AIS HOME VIP AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IFTARS

VIP Home Iftars

The Australian Intercultural Society again this year hosted a number of VIP guests at various Muslims homes as Iftar guests during the month of Ramadan. It was a great privilege to host such a distinguished list of guests. This gives such guests an opportunity to share in the experiences of a Muslim family and allows them to share with the Muslim family of their own experiences. It is a great means by which Muslim families are honoured and helps to break down the barriers that can exist. Guests included the Governor of Victoria, Prof David De Kretser, Former Governor General, Dr Peter Hollingworth and Archbishop of the Melbourne Catholic Archdiocese, Denis Hart amongst other VIP guests including Police, academics, religious and community leaders.

The positive feedback was both very pleasing and encouraging :

Christine Nixon (Chief Commissioner for Victorian Police):

 “The home iftar dinners have added understanding about peoples background in faith”

Senator Lyn Allison (Australian Democrat Federal Leader ):

“Dialogue is the only way you will foster good relations and understanding”

Catholic Archbishop Dr D.Hart:

 “It’s very important for every one of us to be who we are”

Moderator Rev. Jason Kio The Uniting Church Victoria & Tasmania:

 “Our common humanity is the practical sides of our belief”

Prof. Rae Francis (Dean, Faculty of Art’s , Monash University):

“Home iftar diners are encouraging a dialogue in many different directions”

Rabbi  Ehud Bundel :

“The things that unite us are far greater than the things that divide us”

Joe Corbett (Assistant Regional Director , Education Dept):

“The more we understand about different religions and cultures the more we can get rid of prodigious and ignorance”

Prof. Gabriell McMullen (Australian Catholic University Pro Vice Chancellor):

“To be invited into somebody’s home is the ultimate in hospitality”

VIPs participated in home iftars are as follows:

Governor of Victoria , Prof David De Krester Former Governor General, Peter Hollingworth Deputy Commissioner, Keiran Walsh Stephen Dennis - Victoria Police, region 1 Lynn Pickles, Education Dept. Barry Reaper, Freemason Victoria, General Secretary, Christine Nixon , Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police, Prof. Randall Prior, Principal, Theological College, Uniting Church Prof. Gabrielle McMullen, Pro-Vice Chancellor, ACU Prof John McCallum, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Victoria University Assoc Prof Kath Engebratson , Faculty of Education, ACU Peter Seiz, Victoria Police, Archbishop Denis Hart, Archdiocese of Melbourne Senator Lyn Allison, Leader of the Australian Democrats Ray Gormann, Uniting Church Reverend Christopher, Carolane, Ivanhoe Grammer, Reverend Jim Pilmer, Chaplain, Victoria Police, Professor Elizabeth Harman, Vice Chancellor, Victoria University Brian Ashen, President, Budhist Council of Australia, Duncan Reid, Theologian, Melbourne Anglican Diocese 

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Home Iftars Open to the Public

In its second year the AIS opened Muslim homes to the public with a great response with close to 400 people registering to enter the homes of Muslims to share in the Ramadan Iftar Meal. People were very pleased to share in a meal with their Muslim hosts and learn of some of the rituals and practices of Ramadan within a home context. People travelled from across Melbourne with people from all different faith and cultural backgrounds. Some people also came in from regional Victoria for a chance to meet with Muslims for the first time.

Some of the feedback received include:

·         I felt deeply honoured that strangers would extend me such easy hospitality and explain their life and beliefs to me.  I went away with a great sense of peace.

·         I was excited to participate in such a holy event.  It is beautiful to participate in ritual, even when it is not your own faith

·         I was so incredibly overwhelmed by the whole experience. It was truly amazing and I haven’t stopped raving about it to my friends and family. I learnt so much. It really was a wonderful experience.

·         It was a wonderful experience and we were made to feel very welcome and part of the family. We enjoyed sharing stories of our lives and it revealed that as people we all share similar life experiences regardless of our religious beliefs.

·         We  feel such gatherings  give us  a greater understanding of the persons participating, the culture and religion and help to build bridges. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of our hosts.

·         It helps to break down stereotypes and demystify the lives of strangers so that relationships may develop and people may be more amenable to working together with people they may not know otherwise.

Click Images to enlarge

 

 

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