Page 3844 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 2011
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the MTAA superannuation fund, the Capricorn Society, Jesner and Kelly Printers, AusWild, Commonwealth Motors, NRMA Insurance, PPG Industries Australia, Slaven Mazda, TransACT and Bates Advanced Driving. In addition to that, I would like to acknowledge the suppliers, including Jesner and Kelly, SolvIT, Luxgraphicus, Sponsors Select, TransACT, AusWild, Canberra Secretarial Service and Web 123.
Finally, I would like to put on the record our thanks and congratulations to the incoming board of the association: the president, Chris Macauley from Robbo’s Motorcycles; the immediate past president, Peter Taylor, who I know did a great job as president; Jon Waterhouse from Reliance Automotive; John Whyte from Mitchell Service Centre; Rob Cunningham from Premier Automotive; Graham Gulson from Gulson’s of Canberra; and of course, Mick Gentleman, the executive director of the Motor Trades Association, who is well known to this place. Again, I put on the record my thanks to the Motor Trades Association for the great work they do serving the industry and serving all Canberrans.
Muslim community
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (7.18): I want to bring to the attention of members some of the activities of the Muslim community over the last couple of weeks, given that we are in the feast of Ramadan. At the end of each day in Ramadan, the Muslim community holds an Iftar dinner, which is to finish the day of fasting. I have been to a number of events at a number of locations. On Tuesday, 9 August the third annual social harmony Iftar dinner was held at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, and it was a lovely dinner. There were a couple of speakers—one from Sydney and an international speaker—who gave their insights on the modern Muslim faith and what it means to them and how they celebrate Ramadan.
The Muslim community has also organised a number of Iftar dinners at private homes around the ACT. I know a number of members have been invited to those, and I hope they have attended. It was nice just to be invited into somebody’s home at the end of the day to have a lovely dinner and to speak about what they believed in and enjoy their company.
Of course, last Tuesday, 16 August the peace and dialogue dinner was organised by the Bluestar Intercultural Centre. The peace and dialogue Iftar dinner and Australian Bluestar awards, which I know you, Mr Speaker, attended and Ms Burch attended as well, was a great evening. More than 160 people gathered at the National Press Club to break bread together at the end of a day of fast but also to acknowledge great Australians who have aided the understanding of the Muslim faith in Australia. The event was co-hosted by Bluestar Intercultural Centre as well as the two ACT senators, Kate Lundy and Gary Humphries. It was well attended and was rather a great evening.
The Bluestar Intercultural Centre, for those who do not know, is an organisation founded in 2009 by a group of young Australian Muslims specifically to promote cultural and religious awareness and understanding across the entire Australian community. Its Executive Director, Mr Abdul Celil Gelim, who lives here in the ACT, said that the purpose of the evening was that we have awards that recognise individuals for their significant contribution in bringing together Australians and
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