Celebrating 25 Years of AIS at the 19th Victorian Parliamentarian Iftar Dinner
The Australian Intercultural Society (AIS) marked 25 years of fostering intercultural dialogue at the 19th Victorian Parliamentarian Iftar Dinner. Held at the historic State Library of Victoria, the evening welcomed distinguished guests to share in the sacred tradition of Iftar and strengthen community ties.
The program opened with a Welcome to Country by Mr Daniel Ross, grounding the gathering in respect for the Traditional Custodians of the land. Renowned journalist and author, Ms Sara James served as Master of Ceremonies, with Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Ingrid Stitt and the Shadow Minister, Mr Evan Mulholland co-hosting the event. Their remarks highlighted the importance of unity and mutual respect in Victoria’s multicultural landscape.
Inspiring Words and Thoughtful Reflections
Mr Hugh de Kretser, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, delivered a poignant keynote address. He highlighted the concerning rise in intolerance and racism, referencing recent incidents that underscore the urgency for collective action. De Kretser emphasised the importance of coming together to engage in meaningful dialogue, stating, “Coming together to listen and engage in dialogue allows us to collectively forge a pathway forward towards peace and respect for each other, grounded in our human rights and common humanity.” He further noted that events like the Iftar dinner exemplify how communities can unite to uphold shared values and address societal challenges.
Spoken word artist Zaynab Farah captivated the audience with a powerful performance on identity and belonging.
Chin Tan, former Race Discrimination Commissioner, and Professor Gabrielle McMullen, Deputy Chancellor of the University of Divinity, provided floor reflections on the importance of continued efforts to promote intercultural understanding. Carmel Guerra closed with a heartfelt vote of thanks.
Reflections from Attendees
The impact of the Iftar dinner was echoed in the reflections of attendees:
- Maria Vamvakinou MP: “The Iftar dinners have been critical in bringing people together, sharing a meal, talking, and learning from one another. They have become an institution in Australia.”
- Bruce Atkinson: “AIS has played a vital role in bridging faith communities and promoting global understanding.”
- Donald Betts Jr.: “Congratulations to AIS for 25 years of courageous and significant service.”
- Brad Battin MP: “These dinners educate us on the Muslim community’s values and their peaceful contributions to society.”
- Rick Nugent MP: “Dinners like this build trust and achieve meaningful community outcomes.”
- Peter Khalil MP: “AIS has done a terrific job bringing diverse Victorians together for peaceful engagement.”
- George Donikian: “We just lost Fethullah Gülen while he is no longer with us but his legacy, his Spirit, his words, his inspiration I think resonate louder today than they ever have he spoke about togetherness… one of the things he was very keen on was building Pathways, making those bridges between communities and making sure that we don’t live in silos that we are actually come together as one and what a fantastic thing do 25 years”
For a full view of Hugh de Kretser’s keynote address, you can watch the video here:
