Me on the Newspaper

Iedul Fitr

Muslim Community in Bendigo celebrate the Iedul Fitr on Sunday (20/09). The pray was held in La Trobe Uni Musholla and attended by about 30 jama'ah. The Ied was commemorated solemnly and modest. The is no over-euphoria or excitment, due to small population in non-muslim predominantly circumtances, probably this is different if we celebrating ied in Muslim countries.

The Muslims who prayed are multiculture, they are coming from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and Australian. The light meals were provided at the end of the pray.

More Jama'ah in Bendigo

Alhamdulillah, for the past one year, the number of Muslims brother and sister has increased. Some of them are students who study in La Trobe University. Particularly in Pharmacy, Oral Health and Destistry. They live in Melbourne but in weekdays they stay in Bendigo to study. The rest are some GPs and destists. Mostly they are coming from Pakistan and India. They are working in some hospital and private clinics here. There is also a Malaysian dentist who come last February. Recently, a Malaysian family just moved to Bendigo. The husband is aiming to study in La Trobe in religious study.

As a conseqeunce, the Musholla cannot fully accommodate all the jamaah if they come to pray together. For this month alone, around 25 people are attending the pray every week which creates crowded. This is good, but certainly in the future we need solution to solve this. Because ramadhan is coming, and insha Allah some brothers and sisters will join with their families in tarawih and we need more space.

Insha Allah, we will try to propose our own Mosque in Bendigo.

La Trobe Award

Last Month I was awarded Community Leadership Award by La Trobe University due to my contiribution in society and campus life. It's really high appreciation, and little bit surprise. For futher details just see the information below.

Students celebrate achievements

28 Jul 2009

Students from La Trobe University, Bendigo campus are gearing up for the Awards and Prizes ceremony at The Capital Theatre on Thursday 30 July 2009.

Bendigo campus director, Andrew Skewes, says the Awards and Prizes ceremony is a time for celebration for students and an opportunity to acknowledge the support the University receives from Bendigo organisations and businesses.‘We congratulate our award-winning students for their success and extend our appreciation to the many businesses and organisations in Bendigo that offer their support through these awards and scholarships,’ said Mr Skewes.Mr Skewes said that industry scholarships provide students with financial support and practical experience during their study. He said that many of the students stay in the region to work once they qualify.‘Scholarships help our students with their study expenses and give them on-the-job experience. The benefit to business and the community is that many of them then choose to live and work in the area after they graduate, a great outcome for all concerned,’ Mr Skewes said.The response to the news from award winners has been a mixture of surprise, excitement and elation.

‘I was ecstatic, proud and very surprised to win because the award was never mentioned during the course,’ says David Luc, who received the Colgate-Palmolive Academic Award in Dentistry.Bachelor of Commerce graduate, Amy Stratton received three awards and is delighted. ‘I’m pretty excited; it’s great to get a reward for all the hard work I put into my final year of study.’Recipient of the DM Myers University Medal for the outstanding undergraduate student graduating from the Faculty of Education, Meg Webster, now teaches Grade 5 students at Swan Hill Primary School and is the LOTE (Languages Other Than English) coordinator. Meg was up against students from all campuses of La Trobe University for the award.‘I was very, very surprised; I had no idea I was getting the medal until I graduated in May,’ says Meg.

Febri Soebagio is equally pleased at being awarded the City of Greater Bendigo Community Leadership Award. He volunteered his time to teach maths to the children of Burmese refugees. Febri is also the international student representative on the Bendigo Student Association committee. ‘I am excited and happy; I couldn’t believe I won the award,’ says Febri.

Georgina (Georgie) Daniel is another triple award winner. ‘I was very grateful to win the awards. I couldn’t believe it when I received the letters but I have always worked really, really hard through university.’Georgie receives the Kevin de Vries Pharmaceutical Care Award, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Prize and the SHPA (Society of Hospital Pharmists of Australia) Pharmacy Practice and Advanced Counselling Award.Civil Engineering student,

Jackson Renton, is a double award winner. Jackson is the recipient of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering Dean’s Scholarship of Academic Excellence, which is awarded to the most outstanding students enrolled in courses nominated by the Dean. Jackson has also received the VicRoads civil engineering scholarship. Along with the financial support, the scholarship will also give Jackson the opportunity to work with VicRoads during his studies for up to 12 weeks a year.

Halal Food

One problem as a Muslim in Australia is how to find Halal food. Particularly me and muslim community who live in the country (non-metropolitan Australia) such in Bendigo. Muslims who live in Melbourne and Sydney have better access to get Halal food in certain restaurants and butchers whose owners are coming from Middle Eastern (Lebanese), Turkish, Pakistan and India with strong Islamic culture.

In Bendigo, with very small Muslim population, so far only two restaurants that have Halal certificate, first is Lady Sultan Turkish Kebab that owned by a Turkish family and second, Nando's Chicken a franchise restaurant that obtain Halal recognition from Islamic Council of Victoria. Previously, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) was certified as Halal as they cook chicken from Ingham (a Halal Chicken slaughter company). However, about six months ago Ingham has had been declared as non-Halal so that all three KFC' restaurants in Bendigo should be refrained.

But Alhamdulillah, we have no difficulties to buy Halal chicken in Supermarket here. Some companies such as Hazeldens, Baiada, Lilydale and Steggles are granted Halal Certificate from AFIC (Australian Federation of Islamic Council). Their products can be found easily in every Supermarket; IGA, Safeway and Coles. Although there is no Halal label in their products, but we can check their Halal accreditation information from their website.

For you who need further information about Halal Chicken and Meats in Bendigo, you can check my other blog on : http://bendigomoslem.multiply.com/














Picture from www.maitredefoods.com.au