Wednesday, 19 March 2025

 Pauline RICHARDS (Cranbourne) (10:05): Ramadan Mubarak. Like so many of my colleagues, I have been fortunate to enjoy the hospitality of the local Muslim community during Ramadan. Thank you to the sisters of the women’s auxiliary of the Ahmadiyya mosque, Clyde chapter. The gracious and insightful conversation, the warmth of the community and a particularly loving envelope of friendship and fun was exactly what I needed after a tough day. I am always grateful to this community.

The local south-east Turkish community hosted a wonderful iftar, with Kim Hassan making sure we were all well looked after. I would like to thank Imam Salih Dogan from the local Turkish mosque for leading the prayer for over 100 community members.

Last Friday night the Board of Imams Victoria hosted a terrific iftar in Dandenong. I was grateful to Imam Khalil Hamid from my local mosque for the hospitality. I actually took my husband along, so we had a great date night as well. We met so many people from the local mosques, including of course friends from the Hallam mosque, whom I know the member for Narre Warren North and I have spent some time with recently.

Sister Nazra Ibrahim and sister Hishama from the Cranbourne mosque as well as my good friends Rabia Safa and Shadab Safa came to the Premier’s iftar the other night with other parts of the south-east, including of course Mr Rahimi and Mariam from Bakhtar. We are very lucky to have such a strong community. Ramadan Mubarak again.