Ramadan
Bronwyn HALFPENNY (Thomastown) (16:17): Ramadan Mubarak to all Victorians who observe the holy month of Ramadan. Whilst I am not fasting, I am privileged to join many Muslim friends at iftar dinners to collectively break the fast. On Saturday I attended the Iftar for Impact, hosted by a small charity that has a very big impact, Heart to Hati, raising funds for refugees from Palestine who have arrived in Melbourne with literally only the clothes on their backs, carrying the most terrible memories of the horrors they have experienced and the grief for loved ones and ancestral homes and identity left behind or lost. Thank you Ms Birgul Kahraman, treasurer; founder Guzin Inanir; president Emine Inanir; and all the volunteers who worked so hard to bring us together for iftar.
I also look forward to joining with the Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, the Islamic Council of Victoria, the Muslim Welfare Trust of Victoria and Sajid Toori’s very generous iftar for international students during the course of this week – organisations and services that practise and demonstrate the very essence of what I understand Ramadan to represent – kindness, generosity, reflection and solidarity with others as well as spirituality, piety and devotion.