“AUSTRALIAN AFFINITY AWARDS”
Muslim Community Promotes Integration & Harmony with Ramadan Break-fast dinner and Harmony Awards
Friday 6th October 2006
There is an undeniable air of anti-islamic, and a broader, anti-religious feel in the atmosphere at the moment. The ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ frame of mind is in the foreground of our society, as it has been in Australia’s history at different times. While so much of the world’s attention focuses on religious conflict and rivalry, it’s easy to overlook the effective work being done particularly in Australia to promote peace and understanding between cultures and faiths.
On Sunday 1 October, at a gathering of over 200 guests which was made up of religious leaders, academics, politicians, educators and various other individuals from differing backgrounds, 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. Last years interfaith award receiver, Cardinal George Pell was also present amongst the audience.
Notable award receivers included Mrs Barbara Perry, NSW Labor Party MP for Auburn, who was awarded with the Public Officer award; Mr Jim Mein, NSW Moderator of the Uniting Church, as he has been an active advocate of Interfaith Dialogue; and Dr Stewart Sharlow of the Australian Catholic University for establishing the Asia-Pacific Centre for Interfaith Dialogue within the Australian Catholic University.
The youth of today have been noticeably in the forefront of this interfaith and understanding of the ‘other’ service. Education manager for the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Mr Josh Levin has been involved in steering and participating in a number of projects involving Muslim, Christian and Jewish youth. Mrs Fulya Celik, teacher and VCE Coordinator at Isik College in Melbourne has been, and continues to be, involved in educational and interfaith projects in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Fulya is also an executive member of the Australian Intercultural Society of Melbourne which is one of the leading interfaith organisations of Australia.
The Hon Mrs Barbara Perry MP was awarded in the area of Public Service. Barbara’s commitment and dedication to serving her community and beyond, greatly contributes to building dialogue and addressing women and youth issues of today.
The keynote address by Adj. Professor Peter Manning focused on the theme “Us and Them”, which is also the title of his recent book. Peter says, “Building bridges between communities that share Abrahamic tradition is more important than highlighting differences. The work that Affinity is doing to create dialogue between groups is healthy and encouraging and a positive way forward for all Australians.” Importantly, many of those listening were eating their first meal since dawn, as the dinner marked the end of the day’s fasting, a practice required by all observing Muslims during the month of Ramadan. The sharing of a meal is considered in all cultures of the world to be one of the most significant gestures of accord and goodwill.
In all, 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.
According to Mr Mehmet Ozalp, Affinity’s President and author of 101 Questions You Asked About Islam, “The Awards recognise individuals for their significant contribution in bringing together Australians, and improving understanding between Australians of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds”.
‘Australian Affinity Award’ Receivers
Interfaith Dialogue: Mr. Jim Mein Uniting Church NSW Synod
Academic: Dr Stewart Sharlow Australian Catholic University
Public Service: Hon Mrs Barbara Perry State MP for Auburn
Media: Adj. Prof Peter Manning Australian Centre for Independent Journalism
Education: Mr. John McGrath CEO, Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay
Youth Interfaith: Mr. Josh Levin NSW Jewish Board of Deputies
Muslim Community: Mr. Umit Ismen Islamic Council of NSW
Youth Community: Mrs. Fulya Celik Isik College, VIC
Interfaith Dialogue Award Receiver: Mr. Jim Mein
Mr. Jim Mein was elected as Moderator at the Uniting Church New South Wales Synod meeting in September 2004, taking up a newly-defined, three-year, full-time position in which he will be serving his church until September 2007. He has chosen as his theme for his term "Uniting in Christ" because it provides a challenge to each church member and congregation in the New South Wales Synod. He held many high level roles within the church for over 20 years. Since his appointment as the moderator, he has been an active advocate of Interfaith Dialogue. He has moved his church to engage with the Muslim community more than any previous moderator by becoming an active partner in the recent 5th International Inter-religious Abraham Conference held in Sydney in August 2006.
Academic Award Receiver: Dr Stewart Sharlow
Dr Stewart Sharlow is a person who is truly committed to interfaith dialogue. He has been actively working in this field for the last three years. He has been part of the organizing committee for the ‘International Inter-religious Abraham Conference’. He has led the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Interfaith Dialogue within the Catholic University, which was launched in August 2006. This centre is a major contribution to the interfaith movement in Australia.
Public Service Award Receiver: Hon Mrs. Barbara Perry
Barbara has lived in Auburn since birth. Barbara was a family law Legal Aid lawyer for almost eleven years before becoming the Member for Auburn in a September 2001 bi-election. Barbara is across all local and state matters having served on Auburn Council from 1999 to 2003 and in State parliament for the past six years. As Member for Auburn, she is heavily involved in numerous committees, working groups and community associations in addition to acting as Chairperson on the Parliamentary Committee on Children and Young People. She is married and is a mother to five boys. Barbara has a passion for women and youth issues and is passionate in building community and dialogue with the many varied ethnic and religious groups in the electorate of Auburn and beyond. She has worked very hard to bring services to the people of Auburn since she was elected.
Media Award Receiver: Adj. Prof Peter Manning
Peter was invited to the University of Technology in 2001 as an Adjunct Professor following a distinguished 30-year career in Australian journalism. He had been Head of Current Affairs at the Seven Television Network (1997-2000), Head of ABC Radio National (1993-5) and head of ABC Television News and Current Affairs (1989-92). Between 1985 and 1989 Peter was Executive Producer of the prize-winning " Four Corners', specializing in investigative reporting. Prior to that, he had been a television, radio and print reporter in ABC television and radio, the "Sydney Morning Herald" and "The Bulletin". He was trained at John Fairfax and Sons Ltd. In 2004, Peter undertook a Doctorate of Philosophy examining representations of Arabic and Muslim people in Sydney's media. He is the author of “Us and Them: A journalist’s investigation of media Muslims and the Middle East”.
Education Award Receiver: Mr. John McGrath
John McGrath is the Head of Mission Services in the Broken Bay Catholic school system and is the Chair of the NSW Board of Studies Curriculum Committee for Studies of Religion. As a religious educator for 29 years, John is an advocate for multifaith religious studies in all educational sectors. John was the leader of the Syllabus Writing Team for the first NSW HSC Studies of Religion Syllabus in the early nineties. Studies of Religion is now the fifth largest HSC subject in NSW, with 25,000 students studying it across Years 11 and 12. In the syllabus design and his ongoing textbook writing, John was instrumental in the introduction of interfaith and religion & peace units into the syllabus. In early 2006, John has started the successful program of training Studies of Religion teachers in interfaith studies through the Broken Bay Institute. This has become an example for others to follow suit.
Youth Interfaith Award Receiver: Mr. Josh Levin
Josh Levin is the education manager for the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. He has been very active in the interfaith dialogue scene since 2003. He was in the steering committee and a participant in the successful Journey of Promise project which involved Jewish, Muslim and Christian youth living together for a week in an interfaith experience. Together with Affinity Intercultural Foundation, he later initiated the idea for the Youth Encounters initiative involving interfaith education and experience for high school students from Muslim, Jewish and Christian backgrounds. This initiative has been successfully running since 2004. The 2006 program of Youth Encounters will bring together 240 students from 12 high schools and colleges in Sydney.
Muslim Community Award Receiver: Mr. Umit Ismen
Umit Ismen has been serving the Muslim community for more than 30 years. Umit Ismen arrived to Australia in 1972. He was a rare person to know English fluently at the time of migration. In 1974-75, he served as an executive member of Cabramatta Community Centre. He then served as the president of the Cabramatta Saturday Language School until 1980. He was elected as the workers’ representative to the Miscellaneous Workers Union until 1981. From 1981, he was a full-time employee of the same Union. From 1989, he became involved in the building of the Bonnyrigg mosque, one of the major mosques in Sydney. He serves as the President of the mosque from 1991 to 2002. At the same time he was an executive member of the Islamic Council of NSW from 1992. He is now serving as the President of the Islamic Council since 2005.
Muslim Youth Award Receiver: Mrs Fulya Celik
Fulya Celik was born in Sydney. She has a degree in Communications with a specialisation in Journalism and a Graduate Diploma in English Education. She has taught Religious Education for eight years and has been involved in educational and interfaith projects in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. She has worked in the media, radio, and commercial television. She has an interest in Islamic Studies and Interfaith Relations and is currently enrolled in a Masters program in Islamic Studies. She teaches English and Interfaith Dialogue at Isik College in Melbourne, where she is the VCE Coordinator. She was recently involved in the 'Building Bridges Project'. Fulya is regular speaker at community and interfaith events. She is a passionate volunteer to the activities of Australian Intercultural Society.
