The Canterbury-Bankstown Announces Australia Day Award Winners for 2020
By: Human Appeal Australia
Source: MuslimVillage
The accomplishments of local individuals and businesses throughout the City of Canterbury-Bankstown were recognised at the Council’s Australia Day Awards Ceremony on Sunday 26 of January 2020.
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Canterbury-Bankstown Shire Council’s Australia Day Awards Ceremony on Sunday 26 of January 2020(2) -
Kamahl AM, Maria Ventuti AM, Australia Day Ambassadors, Mayor Khal Asfour, HAA Director Bashar Al-Jamal, Deputy Mayor Bilal El-Hayek -
Mayor Khal Asfour, HAA Director Bashar Al-Jamal, Deputy Mayor Bilal El-Hayek
Every year on Australia Day, the Council recognises outstanding
contributions and services to the Canterbury-Bankstown and its local communities
and is administered through a nomination program that is assessed by a local
committee and Councillors.
Mayor Khal Asfour and Deputy Mayor Bilal El-Hayek presented the
Awards as part of the Australia Day celebrations at the Council Chambers at
Bankstown.
“The
awards are an integral part of our Australia Day celebrations, as we honour and
shine a light on the contributions which have helped make Canterbury-Bankstown
such a great place to live in, work in, visit and enjoy… These are people who
go out of their way to help others and don’t want anything in return. Their
determination is inspiring, and they deserve recognition.” said Mayor Khal
Asfour in his opening speech. He continued: “The awards are about recognising
unsung heroes.”
The Council recognised Human Appeal Australia (HAA) as Organisation of the Year, for their great unwavering mission to strengthen humanity’s fight against poverty and social injustice for the last 28 years, alleviating hardships of the poor and needy across the globe and in Australia.
Through the provision of immediate relief and the establishment
of self-sustaining development programs, HAA aims to invest in real, effective
solutions. Supporting local community initiatives, like Wise-Up Program, No
Excuse for Abuse March, Ramadan iftar Dinners for local schools and
organisations, emergency campaigns for the benefit of the farmers stricken by
drought and fundraising projects for Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.
The Director of the Human Appeal Australia (HAA), Bashar
Al-Jamal, was also nominated as finalist Citizen of the Year at the 2020 Canterbury-Bankstown
Australia Day Awards, for his remarkable and tireless work for the benefit of
those in need, and for his service to the community.
In 1991 Mr Al-Jamal established HAA as Australia’s leading
charity organisation as he recognised a fundamental need of Australian Muslims to
fulfil their obligations for charity.
Human Appeal Australia rapidly grew from a single office in
Sydney, and within 28 years, expanded its presence to Melbourne, Adelaide,
Brisbane and Perth, with total donations exceeding $200 million dollars.
Human Appeal Australia provides essential emergency relief and
aid to countless recipients and helps establish thousands of vital projects
around the world.
By establishing a firm and loyal grassroots relationships with
local, national and international partners, Human Appeal Australia is able to
access some of the hard to reach places at the most vulnerable of times.
Human Appeal Australia congratulates the following winners of
the 2020 Canterbury-Bankstown Australia Day Awards:
- Citizen of the Year: George Poon
- Young Citizen of the Year: Lewis Tran
- Volunteer of the Year: Terry Semlitzky
- Organisation of the Year – Human Appeal Australia
