Mr Garry Page, Executive Director of Multicultural Affairs Queensland, retired from his position with the Government Department this week after 30 years in the service.

Mr Page was officially thanked yesterday (Saturday) at the ICQ Services Expo by the president of the Islamic Council of Queensland (ICQ), Mr Mohammed Yusuf, for his long and positive engagement with the Muslim Community and was presented with a gift on behalf of the Muslim Community of Queensland that was sponsored by:

My Community Matters was an SBS competition to celebrate the stories which contribute to an inclusive society by giving one Australian the chance to share a story about their community with the Prime Minister on Australia Day as well as have their story published at www.sbs.com.au.

Entrants to My Community Matters were asked to create a 90 second video story about why their community matters, highlighting forms of belonging and participation in Australia.

The winner was Zakia Baig of Dandenong in Victoria.

Zakia was born and raised in Pakistan, however is part of the Afghani Hazara community. It is her passion and commitment to the advocacy of women’s rights which Zakia says made her a target of the Taliban and forced her to leave Pakistan. Zakia arrived in Australia in 2006 and became a permanent resident of Australia in 2012. Zakia has been working with various groups that promote women’s rights and empowerment while bringing up her two children, working and studying.

Zakaia submitted a story outlining her journey from Pakistan to Australia, speaking about the importance of community and women’s rights.

Punchbowl was once synonymous with trouble – all drive-bys, gangs and drugs – and Punchbowl Boys High in Sydney suffered with it. But thanks to a charismatic and inspirational headmaster, the school has turned its fortunes around. Dominic Rolfe meets Jihad Dib.

Tamer Bani-Mohammad doesn't look like a trouble-maker. Tall and good-looking, with short, dark hair, striking light-green eyes and a strong handshake, he twists uncomfortably as young men do when they talk about themselves. "I was really off the hook in years 8 and 9," says Bani-Mohammad. "I'd argue with teachers, truant, throw chairs, smoke - all that rubbish."
 

In year 10, the Punchbowl Boys High student launched a flurry of punches in the playground and was suspended for 20 days. His father, a local taxi driver, despaired and the staff wanted him out. "They couldn't even speak to me," says Bani-Mohammad, "let alone teach me."
 

On his second day back he "lost it" and flung half a classroom - chairs, desks, books - out the window. Moments later, the principal, Jihad Dib, saw the still-seething student sitting in the gutter in front of the school. But Dib didn't march out with expulsion papers. He eased himself down into the gutter beside Bani-Mohammad and swung an arm around the student's shoulder. "I was yelling and swearing at him, 'What do you f...king care about me?' " recalls Bani-Mohammed. "But Mr Dib just told me that he wasn't going to let me stuff my life up."

For years, Punchbowl itself has seemed off the hook. In the late '90s, among postwar bungalows and brick-veneer new builds, notorious Middle Eastern drug dealers turned parts of the suburb into a virtual no-go zone for police, and there were dozens of drive-bys, drug busts and street brawls. And it's not all in the past - as recently as late 2012 there were two deadly shootings.
 

Through the tumult, Punchbowl Boys High School wasn't spared. Gang members held a gun to a principal's head and former students were charged with murder and gang rape. Reporting on a case brought by a former principal against the Department of Education for post-traumatic stress as a result of his time at the school, a 2003 headline in The Sydney Morning Herald described the school as "A Principal's Battlezone".
 

But today, the barbed wire that topped the fences has disappeared and the school, once one of the most difficult in the state to staff, has a queue of teachers wanting to move there. Enrolments are up from 270 seven years ago to more than 420 this year. Where police were regularly called in to deal with problems, now they attend as guests on presentation day. NAPLAN reading and numeracy results are rising, with "growth rates" for numeracy - the improvement in scores between year 7 and year 9 - among the highest in the country. Kids from families that have never had anyone finish high school, let alone get a degree, are graduating year 12 and bound for university.

Perhaps most remarkably, in the past seven years not one student has been expelled. "We'll always find them some other pathway such as TAFE or an apprenticeship," says Dib, who points out that graffiti is virtually non-existent and theft is such a non-issue that the bike shed is left unlocked during the day. "We refuse to leave kids out on the street."
 

In 2007, at just 33, Jihad Dib became principal of Punchbowl Boys High after serving as a deputy at the school for two years. He was one of the youngest principals in the state, but what he lacked in experience, he made up for with drive - and a dash of non-traditional thinking. The school, he decided, would turn out not only better students but, more importantly, better citizens. Pointing to a colourful artwork adorning an otherwise uninspiring hallway wall, he says, "This mural - done by year 8 kids - that says, 'Where the good men grow', sums it up for me. It means they get what we're on about."

Now, like his expectations for the boys he sends out into the world, Dib's role has also expanded beyond the school grounds. The 39-year-old, a fluent Arabic speaker of Lebanese Muslim background, is a judge and ambassador for the Australia Day Awards, a commissioner on the Community Relations Commission, a prominent member of the Lebanese Muslim Association and a sounding board for senior politicians (when a large group of Muslims recently demonstrated in Sydney's CBD, a senior federal cabinet minister rang Dib to get his thoughts on the issue). He speaks at education forums, organises a multi-faith end-of-Ramadan feast also attended by Jews, Christians and Hindus, and manages to squeeze in a weekly tennis match with mates. "I'm a sports nut," he says, "but that's all I really get time to play these days."
 

VICTORIA'S peak Muslim body has lashed out at "hysterical" objections whenever plans for mosques go before local councils.

Islamic Council of Victoria board member Nazeem Hussain (pictured left) said there was an underlying level of Islamophobia in society and Muslims had to do more to educate people about their religion and mosque proposals.

"People are clearly fearful of Muslims and Islam, and it's easy to create that fear and hysteria in some ways," Mr Hussain said.

Several applications are in the spotlight, including a bid by an Afghan community group to build a mosque and community centre in Doveton, on the city's south-east fringe.

The mosque, which would be built next to the future headquarters of evangelical church Catch the Fire Ministries, has been hotly debated by residents and City of Casey councillors.

In Clayton, a Uniting Church congregation has apologised to Islamic groups for suggesting to Monash Council a new mosque could become a training ground for fanatics.

Last year, Whittlesea councillors rejected plans for an Islamic school in Mernda despite council planning officers recommending it.

Mr Hussain said Islamic community applications often were met with hysteria not faced by proposals by other religious groups.

"It speaks to an underlying level of Islamophobia in society and a fear of Muslims moving into neighbourhoods and disrupting locals," he said.

Mr Hussain accused Catch the Fire Ministries pastor Danny Nalliah of creating community divisions by spreading false information about Muslims and the Koran in his opposition to the Doveton mosque.

But Mr Nalliah, who had a long-running legal battle with the Islamic Council over a racial vilification matter, said he had no issue with individual Muslims but objected to violent passages in the Koran.

"I am concerned ... because of what is going to be taught in the mosque based on what is in the Koran," he said.

State Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Minister Nick Kotsiras said people had the right to object to building proposals on planning grounds.

"To base it on religious grounds is unfair," Mr Kotsiras said.

Monash Council was due to vote on a plan to build a Monash University-linked mosque in a Clayton residential area.

Source: Courier Mail

Annual General Meeting

InshaAllah the AGM for the society will be held on Tuesday 5th March 2013 at the Mosque after Isha Salaat. Attached is the official notice of the meeting as well as the nomination form.

This being an election year it is important that you take the opportunity to come forward with nominations for any of the positions on the committee.

If there is anybody who is interested, motivated and with drive to get fully involved in the daily running of the Mosque for the next two years this is your opportunity to do so.

Please note that all nominations can be posted to the societies address or handed to the secretary Mahmood Osman no later than Monday 25th Feb 2013.

There will be forms available at the Mosque as well.

InshaAllah we hope to see you all there in full support.

For the AGM Agenda click here.

Meeladun-Nabi Program

Our annual meelad program will be held on Sunday 10th of February at the Islamic school in Karawatha.

The program will start at 2:30pm taking us through to Magrib Salaah InshaAllah. The program will comprise of Qira, Naats, and the main talk will be given by our resident Imam, Mohamed Nawaz Asrafhi.

We will also InshaAllah have our popular cake auction to help raise the much needed funds for the building project.

A Niaz after the Magrib salaah will also be provided by the Algester cooking team. Please bring your family and friends to take part in this celebration.

Visiting Speaker

Hazrat Maulana Pir Noorul Aqtaab Siddique from the UK will give a talk at the Mosque on Monday night (4th February) after Isha (Jamaat 8:30pm).

Last week the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Vice Chancellor, Professor Jan Thomas, presented Prof. Shahjahan Khan (pictured left) with a Certificate recognizing "outstanding and exceptional performance, service and contributions to the achievement of USQ's goals and priorities."

Professor Khan was acknowledged for his contribution as an exemplary leader within the Toowoomba regional Islamic community and his dedication to cultural integration.

Key amongst his achievements has been the establishment of the USQ Islamic Centre, the creation of an environment of trust for Islamic students resulting in a significant increase in the number of on-campus international students, organisation of USQ Islamic Open Days and Parliament of the World’s Religions and as founding member and President of the USQ Multicultural Staff Network.

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) was formed in 2011 to provide a national voice for Australians who are concerned about continuing human rights abuses suffered by Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and the continuing effects of dispossession and displacement suffered by Palestinian refugees.

APAN is a diverse alliance of religious leaders, unions, academics, lawyers, former politicians, Jewish and Palestinian groups, diplomats and public servants and others.

"APAN seeks a more balanced and principled approach from the Australian government in its policies towards the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and a more active role for Australia in encouraging all interested parties to bring about a just and lasting negotiated settlement based on UN resolutions and international norms, " APAN Executive Member David Forde told CCN. "APAN offers a voice for all Australians of goodwill who wish to express their opposition to the continuation of a conflict."

Click on the thumbnail above for details of the fund raising dinner at Michael's Oriental Restaurant where the guest speakers will be Joint Chairs of the Federal Parliamentary Friends of Palestine Mrs Maria Vamavakinou MP (ALP Federal Member for Calwell in Victoria) and Hon Sussan Ley MP (Coalition Federal Member for Farrer in NSW).

Last year a few people came up with the idea to bring out the talent in our youth and decided to launch an event, the first of it's kind in Brisbane...........................a Nasheed Competition for the youth!

This exciting and new idea, is widely supported by many including our leaders and we expect the competition to hit the streets of Brisbane in a few months Insha Allah. While there is a lot of planning still in the pipeline, here's a sneak peak of what to look forward to;


1. Children from Islamic Schools & Maddressahs will be invited to take part, and I know there's lot of talent out there, so start dusting the cob webs off those vocal cords and start practicing, practicing, practicing.
2. The Schools & Maddressahs will have their preliminaries who select a winner that goes into the final competition.
3. Watch this space for the date and time of the event!
4. We are in the process of finalising a steering committee, therefore if you or someone you know has a passion for an event of this nature and is willing to be part of the steering committee, we would love to hear from you!

The current team are committed to this event for the benefit and love of our children, and if you share the same vision, please contact us. We hope Insha'Allah to make this an annual event. To date we have three brothers in the steering group. We are looking for a few more not excluding sisters.
5. Contact details included on the flyer.

Mr. Mohammad Nurul Huq of Darwin recently passed away in Bangladesh in a car accident.

Mr Nurul Huq OAM was one of the founders of the Islamic Society of Darwin and served as President for many years.

He was a pioneering figure and helped form the Islamic Council of NT and was its Chairman for a number of years.

He also served as an Executive Member of AFIC and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to the Muslim community.

Mr Huq, who was regarded as a stalwart of the Northern Territory community, came to Australia to study at the university of NSW in 1965. In1972 he and his wife migrated to Australia, along with their son and two daughters. He holds BSc (Hons) and two Masters degrees in Engineering Hydrology. Before migrating to Australia he was a hydrographer and hydrologist of East Pakistan Navy and Water & Power Development Authority from 1951 to 1971. After coming to Australia he worked as hydrologist in the Department of Tropical & Water Resources of Northern Territory for 14 years.

To preserve the history of Islamic Society of Darwin (ISD) formally known as Islamic Society of Northern Territory in 2009 Mr. Huq wrote and published a book named "A Brief History of Islamic Society of Darwin".

Is your baby crying constantly, unsettled or fussy with feeding?
 

Are you looking for some baby care solutions?
 

My name is Zarina Ally and I can help you on a one-on-one basis.

I am a child health nurse, lactation consultant and infant massage instructor.

Over the past 25 years I have worked mainly with mothers and babies in the community as well as in an early parenting residential centre.

 
I appreciate how important the early years of parenting are and just how hard they can be.

Please read about how I can help you with information on breastfeeding, sleep and infant massages.

Bundaberg home owners, their family and friends and volunteers have been given the "all clear" to enter the North Bundaberg area previously ruled out as an exclusion zone.

The devastation has hit many following tornados affecting the area late last week. Many have lost sentimental items, clothing and major assets.

Life Rescue International is a not-for-profit international group established to assist those who are oppressed and suffering poverty. Its Brisbane branch has set up an Appeal to help victims of the floods in Bundaberg by collecting clothing and blankets.
 

If you have clothing or blankets to donate to the Bundaberg Flood Appeal, please contact Life Rescue International on 0450 006 834 or email Sabrina.Khan-Ismail@Lawyer.com.
 

For information on Life Rescue International and its various projects go to www.LifeRescueInternational.org

In the UK every year, more than 5,000 Brits convert to Islam.
 

More than half of those who make the switch are white – and 75 per cent are women.
 

But what would make someone want to change their lifestyle so dramatically?

Over the next four weeks CCN will profile four British women who decided to become Muslim.

PCSO Jayne, 28

Police Community Support Officer Jayne Kemp left her Catholic roots behind after “falling in love” with Islam while helping victims of so-called honour violence.

PCSO Kemp patrols her beat wearing a traditional hijab headscarf and even works extra time after shifts so she can attend Friday prayers at her mosque.

Devout Jayne converted to Islam last April and even plans to change her name to Aminah.

The single mum, who patrols Eccles, Gtr Manchester, as a Police Community Support Officer, says: “I thought Islam was all about women being forced to slave away in the kitchen — but I found out it was about being generous with your time, and patient and respectful of others.

“As I looked into it, I saw similarities with Catholicism and noticed values such as looking after your neighbours and cherishing the elderly, which is something older people say younger people don’t do any more.

“I wasn’t looking for any religion at the time but for every question I had answered about Islam, I had five more. I think I fell in love with it.”

Devoted Jayne even missed out on celebrating Christmas with her son, nine, and daughter, seven. She sent them off to their dad’s and cooked her own meal so it would be halal — the meat slaughtered in the manner prescribed by Sharia law.

And despite the drastic change, Jayne says colleagues at Greater Manchester Police and her family have been supportive. She is now helping to design a regulation police hijab and tunic — as one has never been needed before.

Jayne says: “I was worried about what my colleagues would think but they have been so understanding.

“People in Eccles have been great too — most don’t even mention it. If my children had struggled with me covering my hair I wouldn’t have done it.

“They have both asked a lot about it but I would never push Islam on them and they will be brought up Catholic.

“I just hope by speaking out I can show it is OK for a Muslim woman to work in the police force and change negative Islam stereotypes.
 

“My family, in general, are supportive. If I’m happy, they’re happy. My sister said I’m the happiest she’s ever seen me.”

Jayne was inspired to convert to Islam after chatting to other Muslims on Twitter.

 
Muhammad Manzoor, who runs Muslim Twitter account Local Masjid from his home in Whalley Range, Manchester, helped her make the transition.

He said: “I was humbled Jayne was asking me these questions.

“She has found this religion for herself and hopefully it shows Muslims can mix in society without compromising their faith.”
 

Next week CCN profiles Student Alana

Source: The Sun