The Muslim community of New England this year celebrates two anniversaries, the 24^th of the International Muslim Students Association, and 14^th of the Mosque at UNE. Throughout all these years the University of New England has been the focal point of students, staff and community in general. Very recently Professor Ingrid Moses the Vice-Chancellor of UNE announced her pledge to cover the cost of the second stage of renovating the New England Mosque at UNE.

 

Mr. Mostafa E. Ghandar, a Founding and Life Honorary Member of International Muslims Students Association – IMSA, initiated the Renovation Project early this year. The local, and Australia wide Muslim Communities will mostly fund the Project, by making donations directly to the University, which will then carry out all the renovation works. Mr. Ghandar said the Project is an excellent example of interaction between the University and its community for the benefit of international students, and in fact every one will benefit, because more students will mean prosperity for the whole region. 

On Friday 31^st May the Muslim community held a function to honour and thank the Vice-Chancellor and the University for their long-standing support.

Mr. Mostafa Ghandar opened the function. In his speech he said that his family benefited greatly from the Mosque, which gave his and many others children the chance to experience Islamic environment in Armidale.

Mr Ghandar also said: Professor Ingrid Moses has been most generous and supportive of the Project and the Muslim community. In addition to offering to cover the cost of the whole Second Stage of the Renovation out of the Vice Chancellor’s Discretionary Fund at UNE, she has kindly also accepted that donations for the project be kept in that Fund, till sufficient money is collected to commence the First Stage. Thus giving the Project the many advantages.

The Project mechanism is now successfully in place, and already donations has been made to the University. The whole Muslim community in New England, and Australia wide is now invited to be very generous to this very important Project; it is the only Mosque in New England region.

Mr. Ghandar praised Professor Moses leadership and courage when she made the Mosque and the Muslim community the topic of her weekly column in the Armidale Express last December 2001, in a time when Muslims world wide were suffering enormously from the malpresentations and propaganda of the media and the politicians, after 11^th of September 2001.

Mr Rizwan Khair who is PhD student from Bangladesh, spoke and thanked The Vice-Chancellor and the University for their generosity, and thanked Mr. Ghandar for initiating the Mosque Renovation Project. He also wanted to name the Mosque as “UNE Mosque” and wanted more people involved in the renovation, in a committee.