AL ZAHRA COLLEGE CELEBRATES BIRTH OF IMAM MEHDI

AL ZAHRA COLLEGE CELEBRATES BIRTH OF IMAM MEHDI

AND

THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

Media report prepared for Sada-e-Watan Sydney

By Syed Zawar Shah (Member of the School Council)

Al Zahra College is a private Muslim school in Arncliffe, Sydney. It was found in 1998. It has a Board of Directors comprising of four people. The Board overseas and monitors its affairs. The School has a Council which has 12 members who come from different community groups and have extensive and varied professional experience on their credit. Haji Ahmed Mokachar is the chairperson of the Board and the Council.

The School teaches from Kindergarten to year six. It as well adequately teaches Arabic and Islamic studies. These subjects are co-ordinated and monitored by Sheikh Jaffar Fatullah. The School is housed in a brand new building furnished with computers and modern amenities. The students offer Zohrain prayer. The leadership in the prayer is rotated so that the students are trained to take up the leading role in the community.

The school celebrates and commemorates all important events of the Islamic and the Australian calendars.

On 23^rd of September,2005 the School organised a special event to celebrate the birth of Imam Mehdi(E.S) and the International peace day in Bellview Riverside at Hurlstone park in Sydney. Hon Tony Bourke Mp, Shadow Minister for Immigration ,Hon Milton Orkopoulos Aboriginal Affairs Minister representing the Premier of NSW Hon Frank Sattor, Minister for Planning, Mick Keelty Australian Federal Police commissioner, Ali Roude Principal Rissalah college, Professor Gordon Stanley President Board of Studies, Dr Geoff Newcombe, Executive Officer Association of Independent schools, Shoquette Moselmane, Deputy Mayor Rockdale Council, Principals of Catholic, Public and independent Schools. Ulema from different communities, Executive members and Heads of different associations and representatives of Islamic Centres and Mosques were present.

Students of AL Zahra College spoke about the life and occultation of Imam Mehdi. Haji Mokachar as well spoke about Imam-e-Zamana and the International Day of Peace. For his speech click please refer to the attachment. Peter Bourke the Educational Director gave a detailed report about the School and the recent extra ordinary achievements of the students in the New South Wales University competition in writing ,Maths and English which was hailed by the audience. Other speakers were Sheikh Ashour, Dr Geoff Newcombe, Professor Gordon Stanley, Haji Bazzi President Alzahra Muslim association and Rose Marie Hoekstra.

The venue which can accommodate about four hundred people was packed. At the end dinner was served. The evening was rated as highly successful by the objective observers and participants.