On the 11th May 2015, at the venue of La Luna Lounge Function Centre in Bankstown, The Australian Palestinian Community commemorated the 66th anniversary of Al- Nakba (meaning Catastrophe in Arabic, in 1948 when Palestinians lost their homeland Palestine).
The General Union of Palestinian Workers and the Australian Palestinian Club together with The Australian Palestinian Graduates Association delivered awards to congratulate the graduates for the attainment of their degrees of Doctorate, Masters and Bachelors. Distinguished guest speakers were: the Senator for New South Wales and former Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Bob Carr; Mr Tony Issa, OAM, MP, Member of the Legislative Council; Senator Lee Rhiannon, Australian Greens, Mr Warren Smith, Maritime Union of Australia; Bishop George Browning, Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN), Ambassador Abdulhadi, the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia and Mr Eddie Zananiri who is a strong advocate for Palestinian rights.
The event highlighted the importance of supporting Palestinians in their just cause and their legal rights to return to their homeland. The Senator Hon Bob Carr mentioned that sixty percent of Australians support the Palestinian cause. He also congratulated the graduates and urged the young generation of the Australian Palestinians to publicly express their opposition to the Jewish settlements in the Occupied Palestinian territories which were documented to be illegal under international law.
Mr Saleh Saqqaf, the SBS journalist and the Australian Palestinian theatre actor, performed a sketch of a contemporary short play. He emotionally expressed his disturbed thoughts and feelings towards the strained peace talk in the event of commemorating the 66th anniversary of Al-Nakba. Congratulations to the talented Saleh in his solo role. It was very well played in a mixed way of tragic sense with humour. It is indeed an effort of artistic means to convey the message to Australian audience.
Congratulations to all the graduates and their proud parents, families and friends and wishing them all the best in the fantastic careers they have chosen. The Palestinian Community also shared Happy Mother’s day to all mums on the occasion of celebrating 100 hundred years around the world, remembering that Palestine is the mother land for all Palestinians.
Marcelle Mansour
0 comments:
Post a Comment