By Sarwat Hassan
Sydney (Sunday, 26 January 2014); Chand Raat Eid Festival (CREF) has received ‘Community Event of the Year 2014’ Award. Syed Atiq ul Hassan, the Director of CREF was also the finalist for the
‘Local Citizen of Year Award’. The ceremony was held at Bicentennial Park in Sydney Olympic Park on Australia Day.
The Auburn City Council Award Ceremony was held during the official function of the Australia Day 2014 celebrations organised by the Auburn City Council and Sydney Olympic Park Authority. The event was attended by many government officials, parliamentarians and community leaders. More than 6,000 people joined the colourful Australia Day celebration.
The live entertainment included multicultural dances where Polynesian groups, Japanese drummers, Australian heritage and traditional Aboriginal dances presented by popular indigenous groups. There were amusements, rides, sheep shearing, whip cracking, sheep dog trial shows, an animal farm, pony, craft workshops, face-painting and variety of stalls including food stalls followed by an spectacular amazing firework.
The Celebrations started from midday with the Official Ceremony commencing at 5.00pm. Mr. Mark Brisby General Manager Auburn City Council opened the Official Ceremony with the details of the event and introduction of the distinguished Guests. Well-known indigenous leader Uncle Allen Madden, Mayor Auburn Council Hicham
Zraika, Hon Craig Laundy MP for Reid, Hon Jason Clare MP for Blaxland, Senator Sae Dastyari, and Hon Barbara Perry Member State Parliament were among the distinguished guests delivered their Australia Day messages. The Olympic Silver medal-winning rower Mr. James Chapman was the Australian Day Ambassador of the occasion who also gave a motivational speech to the audience.
The Citizenship Ceremony and distribution of Citizenship Certificate to the new Australian Citizens was held followed by the Citizen of the Year Awards presentations, acknowledging the great work of some of the local community’s hardworking volunteers.
Mayor Hicham Zraika and Australian Day Ambassador Mr. James Chapman presented Auburn’s Youth of the Year, Event of the Year and Citizen of
the Year Awards to the winners.
Najeeba from the Aghani Community received the ‘Youth of the Year 2014’. John Gerrin received ‘Citizen of the Year 2014’ Award. Chand Raat Eid Festival received the ‘Community Event of the Year 2014’. In addition to event of the year award, Mr Syed Atiq-ul- Hassan the Director of CREF was one of the finalists of ‘Citizen of Year Award 2014’.
Chand Raat Eid Festival (CREF) is a multicultural festival (annual celebrations in Islamic Calendar), the event is open for everyone promoting culture, harmony and friendship. The details are available on www.cref.com.au . More pictures of the Australia Day event will be released soon.
Watch the presentational ceremony video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNcFX13-D8
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