no more than 20 people there at any time.

However, Daawah Association secretary Tariq Anzar said alternative established prayer sites were full and there was a big local demand for the weekly service.

“What we really felt was required was an understanding of the different culture,” he said. “If we get a strict number to 50 or 100 and it’s reached, I can’t say you go back, we are only (allowed) 100.”

Mr Tariq said the association would reduce its numbers as required by August 25 but moving the important session would be a logistical headache with no site guaranteed each week.

“As far as Daawah is concerned, we don’t want trouble,” he said.

“We don’t want to hurt anyone, we don’t want to disturb anyone, we don’t want anyone to be affected with the parking issue at all.” The tribunal this week found there was not enough parking at the Kent Street unit and “public worship” was prohibited in a light industry zone. The decision was criticised by ethnic groups.

Mr Anzar said the association wanted to build a centre in Queens Park but the council rejected its first design because of a lack of parking.

Canning mayor Joe Delle Donne has said the city was working with the association to find an alternative.

Source

The Sunnybank State High School would be grateful for any assistance any CCN readers and the Muslim business community can give by way of work experience placements for their year 10 students.

Work experience is part of Certificate I in Work Education run at Sunnybank and in order to complete the certificate students must complete one week of work experience.

During that week a teacher will visit the students and leave with the business owner a report to be completed and faxed back to them at school.

The dates for work experience this year are 31 August 2009 - 4 September 2009.

As these dates fall during the Ramadan period and there are many Muslim students who need placements, it is hoped that Muslim businesses sensitive to the needs of these students over this period, in particular,  could well assist here.

If you able to help contact Sue Everett, Work Experience Co-Ordinator, Sunnybank State High School, Phone - 3323 8111
 

AN ALP-dominated western Sydney council has lobbied the NSW Government to prevent an Islamic school opening in its area, despite Land and Environment Court approval for the development.

Soon after the court dismissed Bankstown Council's appeal against the school, the council wrote to the Minister for Education, Verity Firth, asking that the Government acquire the Bass Hill site, either by agreement or compulsorily.

This week Ms Firth ordered the Education Department to negotiate to buy the site but denied the council's letter played a part in her decision. The land was now needed for a school for disabled children, she said.

Al Amanah College's plans for a 1200-pupil school had been bitterly opposed by the council and residents. Objections were raised on traffic, noise and design grounds, but there were allegations some opposition was racially based.

The council rejected development applications twice, but twice the Land and Environment Court found in the school's favour. The first time, in December, Senior Commissioner John Roseth asked "whether the council would have raised quite as many contentions as it did if the application had been for an Anglican school".

After the second judgment, in May, Al Amanah started preparing to begin building on the site next to Bass High School. Instead, it is now preparing to battle the Government. Ms Firth said in a statement that demand for a special needs facility had been increasing since 2005. But in 2006 the department deemed the site surplus to its needs and sold it to Al Amanah for $4.4 million.

Ms Firth rejected suggestions that her real purpose was to stop the Islamic school. "This decision was made following advice from the Department of Education and Training that a special school was required in the area and that this was the most appropriate site. It is unrelated to the building of an Islamic school on the site," her spokeswoman said.

If the owners refuse to sell, Ms Firth is prepared to use compulsory- acquisition-of-lands legislation.

The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Ikebal Patel, said the Government's plan was preposterous. "To know that there is a school that has gone through two lots of hurdles to now want to exercise compulsory land powers - it's very disappointing."
 

Source

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE LADIES HIGH TEA earlier in the year, Alnisa Youth Group is holding a Pearls and Curls, Ladies Dessert Night.

So get ready! Grab your pearls, curl your hair, find that favourite dress and get ready for an evening filled with FUN AND YUMMY Mouth watering DESSERTS!!

This event is held in a hired room and WILL be a closed hall/venue event, However, we advise ladies to adhere to the normal Islamic dress code when arriving or leaving the venue
 

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