QIS celebrated Sunday, February 1 as the Neighbourhood Day at St. Martin’s Catholic Church at Eight Miles Plains. The worshippers at the church had the chance to experience and learn about the Ashura (the Noah’s pudding) and sharing of Ashura which is a common practice among Muslim and Christian peoples around the Mediterranean. Sharing Noah’s pudding is a symbolic representation of the unity and essential relationship of humans to one another and to their Creator. Ashura or the Noah’s pudding is and was made from various ingredients with different flavours but Ashura itself is very sweet – just like beautiful Australia which is made by people of different cultural and religious backgrounds.

On 19th of January, along with QIS Directors including Yasar Savran, Mehmet and Hacer Saral of Affinity visited the Moderator (Head) of the Uniting Church, Synod of Queensland. At this meeting there was also the Interfaith coordinator of the Qld Synod. A number of projects were proposed including Abraham Conference, Home Encounters and sharing sacred times with home iftar’s, visits to a major Uniting Church parish during Easter and Christmas, Noah’s Pudding distribution during the month of Muharram etc.

On 20th of January, along with QIS Directors, Hacer and Mehmet Saral of Affinity visited the Brisbane Catholic Archdiocese. At this meeting were the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Brian Finnigan; Ms Margaret Naylon from the office of Ecumenism and Inter-religious Relations and Nasir Butrous from ACU. The first project that has been agreed to is distribution of Noah’s Pudding (Ashure) at Mt Gravatt Catholic Parish after Sunday Mass where they expect 200 people to attend. QIS will also give a short presentation during Mass to explain the purpose of Ashura and Noah’s Pudding and its religious and historical significance. Next year it has been agreed that Ashure (Noah’s Pudding distribution) will be done at the Cathedral of Brisbane, where 1000 people take part in Mass.

Brisbaners witnessed a very unique ANZAC day celebration at Harem Restaurant. Queensland Intercultural Society and Queensland Education and Cultural Foundation invited Australian diggers and war veterans to meet, dine and pray with the Australian grand children of the Johnny Turks.