Why enter a Holocaust Memorial Competition?

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” ~Albert Einstein

In February 2010, we came across a competition for Holocaust Memorial on a beach front of Atlantic City Boardwalk. The holocaust referred to in the context of the competition is targeted specifically towards the Nuremberg related history. We are magnanimous in our response to the holocaustic claims, and compare this to other genocides that occurred throughout history.

We consulted several knowledgeable friends about our intention to participate. Now, many would be surprised to learn that Desypher eventually submitted an entry.

The intention was to throw a number of challenges up in the mindsets of those of Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds. Our contention is to firstly challenge the notion of Holocaust as an exclusive event that by definition lessens recognition of all other genocides committed against a host of peoples, and secondly to demonstrate the cycle in which the victim can easily finds him or herself to be the innocent bystander, the perpetrator or the ethicist.

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Car Parking and Khutbah of Fridays

Before the khutbah (sermon) last Friday at Coburg Islamic Centre, the young Imam started by reminding the congregation to ensure that their cars are parked properly and legally, because inspectors from the Moreland City Council are around to enforce parking compliance. This announcement was repeated twice before the khutbah and IMMEDIATELY after prayer was completed. Such was the concern of the imam of the mosque about parking.

It seems that parking is an extremely critical issue with most mosques. I recalled an event when a council member took videos of parking infringement in the nearby suburb during Friday prayer times in order to reject a planning application for a new mosque. This obviously disadvantaged the community who had made great efforts to get to the planning stage of such noble project. In most cases, such examples would risk potential advancement or improvement plans being developed for the local communities.

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Proposal for Australian Cameleers Museum

As a follow up to the Friends of Camellers support group, the main thrust is towards the establishment of Australian Cameleers Museum. The idea of a cameleers museum is not new. Recent efforts to rekindle this history include the naming of The Ghan railway route and preservation of cemeteries. Phillip Jones in South Australia and Anna Kenny in Alice Springs (the co-authors of the “Australian Muslim Cameleers”) have expressed their individual support. They are very passionate about this goal and sustained their interests through various efforts such as the Australian Muslim Cameleers Exhibition based on the book. As the exhibition had demonstrated, the Cameleers contributions merit permanence and a dedicated museum which would contribute greatly towards realizing multiculturalism. Australia’s increasing engagement with the Asian continent provides an excellent setting for the establishment of this historic project that symbolizes this long standing socio-economic relation.

If you have any ideas and proposal towards this cause please feel free to contact us on info@desypher.com.au or friendsofcameleers@gmail.com

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The establishment of ‘Friends of the Cameleers’

We have all heard or read about the ‘Afghan’ cameleers in Australia. They were the early explorers of the Australian outback and although their numbers were small, their contribution to Australia is very significant. However, this contribution has not been widely recognised, unlike those of other migrant groups. In fact, many had returned to countries of origin due to understandable circumstances whilst those remaining in Australia no longer practice their trade due to the advent of motorized vehicles.

The idea of a museum is not new. Recent efforts to rekindle this history include the naming of the Ghan railway route and preservation of cemeteries. Phillip Jones in South Australia and Anna Kenny in Alice Springs (the co-authors of the “Australian Muslim Cameleers”) have expressed their individual support. They are very passionate about this goal and sustained their interests through various efforts such as the Australian Muslim Cameleers Exhibition based on the book. As the exhibition had demonstrated, the Cameleers contributions merit permanence and a dedicated museum which would contribute greatly towards realizing multiculturalism. Australia’s increasing engagement with the Asian continent provides an excellent setting for the establishment of this historic project that symbolizes this long standing socio-economic relation.

Please send email to info@desypher.com.au or friendsofcameleers@gmail.com for registration or any other queries.

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