About The Event
On the 28th of March, Affinity Intercultural Foundation and The Uniting Church had their 10th Annual Building Harmony Iftar in Lakemba Church, on the land of Darra people. The night began with Minister Rev Graeme Watkins’ welcome speech, who gave a brief history of the land they were on.
The evening was MC’d by Omar Dehen from SBS News. Phillipa McDermott did the acknowledgment of the country and explained its difference to ‘Welcome to Country’ in her short speech. The dinner started shortly after the call to prayer by Ibrahim Karaisli as the guests were reading the English translation from the booklet on their table.
The co-hosts Heather Watson & Rev Lindsay Cullen & Ahmet Polat presented their welcome speeches, which were followed by a Qur’an recitation by Ibrahim Karaisli.
The theme of the 10th Building Harmony Iftar was ‘Journey From the Heart’. Inspired by the night’s theme, Rachel Perkins presented her Keynote Speech with significant remarks on The Uluru Statement, followed by the respondent speakers Rev Sharon Hollis and Mahboba Rawi. Mahboba gave a personal touch to her speech by sharing experiences from her ‘journey from the heart’ that led her to become the person is today.
Next the guests enjoyed their dessert and beverages while listening to a beautiful music performance by Tarik Hussein & Tariq Hawala.
The evening ended with some reflection from The Grand Mufti of Australia, Vote of Thanks from Joseph La Posta and concluding remarks from Omar Dehen.
