www.awnw.com.au
Issue #251 – Wednesday, 24 September, 2014
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
Mayor fights off last-minute challenge
Monday night’s Albury City mayoral vote saw a few suprises thrown at the chamber. Mayor Kevin Mack faced an unexpected lastminute challenge for the role from his predecessor, while councillor Henk van de Ven stepped aside from his deputy mayor duties to create a close race between councillors for the position. FOR THE FULL STORY TURN TO PAGE 3
Terror backlash By ERIN SOMERVILLE THE Albury Wodonga Islamic community fears it could soon face hostility from residents with the heavy national media focus on Islamic terrorists. The comments come from Islamic Society of Albury Wodonga president Yakub Muhammad who spoke to the Albury Wodonga News Weekly following anti-terror raids on Islamic homes across Australia and a ramped-up national committment to fight the Islamic State, or ISIS. Mr Muhammad said the constant recent media coverage of a small percentage of Islamic extremists, who he said the peaceful local community condemn, threatened to create a fear mongering mentality against all Muslims, particularly in regional Australia. “Regional areas tend to cop it the most because there isn’t as much education or exposure to Muslims,” he said. “All of a sudden people can see someone with dark skin in a turban or Islamic costume or with a head scarf on, and I have specifically seen here some people get scared and some get angry.”" Mr Muhammad, Yakub Muhammad. who has lived in Albury for 27 years, said his sister and wife have recently been abused in a car park by a man for wearing hijabs (scarfs that cover the hair) and were left feeling shaken and too afraid to continue their shopping. His friend’s wife has also reported being abused by a man in Lavington shopping centre for wearing a niqab (veil that covers the face and shows only the eyes), and said she had to publicly defend her decision for wanting to wear one for religious reasons. Mr Muhammad said he is concerned about the effect current international events and media coverage will create, particularly on Albury Wodonga’s approximate 300 Muslim residents. “I’m just waiting to get more abusive calls, I think they are coming big time,” he said. “Islam is about peace, not violence or beheadings, that’s not Islam” he said. Mr Muhammad said he is making an effort to open the doors of the local Muslim community to residents who have any questions or are curious, including holding open days.
Dean Polo pumps his fist in air (Albury best on the day according to AWNW football writer Simon Corr) as the Tigers celebrate their victory on Sunday at Lavington. See more in Sport. Picture: ADAM WILSON
Victory over adversity in eye of Tigers By TANIA PHILLIPS JUST seven points separated the two teams as the Albury Tigers swept to victory over arch-rivals Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray Football Grand Final at Lavington on Sunday. It was a bitter-sweet moment for the Tigers who took the crown in front of 9189 supporters, including one of their own, James McQuillan. McQuillan, who suffered life-changing
spinal injuries in the opening game of the year, took to the field at the start of the game with his team mates. The Tigers chose to honour their injured mate, running through a grand final banner bearing his likeness before the start of the big game at Lavington Oval on Sunday afternoon. It was an emotional start to what proved to be a game of see-sawing fortunes before finally going to Albury by just one goal and one behind despite a Brendan Fevola-led
Yarrawonga fight-back in the final quarter. The game was also a victory for the Albury Council according to the council’s event team leader Ros Walls who said the successful staging of the Ovens and Murray showcase event showed once again “why the Lavington Sports Ground is the premier sporting venue in the region”. Full report including the thoughts of AWNW Football columnist and 2AY Sports Editor, Simon Corr inside.
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