The Church and State

The Egyptian Orthodox Christian community in South Australia has grown steadily over the past two decades. But its recent decision to embark on an ambitious expansion program (and build a new hall for its Sunday school classes) has been flatly rejected by the West Torrens Council.

The Councilors, in their wisdom, argued that the expansion proposal did not serve the needs of the wider society. The Coptic orthodox congregation is not amused.

Divorced Fathers Come in From the Cold

A significant change in Australia’s child maintenance policy is in the offing, according to the recent proposal. The big news in town is that almost two-thirds of the long-suffering divorced fathers would pay less in child support.

But there is a sting in the (de)tail.

Under the new dispensation, the cost of supporting children will be determined on the basis of the parents’ combined income. And the total cost of maintenance will be distributed between the parents according their capacity to pay and the time they spend with the children.

Thus, for the first time, overtime payments and income from second jobs are exempted from the assessment of the father’s income. Furthermore, divorced fathers who have a new family will be able to set aside a portion of their income for the new child before being forced to pay maintenance.

This, indeed, is a clear win for the divorced father’s. But the big brother is watching!

Nevertheless, in the new formula, custodial parents - mostly women – would keep all the family tax benefits; unless the father has the child more than 35 per cent of the time. A big win for the hard-working mothers!

But, in the final analysis, divorced fathers still have more reasons to celebrate. They will pay less in child maintenance and still manage to keep some cash for their new families.


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On Mandatory Detention Bills

The Australian rebel MP, Petro Georgiou, has decided to push ahead with the process of introducing two private member’s bills into the Australian parliament. The bills are aimed at dismantling the controversial policy of mandatory detention of asylum-seekers and refugees who enter the country illegally.

The principal objective of the bills is to release long-term detainees into the community (and abolish indefinite detention). Thus, if successful, those on temporary protection visas would be allowed to stay in Australia permanently.


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Bush Rejoices as the Heavens Open

The Australian farmers were praying for rain. But they got more than they bargained for as the heavy downpour, flash floods, and wild storms hit many areas of the country; bringing an end to the worst drought in decades.

And, despite serious property damage in some areas, farmers throughout the land are celebrating their good fortune as the heavens open just in time; resurrecting their hopes for a decent grain production this year.

The rain virtually ends the blues!

Dreaming of the Promised Land

The road to the Promised Land is not for the tenderfoot. But dozens of hardworking farmers across Australia have shown real interest in taking up the offer of free land and tax free farming opportunity in Kenya and Tanzania, despite the risk.

The free land sweetener offered by the African countries to boost agricultural productivity is great news to the experienced and well resourced farmers. This is a value proposition that is virtually unheard of in today’s highly competitive marketplace. And those farmers who are looking for a good investment outlet and a new challenge are responding accordingly.

In South Australia, for instance, the newly established African Chamber of Commerce (AFRICOM) have been inundated with calls by the long-suffering farmers who see the Promised Land as an attractive proposition, a great opportunity for the future!

But, first, they must learn the language, the culture, and the African tradition, although such great learning is not a prerequisite for entry.

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A Child is Born

A bouncing baby boy brings an enormous joy to the Sudanese family in South Australia. Garang Buol was born in Modbury hospital on 31st May 2005 with her mother’s beautiful eyes and jet black hair.

Thus, for the first time since their arrival in this great country as refugees a few years ago, Johnson Juuk and his wife, Aluel M. Biar, have finally got something to write home about; and something very special to celebrate. The birth of Garang has put a big smile on their faces.

Meanwhile, Johnson has a new take on life with this new addition to the family. “It’s a wonderful gift”, he says. “I have been blessed”.

Garang is their 5th child.

African Philanthropists

The best kept secret in the Australian society today is the emergence of a new generation of African philanthropists. They are ordinary men and women from all walks of life who show a great deal of love for humanity; performing charitable actions; donating money to those in need; including friends and relatives back home in Africa.

Quite clearly, the young migrants and refugees are showing the world that they are no pushover in the charity stakes, as they settle into their new life in Australia. The emphasis is on care and support for the less privileged members of society.

The Liberian refugees are sponsoring other Liberians to come to Australia, for a better life. And the good deeds of those from Sierra Leone, Somalia, Uganda, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa are not far behind. With love of humanity deeply embedded in their hearts, they believe, they can build a better world. Their philanthropic activities are increasing by the day.

More importantly, the “lost boys” of the Sudan are now adapting to change in the land Down Under and are selflessly supporting other “lost boys and girls”; paying their airfares to Australia, as well as providing moral and financial support during the early days of arrival. These notable achievements are the works of the new and emerging African philanthropists of our time. It is the case of the poor helping the poor to a better life!

Nevertheless, there are limits to this type of philanthropy, as over-crowding becomes a major problem, due to the shortage of affordable housing stock. In fact, there are cases of homelessness and despair, of 17 people living in a three-bedroom home in the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide in South Australia. But this is just the tip of the iceberg!

Yet, as far as the African philanthropists are concerned, the existence of homeless refugees hidden in jam-packed houses has added new momentum to the movement; encouraging more acts of charity and generosity in the emerging African communities in Australia.

Thus, in the city of light, my eyes have seen clear evidence of African humanism at work and unbelievable acts of generosity by African-Australians.

Having witnessed the ravages of war, famine, and deprivation in their homeland in recent years, the idealistic new generation of African philanthropists are creating alternative visions of the future, based on inherent desire to help those in need. They dream of a peaceful world; always seeing the big picture!

Quite frankly though, sharing your money or material possessions with people around you is a prospect that may chill the spine of many a capitalist. But the visionary new generation of African philanthropists do seem to have a perfect understanding of the human condition. For their world is a world of generosity, of give and take; of live and let live!

Their celebration of life and the human spirit have done a great deal to lighten the burden and ease the pain of transition.