Sada-e-Watan
Sydney ™
sadaewatan@gmail.com
Pakistan
Association of Australia Fundraising Dinner raised $17,000 for Queensland Flood
Relief
(Coverage by: Syed Zafar
Hussain, Editor-in-Chief Sada-e-Watan Sydney)
Sunday February 6, 2011
marked a historical occasion for the Pakistan Association of Australia as they
had arranged a flood relief dinner which was a great success. Over 150 people
attended the dinner. Many people from the Australian community donated
generously.
The event was held at the Himalayas Function Centre in Granville, and was
attended by The Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP, Representing the Prime Minister and
Federal Member for Werriwa, The Hon. Ed Husic Federal Member for Chifley, The
Hon. Julie Owens MP, Federal Member for Parramatta, The Hon. Amanda Fazio and
President NSW Upper House. The MC for the event was Pakistan Association General
Secretary Mr Irfan Bhatti.
It should be noted that all three Federal Members came to this function, the
evening before the Federal Parliament resumed for the first session of 2011 in
Canberra.
The function commenced with speeches from Azam Muhammad Consulate General of
Pakistan Sydney , The Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP, representing the Prime Minister,
acknowledged the hard work the Pakistani community did when fund raising
actively for the Pakistan flood in 2010 and now as Australian citizens they are
adopting local cultural values by helping their fellow mates in Queensland.
Iftikhar Rana President of Pakistan Association of Australia presented a speech
on the night, in which he stated some touching words:
“It’s sad to note that natural disasters like floods, earthquakes and bushfires
are now becoming common in our lives and when they hit they hit hard. The impact
of these disasters causes death and devastation. It can really and truly be felt
by the people who went through the disaster.
The damage to people and their lives has been extraordinary; however there were
significant damages to infrastructure.
Tonight we do not only grieve the loss of lives but we express our deepest and
heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and all Australians who have
suffered as a result of this natural calamity.
The Floods have spared nothing, destroying lives and livelihood, destroying
homes, factories, businesses, destroying Farms and farm houses, roads, bridges
and other critical infrastructure.
If the damage was not complete in the first wave of floods for the Queensland
and northern NSW communities they had to tolerate a second wave of floods.
The Australian Spirit of mateship and harmony that was shown when the people of
Indonesia where hit by the Tsunami, it’s the same spirit which was displayed
when the floods hit Pakistan destroying the lives of over 20 Million people.
I once again thank you all for your assistance in the time of the Pakistan flood
appeals in 2010. Many of you donated generously and supported the PAA. Yet again
I call upon your help in regards to the QLD AND VICTORIA FLOODS. Our fellow
Australians are in need they need our help therefore we must all extend our
helping hands in order to aid the community.
Tonight I salute you all and your sense of generosity. I would like to express
my appreciation for each and every one of you for the kind support you have
shown. I ask you to dig deep for donations and raffles”
The Hon Ed Husic MP spoke of gratitude and thanked not only the Pakistan
Association but the Federal Parliament during subsequent week as well in his
speech. He mentioned of the fund raising lunch with The Hon Kevin Rudd that
raised over $13k for UNICEF in December 2010 for the Pakistan Flood Relief.
Speeches were also made by The Hon Julie Owens MP and The Hon Amanda Fazio MLC
who spoke of her recent trip to Pakistan in December 2010 as head of the NSW
State parliamentary delegation and mentioned she was accompanied by a member of
the community as well as part of the delegation, Mr Kashif Amjad.
After the speeches some of the Federal MP’s made their way off to Canberra and
the auctions and pledges began. Many raffle tickets were sold and pledges
started pouring in one after the other. Some companies and individuals pledged
$500 and $1000 at a time. The auctions then commenced with Mr. Umer Ghani as
chief auctioneer, including many prizes donated by various community members.
The total amount raised for the evening was $17,000 and all proceeds will be
going to the Premier of Queensland Disaster Relief Fund. On behalf of the
Pakistan Association a very big thank you to all who attended and donated, as
well as the Parliamentarians that came on a Sunday night, and Himalayas
Restaurant.
If you could not attend the flood relief dinner, please don’t hesitate to
contribute via the Pakistan Association charity account online on
www.pakistanassociation.com.au
