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Federal MP Hon. Craig Kelly

More than 300 people attended SAMAA Jashne Buzurg in Blacktown Sydney

South Asian Muslim Association of Australia (SAMAA) celebrated the annual event of Jashne Buzurg at Bowman Hall, Blacktown on Sunday 4 September 2016. Well over 300 people including several dignitaries, health experts, representative from aged care agencies and providers, community leaders and a large number of SAMAA elders, volunteers and community members attended the event with much enthusiasm.

Kevin Connolly, MP

The premier of NSW Hon Mike Baird not only sent a message for SAMAA souvenir, he also sent his representative Hon. Kevin Connolly, member for Riverstone to attend the Jashne Buzurg. Kevin Connolly also represented Hon. John Ajaka, Minister for Ageing, Disability Services and Multiculturalism. Parramatta MP Dr Geoff Lee and Federal MP for Hughes Craig Kelly, Mr Steve Teulan, Director of a Major Service provider uniting, the Consul General of Pakistan Abdul Majid Yousafani also graced the occasion.

The programme commenced with recitation of Holy Quran by Maulana Nazir ul Hassan Thanvi. The sheikh described the significance of serving the parents and elders in Islam. He emphasized that the donations to support programmes for services of elders would be a pious deed which would be rewarded in the life hereafter.

A few important speeches captivated the audience. Hon Kevin O'Connolly conveyed best wishes of the Premier Mike Baird to SAMAA. He applauded SAMAA's volunteers in providing services to the elders and encouraged the community to support SAMAA in its efforts of building its own aged care facility.

Dr Geoff Lee, MP

He described several NSW government initiatives in serving the multicultural communities. Dr Geoff Lee and

Hon. Craig Kelly, Federal MP

Mr Craig Kelly also spoke and applauded SAMAA for the great volunteering work.

Mr Steve Teulan

Steve Teulan described services Uniting offers and its particular emphasis of working with communities of from Multicultural backgrounds. He expressed the strong desire of working with SAMAA in offering various services to South Asian Muslim elders including Social support programme and Home care services. Uniting had also set up a stall in the hall with information brochures of various services where elders collected some useful information.

The fund raising began with an emotional presentation by a young boy Ali El Syed depicting the difficulties of old age in an extremely emotional manner which brought tears to many eyes.

Mr Zahid Jamil

Mr Zahid Jamil, in launching fund raising programme, described serious challenges in building an aged care facility for South Asian Muslims. While Australian Government does offer grants to build aged care facility to the ethnic communities, however it will only happen if the community owns its own land. Once land is owned, the government would generally give half of the construction cost. It is estimated that SAMAA would need a minimum of 2 million dollar to buy the land. A 50 bed facility would need $10 million i.e. $200,000 per bed, in construction cost. The government will grant $5 million, being 50% of the construction cost and other $5 million will have to be raised by the community. Mr Jamil emphasized the need of more generous donations from community members if this dream is to be realised. SAMAA will otherwise continue to run its volunteering programmes and offer other services with the support of Aged Care providers.

Mrs Shaheen Firdous

The fund raising was conducted by Mr Fasihuddin Khan, Mrs Shaheen Firdous and Syed Afzal Hussain accompanied by many volunteers on the floor.

 The attendees were generous in their donations to support SAMAA’s programmes . South Asian Muslim Association of Australia is listed as a public benevolent institution and donations to SAMAA are Tax Deductible.A souvenir was published to mark the event with the support of sponsors. Two seniors Dr Noorjahan and Mrs Tanveer Rizvi launched the souvenir to celebrate SAMAA’s seven years journey and achievements.

Shagufta Zia

The famous Sydney singer Shagufta Zia recited a Hamd to commence the programme and later in the programme she sang several other numbers from her latest album.Dr Ahad Khan, in his vote of thanks, thanked sponsors, volunteers, guests and community members for their support to SAMAA.

Mr. Riaz Malik of Wollongong and other guests at Lunch of SAMAA

The audience enjoyed the South Asian cuisine. The event also provided elders an opportunity to meet their contemporaries and other community members.

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