NEWS DESK Financial affairs workshop
Leaders united: Religious and community leaders are united in their wish for peace.
Muslims lead the way in peace talks LEADERS from six major religions went to a mosque in Langwarrin to explain the role their faith was taking to promote peace. President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Australia Inam-ul-Haq Kauser said “the majority” of Muslims were peaceful and that terrorist attacks had nothing to do with Islam. “There are only a handful of [Muslims] who are troublemakers, who are creating the whole trouble,” Imam Kauser said in his keynote address at the Conference of World Religions at the Bait-ul-Salam (House of Peace) Mosque on Sunday 29 November. The theme of the conference – attended by 350 community leaders, including police and politicians - was “The role of my religion in promoting peace”. The conference came two weeks after a wave of terrorist attacks in the Middle East and Paris left hundreds dead and even more people injured. “Do not feel that all Muslims verify
them [the terrorists] and support them. We do not support them,” Imam Kauser said. “If the 1.8 billion Muslims, God forbid, become terrorists, what is going to happen? They are not terrorists.” Imam Kauser said Islam was being terrorised and was in need of “more help than anyone else”. He said Muslims were suffering as a result of a handful of terrorists, and compared their plight to “a mother who is suffering because of her son’s bad deeds”. Imam Kauser said the world was being terrorised and “heading towards a brink of fire and a third world war”. He said “man has gone away from his lord” and “people are not talking about peace but rather they are talking about the differences”. Imam Kauser believed peace could be achieved by religious and political leaders getting together and promoting peace.
Imam Kauser said the 126-year-old Ahmadiyya Muslim sect rejected violence and had “never participated in any boycotts or terrorist activities”. “We have educated our youths very well. There is no question that our youths are involved in any terrorist activities in any part of the world.” Pandit Abhay Anand Awashthi, president of the Hindu Council of Australia, told the conference that religion had “the wisdom and capacity” to bring peace and prosperity to the world. The need for religions to work together to achieve world peace was backed up by Rabbi Lange, of Jewish Care Victoria. The Buddhist Society of Australia’s Michael Wells stressed the importance of finding refuge in oneself and taking their personal qualities “from a heart of kindness, from a place of peace and from a place of wisdom to influence the world”.
Retired Anglican priest the Rev Philip Manktelow said “love and peaceful harmony is a desire that we will all harbour in our hearts and in our minds. We believe that peace is a goal that we can all strive for and that we can live in peace”. Eradicating misinterpretations “back home” could help “achieve so much”, said Sikh Amar Singh. Opposition multicultural affairs and scrutiny of government spokesperson Inga Peulich said she had been to the Langwarrin mosque several times for “events that promote intercultural dialogue, interfaith dialogue” and praised its members for “really trying to be leaders in our community on building that communication and understanding that I think world peace and certainly peace in our communities we are so dependant upon”. The conference ended with a silent prayer led by Imam Kauser. Keith Platt
WOMEN in Frankston will benefit from The Purse Project financial capability workshop, 10am-12.30pm, Thursday 10 December, at Community Support Frankston, 35 Beach St. It is being delivered by WIRE – Women’s Information and Referral Exchange – which offers free general information, support and referrals run by women for women. The aim is to empower those women who have experienced violence to take steps toward a stronger financial future by understanding their relationship with money. To book for the workshop visit wire.org.au/event/purseproject/ or call Sherri Makepeace, 9348 9416.
Down the hatch A FRANKSTON North man about to be arrested for possession of heroin tried to swallow the evidence, Detective Sergeant Busuttil, of Frankston CIU, said last week. The 47 year old, of Lambert St, was allegedly found with 4gm of heroin, Monday. Detective Busuttil said quick action by detectives to induce vomiting prevented the (temporary) loss of evidence. The man was bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 11 March.
Taking steps to help get family moving Melissa Walsh melissah@baysidenews.com.au MAYGAN Garland is 19. She has just completed year 12 and loves fashion and writing. However, unlike many others her age Maygan has always faced challenges. “It was the happiest day of my life when I gave birth to a healthy baby girl. She grew and did all the things you would expect and people would stop me in the street to tell me what a beautiful baby she was,” Maygan’s mother Fiona Garland says. “One night she got sick and my baby girl’s whole life changed. By morning, Maygan was in an induced coma fighting for her life. “She was six months old and had contracted meningococcal septicaemia. It was the third worst case they had seen and they didn’t think Maygan would survive.” Maygan did survive, but lost her right leg and had a bleed to the brain, leaving her with a condition called Dystonia. “I know that one day I will lose her but, right now, Maygs is the happiest, smartest and most lovely person I have met and I have had the most precious gift given to me,” Ms Garland says. A full time disability support worker, Ms Garland cares for Maygan and her younger brother Ethan, 16, at their Mornington home but is struggling to get around since their car broke down and cannot be fixed. When Glenn Browne heard the story, he decided something needed to be done. On Sunday December 13 he plans to take 1000 steps to launch a fundraising effort to buy the Garland’s a
Appealing: Ethan, Fiona and Maygan Garland with Glenn Browne, who is about to take 1000 steps to bolster an appeal to raise money for the family to have wheelchair-friendly vehicle.
wheelchair compatible car. “I have known Fiona for a couple of years and when she told me about her car I knew I just had to help,” Mr Browne said. “I started the fundraising campaign five weeks ago and am raising money for the first part, which is doing the 1000 steps walk in Ferntree Gully on Sunday at 10.30am. The response has been great. We have
raised over $1000 but to get a car that is fitted with wheelchair provision is going to take a lot more than that.” Not one to look for handouts, Ms Garland has been completely blown away by the generosity of Mr Browne and others who are donating to the cause. “I cannot believe that people would do this for us and cannot thank everyone enough,” she says. “It has
been really tough without a car and we can’t afford to buy one ourselves. “At the moment we wait for taxis but they have to be wheelchair taxis and often don’t even show up, which means Maygan is missing hospital appointments as well as fun things like shopping to look for a graduation dress.” The family needs a people mover
that can be converted for wheelchair access, which in itself costs $27,000. “I really believe the community can get behind us to raise the money for them, and hope that a car yard might even donate a car to them. Then we can use the money to convert it,” Mr Browne said. To make a donation go to gofundme. com/nk6wvqbw
Frankston Times 7 December 2015
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