Affinity Intercultural Foundation

Australian Affinity Awards

On Sunday 23rd September 2007, over 200 guests gathered together to mark an auspicious occasion of interfaith dialogue and friendship in Australia. Honorable guests included religious leaders, academics, politicians, educators and various other individuals from differing backgrounds. Guests shared in an opening of the Ramadan Fasting highlighting the fruits of interfaith work over the years which has culminated in enduring relationships evident during the event.

Affinity Intercultural Foundation presented its Australian Affinity Awards, to recognise the efforts of individuals who actively promote interfaith dialogue and the removal of religious prejudice in the Australian community. The keynote address was by Bishop Mark Colridge.

8 awards were presented at the dinner hosted by the Affinity Intercultural Foundation, an organisation founded in 2001 by a group of young Australian Muslims specifically to promote cultural and religious awareness and understanding across the entire Australian community.

Notable award receivers for 2007 included:

Mr Greg Colles from Lismore Catholic Education who was awarded with the Education award;

Sheikh Fehmi Naji El-Imam the Australian Mufti (VIC) who was awarded with the Muslim Community award;
Mr Peter Kerr from SMH (Foreign Editor), who was awarded with the Media award;
Ms Penny Elsley from the Broken Bay Catholic Diocese, who was awarded with the Youth Interfaith award;
Josie Lacey from NSWJBD, who was awarded with the Interfaith award;
Prof Janice Reid from UWS, who was awarded with the Academic award;
Mr Chaaban Omran, the National President Federation of Australian Muslim Students & Youth, who was awarded with the Muslim Youth award;
Mr Laurie Ferguson MP, Member for Reid, who was awarded with the Public Service award.

Much positive, heart warming comments followed with the end of the evening’s program, highlighting what this evening represents for the many who attended.

Below are a few notable remarks.

‘Tonight was a sign of great hope and a level of interfaith hard to find in other communities’

Bishop Manning

‘Warmth and Friendship were the highlights of the evening’.

Josie Lacey

‘Being here made me feel very encouraged to continue this work’

Ms Penny Elsley

‘Beautiful to see different people of different backgrounds come together and to be a part of the different experience of coming together, for a good cause which is the unity of mankind’

Muhamed Saeed

‘This dinner held by Affinity is a very important one in the calendar year, it recognizes the importance of relationships, community and humanity; like so many others amongst us tonight it carries the task of community understanding and respect. Affinity is outstanding!’

Babara Perry MP

‘We’ve worked with Affinity for 7 years and we hope that we can make it 70 years’

David