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MCSCA Directory Launch

The ‘MCSCAWelcomes YouTo AliceSprings—Adirectory fornewly arrivedrefugees andmigrants’ was officiallylaunched bythe Mayor ofAlice Springs,the Hon. FranKilgariff at theAlice Springs

Resort on June 26th.The production of a localdirectory was part of theoutcomes set under theCommunity Settlement SchemeServices (CSSS) in order toreceive funding from theDepartment of Immigration andMulticultural Affairs.Having the services of CherylNorth as Project Officer at

MCSCA made it possible for thediverse information to becollected and compiled.Cheryl, Marguerite and Micheleneeded many hours of decisionmaking, wading through a wealthof information about what wasneeded and just how much couldand should be included in 32pages. Dave Mortimer, of RecyclePrinting provided invaluableadvice. Thank you.The end result was a collection ofjust about everything (plus phonenumbers) anyone new to townmight feasibly want to know. Thedirectory includes information onMCSCA, health and medicalservices, education, employment,religion, climate, leisure &recreation, general informationabout Alice Springs andemergency and essential servicescontacts.For those without access tocomputers and high level researchskills the directory is small

enough to carry in a handbag,and is convenient to providespecific details that may beneeded when one is trying toget to know their way aroundAlice Springs withoutsearching through reams of ‘stuff’.Feedback has been positiveregarding the usefulness ofthe Directory and manyrequests for extra copieshave been made.

AccentsDiversity in Action!

Issue 02/06

Compiled/Edited byCheryl North

MulticulturalCommunity Services ofCentral Australia Inc.2/20 Parsons Street

PO Box 1160Alice Springs

NT 0871Tel:(08) 8952 8776Fax: (08) 8952 5176

Email:info@mcsca.org.au

ABN: 90 639 917 989

M U L T I C U L T U R A L C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E S O F C E N T R A L A U S T R A L I A I N C

In this Issue :

MCSCA at the AliceDesert Festival ‘06

Domestic ViolenceAlice SpringsWomens Shelter

News from MCSCAMichele Castagna

Women In Islam Pt 1by Ariana HusseinWright

Seniors Event at RossRiver

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MCSCA received funding from the NTOffice of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) tofacilitate and support participation in the2006 Alice Desert Festival.

After an extraordinary effort includingteaching/learning new dances, many hoursof practise and rehearsals, and theconsiderable task of costume making, theend result was a dazzling two hourspectacular of multicultural talentperforming song, dance and music.

The event was performed at the FestivalHub by the river on Sunday 10thSeptember from 12:00—2:00.

Central Dance Theatre under the creativedirection of Mare Rumbal, dance teacherextraordinaire and the co-ordinationexpertise of Michele Castagna provided anumber of performances.

The program was designed by MCSCA withcommunity involvement from Mabuhay, theGreek Dancers, MCSCA’s own Multicultural dancers and Central Dance Theatre andoriginating from a variety of cultures.

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PROGRAM The Greek Dancers

Zorba’s DanceAudience participation dance

The Multicultural Dancers (MCSCA)Oriental RhapsodyTarantelleAmerican Indian

MabuhayHawaiian HulaCappucino

Central Dance TheatrePerformers: Brooke Wong, Zanerin Rum-bal, Louise, Kaysha Joy Hentschal, AimeeSmith, Sarah Hall, Suanne Messer, LukeHayward, Christian O’Connor, Juneta Bowey and Antje Chalmers

A cornucopia of items includingclassical ballet, acrobaticdance, modern dance,expressive modern, andfolk dances from several

countries Eunice Lee

Ging Feng Yu Xia Shan Gabrielle and Raymond Mizzi (Piano)

French & Italian songs andmusic

Father Raas (Guitar)Fijian songs and music

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It is estimated that 1 in 4women experience domesticviolence. It is an issue thataffects women of all agesand all backgrounds. TheAlice Springs Women’s Shelter assists insupporting women andchildren escaping domesticviolence. Women canchoose to be supportedwith accommodation at theShelter itself or throughregular visits with ourOutreach Worker at theirhome or over a coffee and achat at our Outreachoffice.It is important to acknowl-edge that domestic violence

comes in many forms, withphysical violence being onlyone of many.Domestic violence alsoconstitutes the followingbehaviours:PossessivenessName calling & putdowns, for example,criticism of her cooking, orthe way she cares for theirkidsTaking control of allfinancesForced sexCriticism of culturalpractices, or failure toallow a woman to take partin cultural practicesDomestic violence can often

occur without the presenceof physical violence withinthe relationship. If youhave concerns about anyaspects of your relationshipor you are concerned abouta friend or family memberthen please give us a ring.We really would love tohear from you, to ensurethat we can support you inany way possible.Please ring Tanya, ourOutreach SupportWorker on (08) 89526048, or the helpfulShelter staff on (08)8952 6075.

In Australia, as in manycultures, domestic andfamily violence is seen asshameful, never mentionedor discussed and very muchhidden, with even thechildren staying silent.For the victims this is a sadand dangerous time.

Domestic and or FamilyViolence is unacceptableunder Australian law.Help and assistance is

available.Don’t be too embarrassed or shy to discuss yourconcerns and fears with theMCSCA Coordinator on89528776 or Alice SpringsWomen’s Shelter’s Outreach SupportWorker, Tanya on89526048.A confidential service isavailable with someone tolisten and advise.If you are in this situation

- Be brave and don‘t let it continue.

Seek Help.Both men and women can

seek confidentialassistance to deal withwhat-ever is creating thesituation. Taking youranger and depression out onyour partner and children is

NOT the way to go.Call Crisis Line1800 019 116

Alice Springs Women’s Shelter DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

- it comes in all shapes and sizes

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From The Chair

NEW MCSCACONSTITUTION

MCSCA has a new constitutionthat brings it into line with NTGovernment requirements. Thenew constitution means themanagement committee doesnot have to meet as often, butcan do business via email andtelephone as long as themembership is kept up-to-dateon major issues andgovernance matters.If you would like a copy - sendan email request toinfo@mcsca.org.au and we canemail it to you.Otherwise drop in to MCSCAat 2/20 Parsons St and pick upa copy

SUBMISSIONSUCCESS

We have been successful ingaining funding from the NToffice of Multicultural Affairs(OMA) for an ‘Aged and Youth Pilot’. This project will involve the present MCSCA Seniorsmob and include youngerpersons, especially those withlanguage difficulties. It isintended that the older personwill mentor the youngerperson, learning from eachother, sharing together andhaving fun.

SUSU MAMAMULTICULTURAL

PLAYGROUPLe Guckert is the newcoordinator of the playgroupand did a fabulous job whileMarguerite was away in theSeychelles. Le has a charmingand sincere approach to themums and small folk. She is acompetent ‘early childhood worker, providing manystimulating activities. Theplaygroup continues to grow.

ANNUALMULTICULTURAL

DINNERMCSCA will again host it’s

Annual Multicultural Dinner asa major fund raiser. We arehoping that it will be held atCharles Darwin University’s Desert Lantern Restaurant onMonday November 20th(to be confirmed but pleasepencil it in your diary.)

MINISTER FORMULTICULTURAL

AFFAIRSAfter an NT Governmentreshuffle, MCSCA is pleasedto welcome Hon Delia LawrieMLA as the new minister forMulticultural Affairs. MCSCAlooks forward to establishinga harmonious and collaborativepartnership with her and herdepartment.MCSCA Looks forward to avisit from the new Minister in

due course, to enable her tomeet with the MulticulturalCommunity of CentralAustralia.

FAREWELL KONVATSKALIS

MCSCA thanks the Hon KonVatskalis MLA for his supportwhile holding the MulticulturalAffairs portfolio, and wisheshim well in his new roles andresponsibilities.

THANK YOU TOOThank You to the NT Officeof Multicultural Affairs(OMA) for our new computer.When our computer stoppedworking and things werelooking grim, we received avery quick response to our“quick response grant application. Back to businessas usual.

Cheers

MicheleWhat Do You Want?

MCSCA receives the News forSeniors from Centrelink. It iscurrently produced in Arabic,Chinese, Croatian, Dutch,German, Greek, Hungarian,Italian, Macedonian, Maltese,Polish, Russian, Serbian, Span-ish, Ukranian, Vietnamese andEnglish.Let us know if you’d like to pick one up from MCSCA ororder yours in your languageof choice from Centrelink

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This issue we present Part 1 of an Article by Ariana Hussein Wright on the subject ofWomen in Islam. We will print Part 2- looking at marriage, polygamy, modesty and Jihad -in the next edition of the newsletter. Read, Learn and enjoy

Women in Islamby Ariana Hussein Wright

The Women’s Liberation movement is unnecessary in Islamic society. More thanfourteen centuries ago Islam declared thatboth man and women shared the obligation ofbeing true and faithful servants of God, andboth would be rewarded by God inaccordance with their deeds. In the Qur’an the Holy Word states without discrimination:

‘Whoever works righteousness man or women and has faith, verily, to themwill we give a new life, a life that isgood and pure, and we will bestow ontheir such reward according to the oftheir actions’ Surah An-nahl : 97

In Islam women enjoy a place of honour anddignity, which in some sense, may beconsidered higher than of men. Islam has laiddown rules and laws regarding womenirrespective of whether they are mothers,daughters, grandmothers, sisters or wives,and for status; divorced, widowed or aspinster.Muslim women may be sinful of deviatingfrom the path of Islam, therefore deprivingthemselves of equal rights and justice. Manyof these unfortunate women are born Muslim,but only learn of Islam through hearsay ratherthan through proper education that has beengranted to every Muslim. Many women fromthird world countries fall victim to thesecircumstances. In the midst of this situation,rises the often repeated charge that Muslimwomen are cruelly suppressed by the Islamiclaw in other words by Shari’ah law.

Women of many different nationalities andreligions are suffering under various systems,however the international opinion andattention veers instantly to any dauntingstories about Muslims. This is an unfairdiversion away from the horrific exploitationand desperate problems faced by a multitudeof women around the world.The many misunderstandings regarding thewomen’s status and rights in Islam can only be dispelled by direct study, the methodologyis comprehensible and needs to be lookedinto with an open mind, free frompre-conceived prejudices. Muslim womencannot be observed in isolation. Muslim andnon Muslim women all share a commonfeminine bond, with common social andemotional needs. Any assault poses a threatto us all.Islam has enhanced women’s status and showered them with ample rights which aretheir natural due. Islam has given women abetter and more equal status, long beforeother societies did. Basically more then onethousand four hundred (1400) years agoProphet Muhammad (s.a.w.) praised thedignity of women with these words. ‘Paradise lies under the feet of the

mother’The concept of Women in Islam are as ashrine of sanctity. In order to enter paradiseeveryone will have to please his mother bybeing obedient, humble and dutiful. Todiscipline and educate her children she needsto be knowledgeable. Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w.) has said

‘Home is the first school and the parents are the first teachers’

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The prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) alsoreminds the men and women eg.

‘The perfect among the faithful is one whose moral character is the best, andthe best among you are those kindest totheir family.’‘Act kindly towards women, for they were created from rib and the mostcrooked part of rib, if you attempt tostraighten them, you will break it, ifyou leave it alone it remain crooked, soact kindly towards women’ (Bukhari & Muslim)

The concept of being created from the rib (asin the Christian ‘Genesis’ story) is a metaphorical expression which signifies thatthe temperament of women must be takeninto account in regard to the nature of thework and responsibility that is assigned to us.Islam wipes out in one stroke all lines ofinequality by announcing the greatness andsupremacy of the Creator alone, hencerendering all men and women equal. Anysuperiority between individuals of men andwomen is only moral superiority, based oncharacter and piety. ‘Allah Akhbar’ means God is great. The Qur’an says;

‘Oh mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and female andmade into nations and tribes, that youmay know each other, Verily the mosthonoured of you in the sight of God,is the most righteous of you’ Al-Hujarat 13

Anyone will agree equality allows for eachperson to do what they can do. If man cannotshare the rigours of child birth and nursingthe children, then he must make his owncontribution in his own way. Women in Islamhave no financial obligations to fulfil towardsanybody, except that they are bound to assisttheir relatives if they have the means.

LawIslamic law or Shari’ah law is alleged to be responsible for degeneration of theMuslim society. That it creates impedimentsand difficulties in this modem age and it has

been accused of being out-dated and out oftouch with modem problems. Some criticsallege it gives free license for the abuse ofwomen with polygamy, easy divorce,physical punishment of the women. TheShari’ah law is to prevent and address the decay of an ill society. Ignorance and garishhorrific media headlines allowing for the illsof a minority of Muslims to be seen as ‘the way Muslims live and behave’

Freedom of Expression.Freedom of expression, to which every manand woman is entitled, is a basic right ratherthan a gender right. Do non-Muslim womenenjoy this freedom? This freedom seems tobe rather lopsided. When women raise theirvoices against exploitation, discrimination,prostitution, harassment, pressure for dowryetc are they heard? Women who cry out forprotection of honour and offer resistance tovictimization by a male dominated socialorder, are often not heeded. Voices which cryout for some morals, modesty, and religiousbounds of conduct are muffled.In the Qur’an it states that:

‘Men are the protectors and the maintenance (providers) of women,because God have given the one more(strength) than the other, and becausethey support them’ An-nisa; 34

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MCSCA isOPEN

MondayWednesdayThursday9:00 - 4:30

Multicultural Community Services of CentralAustralia Inc. Management Committee

Chair: Michele Castagna Vice Chair: Helena CasseeramSecretary: Philomena Hali Treasurer: Michelle HarwoodBoard Members: Sophie Shiell (Public Officer), Jawed Khan, Lindsay Wright, Leony Bowey,

Manfred Casseeram, Sylvia Anderson,

Whatever you like to do on aholiday, it was all there at RossRiver. Philomena facilitated anexciting range of options to suitevery taste and every level ofactivity.For those who were looking for

something relaxing - there wasplenty of tea and chatting withfriends, old and new, tellingstories and jokes, readingpoems and playing cards or boardgames.

Eleven stayed overnight for twonights. Twelve came for a day tripon Saturday.The opportunity to join awatercolour painting workshopwith Patti Stockwell allowed someto tap into previously unexploredtalents.A writing workshop with LeniShilton allowed participants towork on recording their ownlife stories. Perhaps there is anarticle for the next issue ofAccents? All contributionswelcome

For those looking for moreactivity there was always theopportunity for a brisk walk, aleisurely stroll or some seriousbushwalking through gorgeouscountryside.

To finish the day those whohadn’t already headed for their cosy beds, could enjoy sitting inthe warm glow of the campfire,with hot drinks to contemplatetheir day.

MCSCA Seniors Eventat Ross River

Drop in and seeMarguerite, Sandra &CherylThere are lots ofreasons to drop in atMCSCA (for specifichelp it may be wise tomake an appointment…)

We have quite acollection of photo

albums (and a new oneis being prepared) of

recent MCSCA Events.YOU are probably in

them !