Sada-e-Watan
Sydney ™
sadaewatan@gmail.com
Speech of
the Hon.Shaoquett Moselmane MLC in NSW Parliament about SAMAA
(The Hon.Shaoquett
Moselmane, First Australian of Arabic-Lebanese-Muslim MP delivered this speech
on 12 May 2011)
The Hon. SHAOQUETT
MOSELMANE [3.51 p.m.]: On 12 March 2011 at Auburn Town Hall I, along with the
Leader of the Opposition, the Hon John Robertson, the shadow Attorney General,
and shadow Minister for Justice, and member for Liverpool, Paul Lynch, the
member for Auburn, other members of Parliament and many other distinguished
community guests, attended the South Asian Muslim Association of Australia
function known as Jashne Buzurg, or the Elderly Festival. The function was well
attended by approximately 300 people, including many elderly, volunteers,
officials from various non-government agencies, community representatives and
members of the association.
The South Asia Muslim Association of Australia is yet another community-based
organisation that is quietly contributing to the harmony and prosperity of our
multicultural, multi-faith society. It was certainly uplifting to see many older
members of the community joining in the annual celebration, with the highlight
being the 100th birthday celebration for Aliya Khatoon. I congratulate her and
the organisation, and in this National Volunteer Week I congratulate all at the
association on giving up their valuable time and making the effort to provide
assistance to the elderly and those who are most in need.
The South Asia Muslim Association is an incorporated association that provides
various services to the elderly of the south Asian Muslim community in
metropolitan Sydney. It is a non-profitable incorporated association and a
public benevolent institution that strives to provide services to the elderly
and disabled. It carries out its mission by interacting with relevant government
and non-government bodies and all people of goodwill to develop programs to
enhance the human dignity of our elderly. Its long-term objective is to build an
aged persons hostel and provide culturally appropriate care to south Asian
elderly with the aim of offering relief from old age, sickness, incapacity and
loneliness to members of this community who come from Subcontinent nations such
as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Afghanistan and other
countries such as Fiji, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, and many others.
The members' ancestors migrated here from the Subcontinent over many decades.
Like many of our communities, encouraged by State and Federal policies of
multiculturalism they have successfully maintained their cultural and religious
traditions and are making significant contributions to peace and harmony in our
society. The association is a fitting example of the success story of community
harmony and volunteering, and it is definitely a multiculturalism success story.
That is thanks to distinguished Commonwealth leaders such as Gough Whitlam and
Malcolm Fraser. Their contribution to, and support for, multiculturalism has
kept this great community policy alive, with the full endorsement of the former
Keneally Labor Government. Following changes from the principles of assimilation
in the 1960s, through to the policy of integration and then to the definitive
policy change in the 1970s, Australia has moved to embrace multiculturalism and
enshrined it in legislation and in institutions. Organisations such as the South
Asia Muslim Association continue to reinforce community harmony, volunteering
and the multicultural vision espoused by people with such nation-building
foresight.
In the long term, the association aims to establish its aged care facilities
such as a nursing home and a retirement village. It aims to build the nursing
home by raising funds through appeals and government grants. We must do what we
can to help it. I have had the pleasure of working in the community field for
more than 25 years, and have supported many wonderful community institutions
that serve needy people. The South Asia Muslim Association's hard work,
commitment and dedication to the community is commendable. Through its enhanced
services the association has drawn people together by working towards a
harmonious community, providing its members with the respect, the strengths and
the dignity they deserve. Australia's diversity is our strength. Our future is
determined by our capacity to capitalise on the strengths of multiculturalism
and on the hard work and commitment of volunteers and community groups such as
the South Asia Muslim Association. I take great pleasure in congratulating its
members on their commitment and dedication to serving those most in need and
wish them every success for many years to come.
