Brisbane Indian Times - August 2020 Online Issue by Australian Indian Times

A Division of Qld Multicultural Times Print Post Approved PP : 424022 1724 | ISSN 2652-6182

Volume 16, Number 12 Saturday, August 8th, 2020

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 07 3268 6188 Despite record testing and a limited number of confirmed cases linked to a cluster that began on Brisbane's southside, Queensland's health officials are not celebrating avoiding a second surge of infections just yet. Yesterday, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the next several days would determine whether there had been any

widespread community transmission, after the state's south-east was put on high alert last week. "We remain at five cases now related to that trip made by those women down to Melbourne," she said. "The next week will really be telling — it's the next week where we have to be absolutely cautious." Queensland has been

on edge since two women tested positive to COVID-19, after travelling from Victoria and allegedly deliberately dodging the state's quarantine rules. They have been charged after they allegedly visited various places ranging from schools to cafes while infectious over several days, sparking a major public health alert. CONTD. ON PG 13

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Inside

• Local News ..................................4-26 • Real Estate ..................................... 28 • India News ..................................... 34 • Fiji News ......................................... 36 • Entertainment .............................. 38 • Health & Well Being .................... 40 • Astrology ........................................ 42 • Business Directory/Classified ... 43 • Sports News ................................... 44

A Division of Qld Multicultural Times Published Monthly OWNERS / PUBLISHERS: Umesh & Usha Chandra ADVERTISING: prod@indiantimes.com.au JOURNALIST/ CORRESPONDENTS Ram Jattan (UK) / Thakur Ranjit Singh (NZ) Thilliar Varnakulasingham (NZ) Shalendra Prasad (Fiji) / Dhaval Vyas (India) Rama Gaind (Canberra) • ML. M. Nawaaz Ashram • Imam Muhammad Aslam • Pastor Joseph Dass • Haji Abdul Rahman Deen • Jitendra Deo • Nimisha Modi • Ranjita Pillai (Immigration Matters) • Peter Lane Rai • Awadhesh Sharma • Shailendra Singh • Gagan deep Tandon • Ravi Vastrad • Cartoon Corner: Merwyn Machado • Brian Sullivan (Photography) Address: PO Box 197, Taigum Qld 4018 Ph: (07) 3865 6533 Fax: (07) 3865 5864 E-mail: prod@indiantimes.com.au Subscriptions: 12 months 6 months Brisbane Indian Times is a monthly newspaper published in English. No material, including advertisements designed by Brisbane Indian Times, may be reproduced in part or who without the written consent of the manager. Opinions carried in Brisbane Indian Times are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Brisbane Indian Times. Brisbane Indian Times will not be held liable for any advertising / editorial content - Advertisers supply / approve content therefore should any content be deemed inappropriate it is the advertisers responsibility. While every effort has been made to capture the true likeness to colour printing is an art and therefore we cannot guarantee an exact matching of product to image. Refund / Credit is not given as a result of the previous mentioned. All corresondence should be addressed to: Brisbane Indian Times, PO Box 197, Taigum Qld 4018. Ph: (07) 3865 6533 Fax: 3865 5864 / prod@indiantimes.com.au

From the Editor: If you would like us to publish your letters, feedback, comments on any of our stories or suggest ideas columns or features, please send your submissions to: Brisbane Indian Times Suits 1, 2281 Sandgate Road Boondall Qld 4034 or E-mail: prod@indiantimes.com.au

2 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

From the Publisher Welcome to our August 2020 issue being published during this unprecedented circumstance. Financial markets are currently reflecting great uncertainty. A wide range of scenarios remain plausible and should be explored by companies. Don’t allow financial market’s gyrations to cloud judgement about the business you lead. Focus on consumer confidence signals, trust your own instincts, and know how to leverage your company’s data in calibrating such insights. The impact will not be uniform, and the conclusions will be specific to your industry. Plan for the best and prepare for the worst trajectories. Keep in mind that a V-shaped recovery is the plausible scenario conceptually and empirically, but don’t let that insight make you complacent. Begin to look past the crisis. What micro or macroeconomic or legacy will Covid-19 have? What opportunities or challenges will arise? Consider how you will address the post-crisis world. Can you be part of faster adoption of new technologies, new processes, etc? Can you eventually find advantage in adversity for your company, clients and society? We had all let our guards down too soon, and smaller event were being planned, but alas, it just took

two to Tango and here we go again. GOPIO Queensland was planning a sitdown dinner at city but had to postpone the event after the revised heath warning and restrictions on public gatherings. The decision was a responsible one like the one taken by Islamic Councils for cancellations of public Eid Al-Adha. Many other community functions had similar fate. The girls did commit a crime and authorises will deal with it in the appropriate manner, I did not believe that publishing their pictures was a responsible move by Courier Mail. The fact of the matter remains that they created havoc in Queensland, the premier had been going around the state to opening schools and promoting Queensland for Queenslanders and then this happens. Our facebook live segment is going well with ever increasing number of viewers, the focus is on current affairs and live interviews, the live interviews are more popular and get many views. Brisbane Indian Times and Australian Indian Radio have always had a strong standing within community function and events, so we will be featuring glimpses of these functions on our Facebook live segments. I would like to acknowledge many groups that allow

us to share our facebook live segment on their pages, special thanks to all admins for approving our posting. Our segment is a collection news and current affairs of interest to our community. I would like to wish Macallan College all the very best, and would like to record our appreciation for having us guest for their Lohri in July event, we were honoured to be in the presence of such esteemed guests at such a vibrant celebration, the staff and management really did a wonderful job, such a fun filled night with great entertainment and food. We were also honoured to take part in the Rotary Change over dinner, another very well organised function taking into consideration the COVID 19 restrictions, congratulations to the incoming team, hope they can do well with their projects given the additional challenge of COVID 19. Over all as we know not many functions are taking place and many distribution centres have either closed or are working on reduced staff and levels. In regards to our print circulation, we have maintained printing hard copies as people still like the touch and feel of the actual paper, obviously we have reduced the print numbers until such time as we reach capacity post COVID 19 pandemic, we have maintained our radio programs and presenters have adapted well to remote recording, some programs had to be rearranged, listener numbers have increased, as more people have time to listen online. Online platform is no longer a “handicap” as people embrace technology, and service providers have enhanced their platforms enabling better and quality streaming with little or no signal loss, Wi-Fi is readily available and data usage is not a big issue anymore, down side is that many shonky, makeshift and pirate streamers and bloggers calling themselves disguising as Radio stations have sprung up online. Working under the current conditions and reduced staff levels, it is challenging to get things, must be hands on and multitasking. Moving forward we will be soon introducing an online booking system, so you will be able to book your ads online at a time convenient to all, this work in progress, changes to all three websites will be taking place soon. Our focus will be towards multimedia marketing keep up with the changing times and adopting to the ever-evolving marketplace driven by backend technology. Normally around this time I would be updating you all the progress and preparation of India Day Fair, but unfortunately this year, in the interest of health and safety the committee has taken a responsible decision of postponing the event, nevertheless I would wish everyone the very best for Indian Independence day on 15th August, with this I will pen off for this month, until next month stay safe and happy reading. Umesh Chandra OAM Publisher

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Snowy winter wonderland with the right chill factor

By Rama Gaind

Our objective should be to build on travel memories, not just dream about them. As lockdown restrictions, following the COVID-19 pandemic, are slowly eased the prospect for interstate travel is more promising. Don’t just reminisce. Discover. Explore. Dream. In fact, why not warm your heart as the chill surrounds us during winter and plan a getaway to the Snowy Mountains, Australia’s only true alpine wilderness. It’s a must-visit destination for all ages and indications are promising. The snow resorts are located in the Kosciuszko National Park, home to Australia’s highest peak, Mt Kosciuszko. The Australian Alps are amongst some of the oldest snow-covered alpine landscapes in the world and the twisted snow gums that feature during winter are spectacular. There are four unique ski resorts: Perisher, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Selywn Snow where you can stay on-snow or choose to set up base at any number of nearby local towns in the region. Whether you’re a family of beginners, expert shredders or somewhere in the middle, there’s an alpine

Turn picturesque into adventurous as you ski down the slopes in the Snowy Mountains. resort to suit all your skiing and snowboarding needs. Winter activities Those aren’t the only ways you can spend your snow holiday as there are plenty of winter activities you can participate in. Snowtubing, snow-shoeing, crosscountry skiing, tobogganing, scenic chairlift rides, terrain parks, a snow-ball fight with mates perhaps, or simply enjoying the scenic beauty that is unique to the Snowy Mountains. The region also offers plenty of things to do offpiste like mountain biking and bushwalking. The area is also famous for awardwinning cold-climate wines and there are several cosy wine bars and cellar doors featuring offerings from local vineyards, as well as Australia's ‘highest’ schnapps distillery. The Snowy Mountains region also has a bevy of fine dining options and farm-gates for a great culinary experience. I also have wonderful recollections of my stay at the Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa in the Snowy Mountains. However, check with the hotel before making

bookings. I look forward with optimism to my return. Only a two-hour drive from Canberra, it’s conveniently positioned just 15 minutes from the snowfields of both Thredbo and Perisher. Heavy snowfalls have set the right chill factor for when guests arrive to partake of in-house hospitality. Winter can be an unpredictable time, so turn it to your advantage even though the temperatures are plunging … because the backdrop is picturesque in the Snowy Mountains! How memorable were those spectacular series of world-class winter regional dinners and romantic getaways. It is not the time for a traditional white Christmas, but the opportunity is ripe to utilise some idyllic winter pursuits like skiing, ice skating, getting to build a snowman, having a snowball fight or just curling up by a roaring fire to read a great book. Then there were the indulgence wellness packages; so relaxing! Prime location The myriad of activities on offer is unbelievable. Relax

Children have fun in the Snowy Mountains.

Stay at the award-winning Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa. by the lake and absorb the scenery or experience the huge selection of activities available at the resort and the surrounds. It is the perfect base to explore all facets of the Snowy Mountains from snow sports in the winter months to the many summer activities available including river sledding tours, walking to Australia's highest peak and trout fishing. No doubt your time in the snow will be memorable as you also take advantage of the resort’s free activities

including archery, tennis, nine-hole golf course, trampolines, canoeing, bocce, indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, gymnasium, fitness track and travelling along 25km of mountain bike and walking trails. Located on the border of the Kosciuszko National Park, the Lake Crackenback resort is a natural playground nestled in the Thredbo Valley surrounded by the spectacular Snowy Mountain ranges. Thredbo is 15 minutes along the Alpine

Way from the resort and requires entering the park. Perisher is accessed via the skitube that is 800 metres from the resort. Get away from urban pressures, unwind and indulge in surrounds that create pictographic memoirs … in your very own winter wonderland. Take Elsa’s advice from Frozen — and don’t let the cold bother you in any way. After all, “snow is … a beautiful reminder of life and all its quirks!”

BEING OPEN TO SOMETHING NEW

Pastor Suresh Dass Joseph josephdass@optusnet.com.au

Dear reader, it is our joy to bring to you the word of God. In life,each one of us will face situations and difficulties that we want gone or turned around, a dream we are believing for, a desire we are hoping to come to pass. Too often, we want things to change the way it has happened in the past, how we like it to be changed and who should be involved in the change. This is a frustrating way to live since we cannot be sure of the end-result. The best

way to handle any difficulty is to trust God to do it His way. Often God uses unorthodox and unconventional methods; it may not always make sense to our minds. In the scriptures, we read how God’s ways are higher than our ways. When we let God handle our situations, then we willenter, into a place of peace and trust, knowing that God can bring about a change and answers to our prayers using His methods and in His time. In the scriptures, we read how God used a donkey to speak to the prophet. God used fish to transport a man to the city of Nineveh. God used children. When we are open to God, then we are saying, “God, I'm letting you out of my box. You can do anything in my life. You can do it at any time. You can use any person that you want. God, I trust you to do it your way.” In the bible (John 9 v 1-38), we read of Jesus healing a man who was born blind by spitting on the ground, made clay then

4 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

rubbed the eyes of the man with it. Afterward, Jesus asked the man to go and wash his eyes. So, he went and washed and came back seeing. This strange method of healing process had never been performed before. Jesus healed the man on a Sabbath, which was a day of rest. Jesus told His listeners that the man’s blindness was not caused by his evil deeds in the past life or his sins but that the miracle working power of God could be done in his life. Here are 3 things we can learn from the blind man’s healing. 1) You can be born blind. This can produce a limitation in your life. But no one can stop you from having a vision for your life. Helen keller says, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” When you live your life having a vision a picture of your future, your accomplishments then by faith you are giving access to God to do amazing things in your life. On that day God had planned

to show people a new method of healing. Other people had their opinions about healing. They had placed God in a box by blaming the man. They were negative, had eyes but no vision. But the blind man was different. He was open to what God could do for him that day. 2) Today you have the power to change your story.We all have stories that we want to change. The people blamed him for his condition. That the cause of his blindness was that he had sinned in his previous life. They placed a lid on his life. This was a human-made limitation that could prevent him from going forward in life. Jesus made clay and put it on his eyes to show that we all have some limitations in life. The good news is God is not limited. Jesus told him to go and wash. Once he obeyed, he was no longer blind. Instead of complaining about the clay, he cooperated with God. When you leave everything in God’s hands, you will see God’s hand in everything. Washing his eyes

was a small thing, but it changed his life. Perhaps God is asking you to forgive someone, to bless a co-worker, or to be kind to your neighbour. These are small things, but they can change your story. 3) You have, to outgrow the people who aren’t growing. That day he met 3 groups of people. The first blamed him, the second didn’t believe him, and the third was not happy that he was healed. Instead of aiding and celebrating the miracle, they opposed him. But instead of arguing, complaining, debating, trying to correct them, the man kept growing and moving forward. They complained about the methods Jesus used, that He healed someone on a Sabbath, that He was a sinner, but the blind man kept sharing his testimony of the miracleworking power of God. Others wanted God to do things in their time, the way they chose, and the people they wanted God to use. But the blind man had God out of his box. He trusted God to do

it His way. He kept growing while others did not. He said, “You can deny Him, dismiss Him, discredit Him, call Him a sinner, but one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” In the same way, you will find people who aren’t growing, come up against you, try to belittle you, blame and criticize you. On your part, you have, to be careful not to get “baited” in their scheme. People don’t talk about someone who is not doing anything, but the moment you take a step of faith to act and do something, someone will try and pull you down. Your job is to outgrow them. Keep yourself from arguing, debating, and trying to correct them. Hold your peace and keep doing your best. Soon you will overtake them. You will come into a season of finding yourself with renewed strength, energy, and fire inside of you. A new season of being blessed, restored, and moving higher. God bless you

Best wishes on the occasion of Indian Independence Day

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Student Visa & Australian Study Requirements Important COVID 19 Updates The Australian Government announced last week significant updates to Student and Graduate Visa processing arrangements to ensure Australia remains a priority destination for international students when travel restrictions ease. Five major changes were announced in this subclass to make sure that current students are not dis-advantaged, and Australia remains a priority destination for international students. Update No 1 The Department of Home Affairs will immediately recommence processing and granting student visas in all locations lodged outside Australia. This implies that when international travel resumes and borders re-open, students will already have visas and be able to make arrangements to travel. Update No 2 International students will be able to lodge a further student visa application free of charge, if they are unable to complete their studies within their original visa validity due to COVID-19. Update No 3 Current student visa holders who are forced to study online or who are offshore and studying online outside Australia due to COVID-19 will be able to use

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Compassion versus Love - Sadhguru, Isha Foundation Questioner: What is the difference between love and compassion? Sadhguru: Out of all the emotions that you can nurture within you, compassion is the least entangling and at the same time, the most liberating. You can live without compassion also, but since you anyway have emotions, it is better to make your emotions into compassion rather than anything else. Every other emotion has the capability of getting you entangled. Compassion is one dimension of emotion which is liberating, which does not get entangled with anything or anybody. Generally, your love is fueled by passion. Whatever you call as love initially starts with a certain liking; so it is dependent upon somebody or something being good to you. You are always counting on the goodness of something or somebody. Or in other words, the emotion gets limited. Only if the person whom you love is good, you can continue to love them. If they turn out to be whatever you think is bad, you cannot love them. The advantage of compassion is that if somebody is very bad, in a pathetic condition or an

evil mood, you can have more compassion for him. So compassion is definitely a more liberating emotion than love. It is not limiting you. It is not making the distinction between good and bad. Usually, love is about somebody. It can be beautiful, but it is very exclusive. If two lovers sit together, the rest of the world is excluded from them; they have created their own artificial world of togetherness. Basically, it is like a conspiracy. You always enjoy your conspiracy because in conspiracy, you become special – nobody else knows about it. Usually for most people, the joy of love is just that it is a conspiracy. They fall in love and enjoy it very much. But when they get married, it is declared to the whole world and suddenly all the fancy stuff goes out of it because it is no longer a conspiracy – everybody knows about it. So there is a conspiracy angle to love which brings a certain pleasure to people. But in the very nature of this exclusiveness, of excluding the rest of the world, suffering can be brought about. Suffering will be brought about if you exclude the existence from your experience. If it starts

6 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

Generally, your love is fueled by passion. Whatever you call as love initially starts with a certain liking; so it is dependent upon somebody or something being good to you. You are always counting on the goodness of something or somebody. Or in other words, the emotion gets limited.

Usually, love is about somebody. It can be beautiful, but it is very exclusive. If two lovers sit together, the rest of the world is excluded from them; they have created their own artificial world of togetherness. Basically, it is like a conspiracy. You always enjoy your conspiracy because in conspiracy, you become special – nobody else knows about it. as passion and expands into unbounded compassion,

that is fine. But if it starts as passion and ends as

passion, you are asking for lots of trouble in your

life. Compassion means an all-encompassing passion. When it is exclusive, we call it passion. When it becomes all-inclusive, it becomes compassion. Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and bestselling author. Sadhguru has been conferred the "Padma Vibhushan" by the Government of India in 2017, one of the highest annual civilian awards, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service.

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LOST TREASURES OF INDIA India was once considered as the richest nation in the world before it was plundered and drained of all its wealth by invaders and colonizers. The land used to be called "sone ki chidiya" (golden bird). India has been subjected to the most brutal battles to secure the wealth of the land by foreigners that in the course of those battles tens of thousands of people were killed. Many of the stolen treasures from India were lost along the journey by the looters, whereas much of it is still believed to be present in India. Many of the ancient temples and palaces of the kings are believed to have secret vaults that still hold treasures beyond comprehension. So where are these treasures? Will India ever see them again? Hidden treasures used to make for a really intriguing fable in our childhood. But what if I told you that they exist, and that they're lying somewhere waiting to be found by someone. For all you know, treasures around the world have been waiting for you all this while. Maybe you're the one destined to solve the mystery, and bask in its glory. Let's not waste any more of your precious time here, and get on it.Well here are some of those lost treasures.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple This temple is located in Kerala and continues to follow some strict rules like the dress code and the Hindu proclamation that needs to be said before entering the temple doors. This temple came to the limelight back in 2010, when the court ordered the vault in the Temple to be opened. What was in the vault

from monolithic rocks. The cave was excavated but before all this the British once having learnt of the treasures within the cave tried to blow it open using canons which was a complete failure. King Bimbisara's Treasury was supposedly located in the western cave next to the armory. This means that it was protected at all times.

shocked the whole nation? The amount of jewelry, gold, crowns and diamonds found in there. This is just one vault and it is believed that there are treasures worth tons more in vault B. The total amount of jewelry in vault A is believed to add up to $22 billion.

Sri Mokkambika temple, Karnataka The temple is located at kollur, Udupi District, in Karnataka. The temple is dedicated to Mookambika Devi, another named for Parvati Devi, who is believed to have killed a demon called Kaumasura. This temple gets an annual income of 17 crores although it took 35 crores for its development. It is believed that there are huge amount of treasures located inside the temple which they believe

is being guarded by a huge serpent.

Treasures in Krishna River, Andhra Pradesh The River that runs through the state is a huge source of water supply for four major states in the south and the lands on the banks are very fertile. Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh is located at the banks but the interesting fact is that this river is said to have a diamond reserve. The famous Kohinoor Diamond which now garnishes the royal crown in England is said to be found in the Krishna River. It is also revered by Hindus as a sacred river. Secrets of Chaminar, Hyderabad The monumental gate like structure in Hyderabad,

Andhra Pradesh, has many secrets that are yet to be unraveled. History records that there is a tunnel that leads from Chaminar to Golconda fort, and this tunnel contains lost treasures that were left behind or buried by the Nizams in their final days. It was built by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah.

ManSingh's lost treasure, Jaipur Jaipur is indeed the city of Kings with palaces sitting on top of hills in all directions and not only that but also contains overwhelming history that is still a spectacle even today. Man Singh was a general in Akbar's Army and was a ruler of Jaipur as well. He had wealth which

he looted from Afghan Province and hid it from Akbar, and all this treasures is believed to be hidden in tanks under the courtyard of the Jaigarh fort. Indira Gandhi, late Prime Minister of India gave an ordinance to search for the treasure which was transported to her residence in armed vehicles. The truth of this is still a mystery. Nadir Shah's treasure: Nadir Shah was a Persian Invader who looted the country of so much wealth that the caravan stretched to 150 miles. Nadir Shah was tragically murdered and could not enjoy the spoils of the wars.

Sonbhandar Caves, Bihar These caves are beautiful because they are carved out

Mughal Treasure of Alwar, Rajasthan The city of Kings has always been a land of mystery with the number of historical locations and palaces that still stand tall. The district of Alwar, is believed to have the lost treasures of Mughal Emperor Jehangir, who took refuge in this great city when he was exiled. The city of Alwar was prosperous even before the advent of the Mughals, where it is recorded that the people drank out of cups craved from emeralds. Treasure of Mir Osman Ali, Hyderabad The last known Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali, is said to have been the richest man on earth when he was alive. His total wealth was believed to be $210.8 billion, and was listed as the all time fifth richest man on earth till date. The state's finances were reduced to nothing by his father who lived a lavish life. Hence when Osman Ali took the reins he brought the stat's treasury back on track and also amassed huge wealth for himself. His treasures are said to be hidden in underground chambers of the King Kothi Palace (Hyderabad).

Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir performed Navgraha Maha Yagna Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir performed Navgraha Maha Yagna on 12 July 2020 at 10.00am. The yagna was conducted in the Yagna Shala by Dharam Guru Acharya Pt Ram Harsh Tripathi Ji. This is one of the major annual events of the temple but due to COVID 19 it was performed on a smaller scale keeping in mind the social distancing measures as per Qld law. The programme commeneced with Bhajans & Kirtans followed by Mahayagna then singing of Bhog, Aarti and finally Mahaprasaad was served. Navgraha Maha Yagna is performed on all the 9 Grahas (Planets) so no matter which Graha is affecting you by taking part in this Yagna it will take care of all your Graha problems. The temple will provide you with all the samagri (goods/contents)needed to perform the Yagna all you have to do is bring yourself.

Navagraha Yagna is performed in the worship of nine celestial bodies namely Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Kethu. Navagrahas influence our daily life with their specific powers and impact every walk of our life both positively and negatively as per their positions in our horoscope and as per their transitory positions. By worshiping them through conducting

10 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

yagna, we are able to get over their ill effects on our life. There are certain dhoshas like AngarakaDhosha, Kala SarpaDhosha etc which are related to specific Gods among nine celestial bodies(like AngarakaDhosha caused by the position of Mars in a horoscope). Performing Yagna to the concerned celestial bodies will appease those Gods, mitigate our sufferings and

gain good things in our life. The one who worships the Navgraha with appropriate

rituals attains all the Four Purusharth. (all the four objectives in life)

Don't miss to the opportunity to take part in next year's Yagna.

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Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Queensland

Patron Re’t Justice Pandit Devendra Pathik “Arya Ratn”

Trustee Mr. Sukarm Pal Singh

Trustee Mr. Mul Chand

President Dr. Sukhvir Singh

Secretary Mr. Hari Chand

TreasurerMrs. Suman Chand

Professor Sarva-Daman Singh OAM Havan Yajna Satsang Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Queensland Inc members held their Hawan Yajna Satsang program at Queensland Vedic Cultural Centre today Sunday 12/07/2020-Yajmaan Prof.Sarva-Daman Singh Mrs. Kumud Singh Family ,prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recognition celebration महत्वपूर्ण सफलता, कामयाबी समारोह . यज्ञों वै श्रेष्ठतमं कर्म The agnihotra (fire ceremony) Havan Yaj has been a very important part of all Vedic Hindu ceremonies since the beginning of time. Havan Yajna is the most ancient form of Hindu prayer/devotion/invocation. Havan or fire ceremony / VEDIC satsang is one of the most important rites laid down in the Vedic scriptures for householders and is part of the eternal Sanatan Vedic Dharm/culture. Excellent attendance from Samaj members and the general public . APSQ Samaj members had made outstanding arrangements for the Havan , delicious, flavoursome refreshments/snacks/mishtaan for all.Excellent feedback received from the participants who really enjoyed the Havan Satsang program with Vedic mantras being chanted, heart touching comforting Vedic bhajans and thought provoking

,motivating Vedic discourses/ pravachans.We express our deep gratitude, appreciation to everyone who contributed inany way and participated in the Samaj Satsang program Dhanewaad Namaste Ji ओ३म ् For further information on Havan Satsang program at Queensland Vedic Cultural Centre 198 Learoyd Road Willawong QLD 4110 please contact Vice President Mrs.Sushila Pathik 33146059. APSQ Inc officials President: Dr. Sukhvir Singh 0421897157, Secretary: Mr. Hari Chand 0437430062,Treasurer: Mrs. Suman Chand 0401164232 ओ३म ् परिश्रम के पसीने से जब, सफलता की फसल खिलती है , तब किसी एक से नहीं, पूरे ज़माने से बधाइयां मिलती हैं , मिली सफलता तुमको हम सब मिलकर सर्वशक्तिमान ईश्वर को दे ते हैं धन्यवाद हवन समारोह उत्सव

मनाएं, हम दे ते शुभकामनाएँ। सफल हुई है मेहनत, ईश्वर की कृ पा आप सभी पर सदै व बनी रहे । The Australian honours system celebrates the outstanding achievements and contributions of extraordinary Australians in a diverse range of fields and areas of endeavour. It's about recognising those people in the community whose service and contributions have had the effect of making a significant difference to Australian life or, more broadly, to humanity at large. The Order of Australia is the preeminent way Australians recognise achievements and service of their fellow citizens. In the Australian honours system appointments to and awards in the Order of Australia confer recognition for outstanding

अच्छे कर्म करें । ईश्वर भी आपकी सहायता करे गा। बुरे कर्मों का तो फल दं ड ही मिलेगा। लोग बातें तो बहुत करते हैं कि अच्छे काम करने चाहिएँ, परं तु अच्छे काम करते नहीं। *बुराइयों का खंडन तो बहुत करते हैं , परं तु बुरे कर्मों से बचने की कोशिश बहुत कम होती है । जाने अनजाने, खुलेआम, या छुपकर बुरे कर्म ही अधिक होते हैं ।* कुछ लोगों में बुरे कर्म करने के लिए, कारणरूप दोष बहुत अधिक मात्रा में होते हैं । वे पिछले जन्म के संस्कारों से उनके साथ चले आते हैं । यहां इस जीवन में भी उनको कुछ अच्छा प्रशिक्षण नहीं मिल पाता। *जिन्हें अच्छा प्रशिक्षण मिलता भी है , तो वे मेहनत नहीं करते। अपनी बुराइयों को दरू करने का प्रयत्न नहीं करते। क्योंकि इस कार्य में कष्ट होता है । और प्रायः कष्ट उठाना लोग चाहते नहीं, इसलिए बुराइयों का सुधार नहीं हो पाता।* अच्छे गुणों को धारण करने में भी कष्ट होता है । इसीलिए लोग अच्छे

गुणों को भी बहुत अधिक मात्रा में धारण नहीं कर पाते। इस कारण से संसार में झूठ छल कपट चोरी डकैती लूटपाट आदि बुराइयां चलती रहती हैं । *यदि किसी को बुरे काम करने हों, तो बहुत अधिक कठिन नहीं है । क्योंकि उसमें मूर्खता स्वार्थ राग द्वे ष

हठ दरु ाग्रह अभिमान इत्यादि दोष पिछले जन्म से ही चले आ रहे हैं । और अविद्या के कारण, बुरे काम करने में उसे कुछ लाभ भी दिखता है , कुछ सुख भी दिखता है । इसलिए व्यक्ति बुरे काम करने में कुछ संकोच नहीं करता।* *परं तु अच्छे काम करने के लिए साहस धैर्य वीरता सेवा नम्रता परोपकार की भावना बल बुद्धि पराक्रम आदि गुणों की आवश्यकता होती है ।* इतने गुण न तो व्यक्ति के पास पूर्व जन्म के संस्कारो से आए, और न ही इस जन्म में उसने परिश्रम करके सीखे। इसलिए अच्छे कार्य करने में लोग संकोच करते हैं । परिणाम यही रहता है कि अच्छे कार्य कम हो पाते हैं । *इन सारी बातों को समझ कर बुराइयों से बचें, पुरुषार्थी बनें, अच्छे काम करें और ईश्वर की व्यवस्था से सदा सुखी रहें । ओ३म ् स्वामी विवेकानंद परिव्राजक जी

चारों ओर ऐसा ही वातावरण बना हुआ है । बचपन से बच्चों को यही सिखाया जाता है कि *ऊंची डिग्री प्राप्त करो। धन सम्मान बंगला मोटर गाड़ी नौकर चाकर ऊँचा पद आदि भौतिक संपत्ति से ही मनुष्य जीवन की सफलता है ।* और इन सब वस्तुओं की प्राप्ति के लिए धर्म-अधर्म न्याय अन्याय सत्य झूठ आदि जीवन मूल्यों का भी कोई ध्यान नहीं रखा जाता। प्रायः अवसरवाद को ही प्रधानता दी जाती है । *जब जहां जैसा अवसर लगे, वहाँ वैसा काम करो और अपना स्वार्थ सिद्ध करो।* ऐसी मानसिकता और आचरण संसार में प्रायः देखा जाता है . इस स्थिति में लोग केवल भौतिक सुख साधनों की प्राप्ति का ही लक्ष्य बनाकर चलते हैं । *और पूर्ण न्यायकारी सर्वशक्तिमान ् सर्वव्यापक निराकार आनंदस्वरूप परमात्मा को भी भूल जाते हैं । उसके कानून नियम संविधान = वेदों को भी भूल जाते हैं , जिसका परिणाम

यह होता है कि लोग कुछ डिग्रियां धन संपत्ति मकान मोटर गाड़ी खाना पीना नौकर चाकर आदि सुविधाएं तो प्राप्त कर लेते हैं । परं तु धर्म या ईश्वर के संविधान की उपेक्षा कर दे ने के कारण, वे सत्य न्याय परोपकार सेवा दान दया आदि सुखदायक उत्तम गुणों व कर्मों को छोड़ दे ते हैं ।* इसका परिणाम यह होता है कि ऐसे लोग चिंता तनाव क्रोध लोभ ईर्ष्या अभिमान अन्याय असत्यवादिता आदि दोषों से जीवन भर घिरे रहते हैं , दख ु ी रहते हैं । उनका यह जन्म तो बिगड़ता ही है , साथ साथ अगला जन्म भी बिगड़ जाता है । *अगले जन्म में फिर ईश्वर जब न्याय करता है तो वह ऐसे लोगों की डिग्रियां नहीं देखता। उनकी धन संपत्ति मान प्रतिष्ठा नहीं देखता। ईश्वर तो उनके कर्मों को देखता है । और उनके कर्मों के आधार पर ही अगला जन्म दे ता है ।* ऐसे लोगों को अगला जन्म मनुष्य

का प्राप्त करना कठिन होता है । और जो विचित्र प्रकार के प्राणी आपको गाँव नगर जंगल नदी समुद्र आदि में दिखते हैं , या discovery चैनल पर दिखते हैं , उनमें से किसी योनि में ईश्वर उन लोगों को जन्म दे ता है । वहां भयंकर दख ु भोगने पड़ते हैं । और सारी बुद्धि भी छिन जाती है । हर समय चिंता और मृत्यु का भय सताता रहता है । मूर्खता और दखों ु में ही सारा जीवन बिताना पड़ता है । यदि उनके पाप कर्मों की मात्रा अधिक हो, तो एक नहीं अनेक जन्मों तक उन्हें , इन पशु पक्षी वृक्ष आदि योनियों में सैकड़ों हजारों वर्षों तक मूर्खता तथा दख ु भोगने पड़ते हैं । *इसलिये सर्वशक्तिमान ् न्यायकारी ईश्वर के संविधान = वेदों को भी पढ़ें । उनके अनुसार उत्तम कर्मों का आचरण करें । बुरे कर्मों से बचें। अन्यथा दोनों जन्म बिगड़ें गे, यह भी और अगला भी। इसमें कोई संशय नहीं है । ओ३म ् स्वामी विवेकानंद परिव्राजक जी

ईश्वर आपके कर्मों के आधार पर आपको फल दे गा, आपकी डिग्री के आधार पर नहीं।

12 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

achievement and service. The community expects recipients within the Australian honours system to be good citizens and very good role models. In January 2020, the GovernorGeneral and Chancellor of the Order of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), announced (1099) awards in the 2020 Australia Day Honours List.In that list was the name of our very own Professor Sarva-Daman Singh Ji a distinguished resident of Brisbane makes him one of the most deserving recipients of the OAM. The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) awarded for service worthy of particular recognition,for his great service to tertiary education, and to the community. His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland, also congratulated all prestigious recipients, recognised

for their remarkable contributions to the nation Australia and to State of Queensland in the 2020 Australia Day Honours List. Professor Sarva-Daman Singh MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA IN THE GENERAL DIVISION For service to tertiary education, and to the community. Institute of Asian Studies, Brisbane • Director and Professor of Professor of Indian and Southeast Asian History since 2001. Education - Other • Professor, South and Southeast Asian History, University of Queensland, 19741999. • Former Chair, School of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Vikram University, Ujjain, India. Publications include: • Understanding Gandhi: A Mahatma in the Making 1869-1914 (Vij Books India, 2018). • Indians Abroad (Hope India Publications, 2001). • The Art

of Pir Tareen-Evocation of Beauty in Life and Nature (Jaigarh Publishing, 2000). • Culture through the Ages (Agam Kala Prakashan Publishing, 1996). • Ancient Indian Warfare with Special Reference to the Vedic Period (Leiden Publishing, 1990). • Polyandry in Ancient India(Vikas Publishing, 1978). • The Archaeology of the Lucknow Region (Paritosh Prakashan Publishing, 1972). Community • Honorary Consul of India, Queensland, 2003-2011. • Founding President and Honorary Life Member, Indian Cultural Association, 1982. • President, Asian Australian Action Committee, 19841986. Awards and recognition include: • Recipient, Lifetime Achievement Award, Multicultural Business and Community Awards, 2012. • Recipient, Lifetime Achievement Award, Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin, Queensland, 2012 and 2017.

THE THEORY OF CREATION IN MANU SMRITI 1. In the beginning, in the period of grand dissolution, before creation took place, this universe existed in the shape of darkness, unperceived, destitute of distinctive marks, unattainable by reasoning, unknowable, as if immersed in deep sleep from all around. 2. After the period of grand dissolution, God – the SelfReliant One, indiscernible to the naked eye – caused this Universe to become manifest. In so doing, He infused inexhaustible energy into Matter causing the great elements, and the rest, to evolve and become manifest. With this evolution, He dispelled darkness associated with the state of dissolution. 3. From Matter that was under His Control, God drew forth Mahat, Cosmic Intelligence that contained in itself both Sat [the material cause for subsequent evolutes] and Asat [the yet-to-evolve evolutes themselves]. From Mahat, God

Acharya Dr. Satish Prakash Ji drew forth Ahankaar or Ego, the powerful sense of individuation. 4. The Creator caused to evolve the great mind that aids the Soul, all five subtle and gross elements rooted in the three qualities [Sattwa, Rajas, Tamas], and then, one by one in due order, the five cognitive and five active senses that grasp the objects of sensation. 5. Combining subtle particles of these six [the five subtle elements and the ego] which possess measureless power, with

particles of their corresponding gross elements, God created all beings. These five verses above tell us the following: 1. God is the agental [efficient] cause of the universe. 2. Matter is the material cause of the universe. 3. The universe evolved over a period of time and passed through different stages; it just did not happen. 4. The universe constitutes dynamic realism. It is not a dream. 5. Before the universe became manifest, it existed in deep darkness. This is the darkness caused by a prior dissolution of all forms. Each cycle of creation is followed by a cycle of dissolution, which again is followed by a period of creation. Cycles of creation and dissolution follow each other endlessly and rhythmically. ओ३म ् Acharya Dr. Satish Prakash Ji

KNOWLEDGE OF SOUL IN MANU SMRITI Manu says that among all of mankind’s actions, those that conduce to spiritual liberation are seen to be the greatest, for, of all kinds of activities, the knowledge of the Soul [AtmaJñana] is of primary importance. The knowledge of the Soul [also called spiritual science], alone releases us from binding shackles and brings freedom from agony and death and so, it stands supreme over and above all other sciences – natural, social, economic, environmental, etc. [12:85]. Manu, in his treatise, acknowledges that man pursues

multiple aspirations in his physical day-to-day living, but postulates that man’s highest aspiration is everlasting beatitude [Mukti]. To achieve this highest goal, man would have to adjust all his goals of lesser quality and synthesize them with his ultimate goal. With this approach, man’s current life becomes harmonized with his subsequent lives, like links in a long chain. In the Manu Smriti we get a picture of the complete integrated life of a soul as it progresses through its many transmigrations, making use of multiple opportunities for

working out its destiny, and finally arriving at its ultimate destination of self-realization. Because of its focus on the Soul, Karma Yoga and ultimate freedom, we can safely say that the Manu Smriti is important not merely for being a law-book but ranks highly as an expression of a complete philosophy of life. In this regard, the Manu Smriti is perceived as occupying the highest pedestal among similar Smriti works [of Rishis like Parashar, Yajñavalkya, Apastamba, Atri, Devala, etc.] ओ३म ् Acharya Dr. Satish Prakash Ji

Giant kookaburra set to have the 'last laugh' as it flies north for Townsville Festival A handmade laughing kookaburra built in a Queensland front yard is stopping people in their tracks with his enormous size and booming laugh. Townsville local, Farvardin Daliri has been stuck in Brisbane during the lockdown, spending his spare time perfecting a giant kookaburra in the south-west suburb of Bellbowrie. He has been inviting residents to have a "sticky beak", while adhering to physical distancing, as the kookaburra neared completion. The giant bird stands at eight-and-half metres from the tail to the beak, and fourand-half metres tall. "It's made with steel round bars that are rounded and put together and locked," Dr Daliri "Then on the top of the holographic steel bars which are light enough to travel, I put natural materials like bamboo skins which are being treated and painted. "It forms a nice shape of the kookaburra with feathers and a moving jaw." The kookaburra has been a spectacle for locals in the area who have been hearing his laughter and seeing his head popping above rooftops. "The lower beak hangs with a motor that pulls a shaft up and down, with a sound effect that is also in-built, so

the kookaburra can laugh for everyone to hear," Dr Daliri said. "As soon as he starts laughing, the other kookaburras start coming around. "I constructed it on the trailer so it's all one piece with a platform around it so people can have their photo taken with it."

A passion project The kookaburra was being created for the Townsville Cultural Festival which Dr Daliri founded and now is the executive director of. The kookaburra has intrigued the locals — including the local real-life kookaburras, who have been visiting for a look

Born in Persia [now Iran], Dr Daliri studied fine art and sculpture in the 1970s and came to Australia in the mid80s as a refugee. "I started in Tasmania and then worked my way up to Townsville for the past 30 years, where I founded the Townsville Cultural Festival," he said. He has created other sculptures over the years, including a giant koala. "We've also made the Jolly Swagman, Slim Dusty and other icons, but we decided as we need tourism after COVID-19 that I might as well build it in Brisbane and drive it up the coast," Dr Daliri said. It is unknown if the Townsville Cultural Festival will go ahead in August, yet

Dr Daliri said there will be "laughter" theme to the festival after the dark start to 2020. "We want to have the last laugh over COVID-19 with the kookaburra, we'll also have laughing workshops along the road so we can get everyone laughing around it and make them feel better," he said. On 23rd July the Giant kookaburra was launched at Brisbane Multicultural Centre, the launch included a smoking ceremony by Nunukal Aboriginal group. Minister Hinchliffe represented Queensland Government at the ceremony and referred to the docking of the tail in compliance with road transport rules and said this this truly now a road worthy vehicle with true tail

lights. The Giant singing kookaburra has become world famous has received wide media coverage globally, after the launch the giant

Kookaburra started its long journey from Brisbane to Townsville Cultural Festival spreading the message of community unity and harmony.

Qld Premier says this week will be 'crucial' for coronavirus CONTD. FROM PG 1 For the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic read our coronavirus live blog. A further three people linked to the women have now tested positive, including a couple who had dined at the same restaurant as one of the women more than a week ago. Tens of thousands of tests have since been carried out across the state, including more than 100 residents at an aged care facility in Brisbane, where one of the latest people to test positive worked. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was reassuring that almost all of the residents' tests had come back negative, but the risk was far from over. "We're not out of the woods yet," she said. The facility will remain locked down, with the health of the residents being monitored closely over two weeks. Hundreds of other aged care centres across several local government areas in the south east have also been placed into lockdown as a precaution. Call: 07 38656533

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says people in South East Queensland need to be ‘absolutely cautious’. 'We need to do everything we can' The Queensland Nurses Union, which represents many aged care workers, is supporting the temporary ban on visitors to aged care facilities. "We have to put safety first," the union's secretary Beth Mohle said. "We just do not want to be in the position that Victoria is in.

"It is absolutely heartbreaking what's happening there. "We need to do everything we can to keep our elderly Queenslanders safe". 'Urgent intervention' Under the lockdowns, authorities want to avoid aged care staff working across multiple facilities. But Ms Mohle said that is common practice amongst

low paid workers, and could significantly reduce their earnings. "We are seeking urgent intervention to make sure they are able to put food on the table," she said. The union is asking for emergency payments for aged care workers. "We have written to the Deputy Premier late last week calling for urgent intervention along those

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lines," Ms Mohle said. "We think the federal and state governments do have to be taking action to guarantee the earnings of aged workers because they are the amongst the lowest paid workers in the country." Next seven days crucial Virologist Ian Mackay from the University of Queensland said

Queenslanders need to remain vigilant. "The next seven days are really crucial and we need to be on top of trying to capture any case that could possibly have spun out of this cluster," he said. "We know that the median incubation period is around five to six days so most people come up positive within a week of being exposed, but then there are others that can test positive up to that 14day period." "We know this virus can fly under the radar, there can be asymptomatic cases or very mild cases that might be put off as being just a cold — but you must get tested." Yesterday, Queensland recorded one new case of coronavirus which was unrelated to the women who travelled from Melbourne. It was a man in his 20s, who was a consular official, and had been given an exemption from hotel quarantine after recently returning from overseas. He flew to Maroochydore from Sydney last Friday before driving to quarantine in Toowoomba. Contact tracing for the flight is underway.

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 — 13

Jesus said, “I am The Way, The Truth and Life” Key Verse: Jesus answered, “I am The Way and The Truth and The Life. No one come to the father except through Me.” John 14:6 NLT.

Jesus said “Arise and Shine…” Dear Reader, We are here to remind you of God’s great advise in the middle of global crisis of COVID-19. The Word of the Lord teaches how to live this life with sure hope with absolute confidence. This is the critical time in the history of humanity; all of us need to pay careful attention to the Word of the Lord. And understand God’s perspective in the view of this global pandemic. Let us learn to look at this crisis and understand the purpose for the strong and trustworthy Truth for our soul so that we are heading God’s way and not our own way. We are excited to bring you the good news on this planet. Our theme simple

and clear. It is to make God real and personal. And to make God very Real Person so you can learn to know His nature and relate to Him. God is not an object or an image or imagination of human mind. God is a living and loving person. We find this amazing revelation in the pages of Holy Bible. Keep reading with an open heart and humble spirit. You will encounter your Creator today. You don’t need a thousand years for your Salvation (Mukti). You can receive your greatest miracle ‘Mukti’ today. This is the confidence you can have in Christ alone. If we believe life is a journey, we need to know the right ways to navigate safe-

ly. Not all roads lead to Rome as people said in the past. Suppose, when you need to go to meet your Father who is living in Cairns; and you live in Canberra, what way are going to choose? When you know you only have 3 days to reach your father, and there no flights or trains to Cairns, you will begin to look for a right way. You will not waste a single moment of your 3 days to plan your path. Friends, life is really very short journey, therefore don’t try all different ways to find the perfect way. But why not listen to a God crafted compass in your heart?This compass will point your to true Heavenly Father, your Creator and your God. We

as humans have one life and one opportunity to seek and find The True way to God. Listen to a deep and gentle call of Jesus inside your heart Today. He said I am the Way. He did not say I know a way or I am like one of the way. He gives complete assurance and confidence to a last soul. His purpose is to lead all humanity to Truth and Life. Therefore, ask yourself this question; What is the Truth? Truth is not a philosophy or an idea of human imagination or traditional practices. What is Best definition of Truth? Truth is a Person. That Person is completely defined and perfectly expressed through the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Today, take time to ask yourself a simple and a humble question; “I am truly travelling on the right way?”. And find your answer in the words of John 14:6, Jesus said, I am the way. Is there a perfect way? How can one that way? The answer that is, Jesus Christ is the Perfect Way and right way to live a life filled

with peace, love and joy. Hear gentle voice of Jesus in your heart today; He assures by saying, “For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” (Isaiah 41:13 NLT) Therefore, we invite you to pray this with a sincere heart; “Dear Father God, today I thank you for your word that has touched my heart. I repent of my wrongs and I confess with my mouth

‘Jesus is Lord’ and I believe in my heart that Jesus died for my sins, God raised Jesus from the dead for my Mukti (Salvation). Now help me to know Jesus more and more so that I can grow in the knowledge of your grace and mercy. Teach me your ways so that I can be person who will learn to honour you and learn to love each other. Amen. Email: navig8grace@gmail. com Pic courtesy: http://www. heartlight.org.

Samarpan Meditation

“A journey of empowering inner strength & joy with H. H. Shree Shivkrupananda Swami (Swamiji)” Samarpan Meditation was founded by Swamiji in 1999 in India and in the past two decades this mission has spread to over 30 countries. Scores of people have learnt this simple way of meditation and gained the same positive experiences. Swamiji has encouraged practitioners of this method to open meditation centres around the world where people can come and meditate and also learn about meditation, free of cost. We are hereby presenting the experiences of our sadhaks in their own words on how Samarpan Meditation has helped them to bring the positive changes in their life.

Uddyan Sharma: Sales Analyst based in Melbourne is associated with SamarpanMediatation since 2007 and he pens down his experience as: I was introduced to “Samarpan Meditation” in 2007. In the beginning, meditation was new to me, hence I started practicing it often, because it involves a simple technique and has no limitations to its practice. Moving on from that, in 2008, my aunt insisted me to attend a meditation camp for 8 days. I decided to attend the meditation camp because it only required a time commitment of 2 hours every day. In hindsight, the camp was insightful, informative and I learnt in detail about the techniques of the practise and

art of meditation. During the camp, the 1st day involved an introduction on Samarpan meditation by “H.H ShreeShivkrupanand Swami (Swamiji)” who introduced this value of meditation to the society in 1994.After the first day, Irealised that so many questions related to our day to day life which you can barely find in any scriptures or texts were so easily answered and explained by Swamiji. It was this day that I found out so many things thatI never knew and one of them was related to our physical body. During the 1st day discourse, it was beautifully explained by his holiness about the seven energy centres (chakras) we have in our body and all the diseases are an outcome of the blockages of these energy centres (chakras). On the second day, his holiness will describe those 7 energy centres (chakras) and how by practicing meditation not only we can clear the blockages in our energy centres and become physically fit but also maintain a balanced life and grow spiritually. I learnt about the Root chakra (Muladhar Chakra), followed by the other energy centres (chakras) for the next 6 days.The most important thing I experienced in that discourse was that all ofthese chakras (energy centres) are affected by

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our thoughts. Depending on the quality of your thoughts these chakras gets affected. After attending the 8 days’ discourse, it is my personal experience that there will be no questions left within you whether its personal or spiritual. I enjoyed every single day of the discourse because the discourse was based on the journey of his holiness from his childhood to the journey of Himalayas where he practiced meditation for 35 years in the proximity of different gurus. During these 8 days I experienced a subtle transformation of energy taking place while I was listening to the discourse and that is the reason why I felt so calm, content, energetic, fresh, and most importantly staying in the present and enjoying the present moment. I experienced myself that joy one can have by being in present without having any thoughts of past or future. This discourse helped in my understanding of the basics of meditation and since then I have been practicing Samarpan meditation. It has helped me in empowering my inner strength because I felt pure from within. It has developed a sense of inner joy and inner happiness within me and around me. I experienced a sense of satisfaction and realised that there is nothing

more to be achieved. To me it was something “Ultimate”. I must acknowledge that I never ever felt anything like this before and I pray to the divine that every soul on the planet can experience this. There are online sessions which are conducted on you tube and everyone can experience it without any cost. Samarpan Meditation is practiced worldwide free of cost. So, I would like to invite all the viewers along with your family, friends & relatives and experience the workshop. Details of the workshop can be cited from our Facebook page and if possible, you can ring the provided numbers. Something importantI learnt from this discourse was an introduction on “Aura “. Another Sadhak who attended International Retreat in December 2017, Matthew Gould, a doctor living in UK shares his experience as: This was my first IR and it began in Perth at the house of Shital Dattani. This was back in June and my first encounter with Samarpan Meditation. After this first session I felt as though I was in a blissful state, similar to how I felt in the Ashram. After attending a further session over in Brisbane. I booked myself onto the IR. We were welcomed warmly into the Ashram and I felt a lot of my outside tension start to melt away. My first encounter with Swamiji and Guruma was at the event at the Ashram with over 12,000 people from the local area attending. Such a special few hours. Following this, Swamiji gave a discourse to the IR participants. During the discourse I felt tears form in my eyes. I was experiencing a soothing emotion. Up to this moment I had been walking along the

spiritual path without being aware of a direct connection to a guru or a collectivity of souls with a shared goal. Listening to Swamiji I realised that I now had the support and guidance from both Swamiji and the collectively of souls sitting around me. I don't think I had even been aware before this moment of how much I needed this connection. Here are few words from our another Sadhak Leanne Hart after attending Soul to Soul

which related to me personally very surprising and unexpected! I have returned home with a renewed sense of calm and I look forward to keeping meditation practice as part of my daily life. Thank you to the Samarpan Australia community for making me feel so welcome".

Retreat in the Grampians: “Although I have been meditating on and off for over ten years, this was my first time with Samarpan Meditation. From the moment I arrived at the Soul to Soul Retreat in the Grampians, the energy of the land could be felt straight away. The feeling of family and community that I felt from the group was really beautiful, non-judgemental and made even more special by collective meditation and cooking/eating together as a group. I was not sure what to expect from the discourses from Guruma and Swamiji but found them very easy to understand and enjoyed how down-to-earth and honest they were. Somehow Swamiji managed to connect and talk about three different things

“Being from a medical background I always knew the benefits of meditation, but never got a chance to practice it. I wanted to learn the meditation and hence got associated with Samarpan Meditation and started meditating. In todays rushing life we always feel a need of break to forget all our worries and have a relaxed mind. I was able to connect with the peace state once I started meditation. Swamiji has inspired my daughter a lot and she has started reading the autobiography of Swamiji at anincredibly young age of 8years and she imagines every word and is enjoying very well. In our next article we will explain “Aura” in detail and how it protects a human being from any calamity being it man made or natural.

Dr Charita Deshpande who joined Samarpan Meditation as a Sadhak of Brisbane chapter this year shares her experience as:

APPRECIATION DINNER FOR THE COMMITTEE OF FICQ The Patron of Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland Inc. Dr Maha Sinnathamby hosted an appreciation dinner for the members of the old and new Executive Committee and the Advisory Board. It was a very beautiful and meaningful evening and had a discussion on perspectives for the future of FICQ. The session was moderated and facilitated by Mr Jim Varghese AM. Among the attendees were The Patron of FICQ Dr Maha Sinnathamby AM, The President Mr Shyam Das, Mr Jim Varghese AM, Dr AshimMajumdar OAM, Mr Surendra Prasad OAM, Prof Prasad Yarlagadda OAM and Dr Ram Mohan from the Advisory Board, Dr Naidoo Bodapati, Mr Palani Thevar,past president/ advisor and the members of the new and old Executive

It was a very beautiful and meaningful evening and had a discussion on perspectives for the future of FICQ. Committee. The session covered many topics in relation to Aged care, India House, mental health, post COVID 19 events, India Australia trade and cultural engagement. The President Mr Shyam Das in his speech covered all the activities happened during this pandemic period by FICQ and appreciated the support from everyone. — (Supplied)

Fiji Senior Citizens Association Qld held 18th AGM Fiji Senior Citizens Assn of Qld’s 18thAGM was held on 26 July,2020 at Multicultural Hub, Annerley. Mr Surendra Prasad OAM, President of FSCAQ declared the meeting open at 10am. He welcomed the members present and thanked them for their continuous support and contributions since its inception 18 years ago. The main aim of the Association is to maintain link between all those originated from Fiji andadditionally to look after thewelfare of our vulnerable elders, to represent their interest in the greater Australian community, to help to foster their culture and family values, to honour their religious beliefs and to encourage good education and achievement for our younger generation. Mr Prasad said that the Association is still active and organised over 12 community events in 2019, including Citizenship Ceremony, Harmony Day, Fund Raising Dinner to name a few last year, but this year due to Covid 19 pandemic the venue was closed for the last 6 months. Mr Prasad said tohelp the victims of Bush Fire FSCAQ and SGCCMC jointly

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raised $10,000 at the dinner held at Multicultural Hub and donated it to Bush Fire victims. In addition to this, Fiji Seniors made total donation of over $15000 inthe year 2019 to various needy organisations in Queensland and abroad, including $10,000 to Bush Fire. The Association’s membership increased by 21 new members to the total of 96 members. We have 17 vulnerable members who are over 80 years. These members need extra care, such as transport and other services to get them involved in various activities and for this reason the Association has made grant application from State Government and also from other sources forthe purchase ofa mini bus for their transport need. The project tohelp build Early Child Education Centre in Raki raki, Fiji is almost complete and the opening ceremony is in November. Hopefully, some members will be able to attend the ceremony. This project was possible through donation from Service Clubs such as Macgregor Lions, Chinese Lions Club and also donation from Paul Scarr, now a Senator and also other

communities in Brisbane. The Association will celebrate Seniors Week combined with Harmony Day at Multicultural Hub on 22 August, 2020 from11.00am to 2.00pm. Lunch will be provided. Due to Covid 19 restrictions only invited guests will be permitted to attend. We thank Brisbane City Council for kindly leasing the community facility which has given us opportunity to organise events and bring diverse communities together to enhance peace and harmony.

The following Executive Committee for 2020 elected unopposed at the AGM: Patron : Mr Ram Harak Maharaj and Judge Devendra Pathik President : Surendra Prasad AOM Vice President : Dan Singh and Suresh Prasad Secretary : Raymond Saran Minute Secretary : Suman Chand Treasurer : Saras Wati Kewal Assist Treasurer : Shane Krishna Committee members : Shiu Shankar, Lalita Mudaliar, Madhu Saran, Ravendra Narayan and Sushila Prasad Auditor : Jitendra Prasad Legal Adviser : Ravendra Narayan Media Coordinator : Hemant Kumar

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 — 15

Goswami Tulasidas Shree Ramcharitmanas, the retelling of the Valmiki Ramayan in Awadhi language, is a highly revered Hindu scripture. Traditional Hindu families in northern India, and those originating from there, normally keep a copy of it in their homes, as a sacred object. Goswami Tulasidas composed Ramcharitmanas in poems in the language of the common people. It made the story of Ram available to the general public in an easy to memorise and recite format. Awadhi was the language of Ayodhya region during Tulasidas’ time and is considered a precursor of modern Hindi and other north Indian languages. Little facts about events of Tulasidas’ life are available in his works. Ancient sources describing his life’s events are books entitled Bhaktamal composed by Nabhadas, BhaktiRasbodhini by Priyadas, Mul-Gosain-Charit by Veni Madhav, Gosain-Charit by Bhavanidas and GautamChandrika by Krishna Datta Mishra. Nabhadas and Veni Madhav were contemporaries of Tulasidas, and Krishna Datta’s father was his close companion. Books by Priyadas and Bhavanidas were written almost a century after Tulasidas’ death. The modern biography of Tulasidas is derived from his own works and from details specified in the abovelisted books. Tulasidas was born in a village named Rajapur in the Chitrakoot district of modern Uttar Pradesh, on the seventh day of the bright fortnight in the month of Shravan of Vikram Samvat VS1554 (July-August 1497AD). He was born after a twelvemonth gestation period in his mother’s womb. His father’s name was Atmaram and mother was Hulsi Devi. At birth he uttered the word Ram. He looked like a five years old boy at birth and had all his adult thirty-two teeth grown. According to the astrological calculation, he was born during an inauspicious constellation of stars. Local astrologers asserted the newborn baby was dangerous to his parents and close relatives. Fearing for the safety of her child, and bad omens, the mother Hulsi gave the baby to her helper Chunia and sent her to her village. The next day Hulsi passed away. Chunia Devi took care of the baby despite disapproval from family members, relatives and friends. When the child was five and half years old, Chunia passed away and the boy became an orphan. Now the boy had to fend for himself. He survived on the kindness of others. It is

believed that during this time, goddess Parvati used to feed him in the disguise of a devout woman. The boy had an innate attraction to lord Ram and he used to chant his name regularly. A saint named Naraharidas of Ramanandi Vaishnav sect during his travel noticed the boy on the streets and recognised his traits. The saint asked the boy to accompany him to his Ashram, where he would be taken care of food, accommodation and education. The boy agreed and went with him. Naraharidas named the boy Rambola after learning about his past. At the Ashram, the saint performed Rombola’s thread ceremony and other relevant rites and then initiated him into the Ramanandi Vaishnav sect. Rambola started studies at his Ashram in Ayodhya at the age of seven years. He had a sharp mind and could commit to memory whatever he heard from his teachers’ mouth even once. At the Ashram, Rambola was assigned to water and take care of Tulasi, the basil plants, which are considered especially sacred to Vaishnav sect. Being a carer of Tulasi plants, Rambola became known as Tulasidas, an aide of Tulasi. Tulasidas followed his teacher Naraharidas to the Soron Sookar region, where a popular temple dedicated to Varah incarnation of lord Vishnu was located. There he listened to the stories from the Ramayan, delivered by his teacher. After spending some time in Soron, Tulasidas went to Kashi for further studies. In Kashi, he stayed with Shesh Sanatanji, a friend of Naraharidas and a renowned scholar on literature and philosophy. He studied Vedic texts including the Vedas, Vedangas, Jyotish and Hindu Philosophies, for around fifteen years. Towards the end of this period, Tulasidas had become known amongst educated communities for his expertise in telling spiritual tales. With permission from his teacher, Tulasidas returned to his village and found none of his family members or close relatives alive. He performed sacred rites for departed family members and commenced regular religious discourses in the village. His sermons were well liked by the local public. A father looking for a groom for his daughter attended the lecture and was mesmerised by his charm and scholarship. The father offered him to marry his daughter Ratnavali. Tulasidas agreed and the wedding was solemnised in VS1583. They lived happily in the village. Tulasidas was very fond of his wife and was unwilling to be apart from

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her. One day when Tulasidas had left the house for some work, Ratnavali went with her brother to their parents’ house. Her sick father was keen to see his daughter, as she had not visited him since a long time. When Tulasidas returned home and could not find her, he immediately started for his in-laws’ house. It was raining heavily and rivers were flooded. He crossed the river over a floating corpse. After walking a long distance during the night he arrived at his destination. He entered the house through a window, which he reached by climbing a dangling snake, assuming it to be a rope. When Ratnavali and his in-laws learnt of his adventure, they were shocked. Ratnavali was especially upset and ashamed of his conduct. She rebuked him and said, ‘you are too attracted to my body made of bones and flesh. If you had even half of that attraction to God, your life would have been redeemed.’ Tulasidas was made speechless by the remark and left her immediately. He went to Prayagraj and renounced his Grihastha, householder stage of life. He became a Sadhu, holy man. He travelled to many sacred places across India and the Lake Manasarovar in Tibet, and finally arrived at Kashi. In Kashi, he used to sit under a tree and chant the name of Ram. He also used to water the tree with the water from River Ganga. It is believed that the spirit of the tree became pleased with his chanting of word Ram and offering of Ganga water. The spirit requested Tulasidas to ask for a boon to repay his services. Tulasidas asked the spirit to arrange a meeting

with Ram. The tree spirit expressed its inability to do so, but explained him how he could locate Hanuman who would help him meet Ram. Tulasidas located Hanuman, who regularly used to listen to discourses on Ram. Hanuman, in human form, was amongst the first to arrive at the discourse venue and the last to depart. Hanuman provided details to Tulasidas of how he could meet Ram at Chitrakoot. Tulasidas went to Chitrakoot, and there he saw both Ram and Lakshaman riding horses near him but could not recognise them. Next day, when Tulasidas was grinding sandalwood paste at the bank of a river, Ram and Lakshaman came to him and applied the paste on their own and Tulasidas’ forehead. Hanuman, in the form of a parrot, sang signalling their presence. Tulasidas recognised the two princes, and became fully absorbed in devotion to Ram. Tulasidas left Chitrakoot for Ayodhya in VS1628. On the way, he stopped at Prayagraj during the Kumbhmela, in the month of Magh. While there, he met sages Yagyavalkya and Bharadwaj under a sacred banyan tree. Yagyavalkya was narrating the same story to Bharadwaj that Tulasidas had heard from his teacher Naraharidas in Soron. Tulasidas then went to Kashi and stayed at Prahaladghat. He intuited his ability to compose poems and started writing poems in Sanskrit. However, whatever he wrote during the day was lost in the night and this happened on a daily basis for several days. On the eighth day, he saw in a dream lord Shiva, who

instructed him to compose the poems in his own language, the language of the general masses and promised him that his compositions would fructify like the Samved. Shiva also instructed him to go to Ayodhya and write his works there. Tulasidas following their advice moved to Ayodhya. Tulasidas started writing the Ramcharitmanas in Ayodhya in VS1631 on the Ramnavami day. He completed the epic over two years, seven months and twenty-six days in VS1633. Tulasidas came to Kashi and recited the Ramcharitmanas at the Vishwanath Temple. After complete recital, the book was left in the temple during the night and doors were locked. In the morning when the doors were opened, the words “Satyam Shivam Sundaram” that is truth, auspiciousness and beauty, as well as a symbol of trident as a signature of Shiva, were found inscribed on the cover of the book. This was witness by people present there. Conceited academics of Kashi became jealous of Tulasidas and attempted to destroy the Ramcharitmanas. They sent two thieves to steal the manuscript. The thieves tried to break into Tulasidas’ Ashram, but were confronted by two guards of dark and fair complexions, both armed with bows and arrows. The thieves had a change of heart, and came to Tulasidas in the morning to ask about the identity of the two guards. Believing that they could be none other than Ram and Lakshman, Tulasidas was aggrieved to know that they were troubled to guard his home at night. He sent the manuscript of Ramcharitmanas to a friend and donated all his money to charity. The thieves were reformed and became devotees of Ram. Tulasidas wrote another copy of the Ramcharitmanas, which was copied and circulated as its popularity spread. Critics were still not satisfied. They demanded to test the status of the Ramcharitmanas among other scriptures. A manuscript of the Ramcharitmanas was kept at the bottom of the pile of Sanskrit scriptures in the Vishvanath Temple in the night, and the doors of the temple were locked. In the morning, when the doors were opened, the Ramcharitmanas was found located at the top of the pile. Now critics were ashamed of their acts and apologised for their behaviour. Since then the popularity of the Ramcharitmanas has remarkably grown. The complete text of the book is inscribed on the walls

of Tulasi Manas Mandir in Varanasi. Ramlila, a show presenting episodes of Ram’s life based on the Ramcharitmanas, is staged throughout north India. Stories based on the Ramcharitmanas have been produced in numerous films and television serials. In addition to Ramcharitmanas, Tulasidas wrote many other books including major works such as Kavitavali, Dohavali, Gitavali, Krishnavali and Vinay-Patrika. Janaki Mangal, Parvati Mangal, Barvai Ramayan, Ramlala Nahachhu, Ramagya Prashna, Tulasi Satsai and Vairagya Sandipani are his other compositions. Hanuman Chalisa, Hanumanastak and Hanuman Bahuka, all prayers to Hanuman, are also credited to him. His compositions continue to have mass appeal and it is not uncommon for an illiterate person in India to recite verses from his works. Tulasidas spent most of his later life in Kashi on the banks of River Ganga at Assi Ghat. He died there at the age 125 years in the month of Shravan (July– August) VS1680 (1623AD). It is believed that he performed many miracles. According to one, a widow was following her dead husband procession to the cremation ground. Tulasidas was passing by near the procession. The widow noticed his saintly appearance and offered her veneration to him. Tulasidas blessed her to be “Saubhagyavati” which means to be loved by her husband. People were surprised to hear his words, as her husband was dead. Tulasidas and other people following him started chanting the name of Ram near the corpse. Soon after, the dead man came back to life. Tulasidas established the Sankatmochan temple dedicated to Hanuman in Varanasi. He belonged to Vaishnav sect but he always preached and worked for unity among various denominations of Hinduism. Similarly, he supported the devotion to Sagun and Nirgun Brahma, God with and without attributes. Tulasidas is addressed by many honorific titles including Goswami, the master of senses, Sant or saint and Bhaktashiromani or crest among devotees. He has been described as an incarnation of sage Valmiki who composed the original Ramayan in Sanskrit. His works continue to inspire generations of humanity and motivate to follow the ideals of Maryada Purushotam Ram, the main characters of the Ramcharitmanas. Awadhesh Sharma

Lady Mayoress, Nina Schrinner - Patron of GOPIO Qld Women’s Council Nina Schrinner, the Lady Mayoress of Brisbane and Chair of Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust has accepted the invitation of GOPIO Qld Women’s Council to be the Patron. GOPIO Qld’s Patron is Dr Maha Sinnathamby AM. Lady Mayoress, Nina Schrinner will be the Patron of Women’s Council. Nina is a mother of four young children aged between two and seven. She is also a lawyer and in recent years worked as special advisor to Federal Attorney General. She was born in Queensland and has spent most of her life in Brisbane’s Eastern suburbs.

“ Pravinita Singh Pillay, Chairperson GOPIO Queensland Womens Council Nina has a real passion for people and absolutely loves the opportunity to provide encouragement and support for the fantastic work

Lady Mayoress meets Umesh Chandra OAM and Usha Chandra at City Hall being done by not for profit organisations such as GOPIO Qld across Brisbane.

Macallan College celebrates Lohri in July as part of Spread a smile campaign You would have heard of Christmas in July, especially on this part of the globe, but Lohri in Juy? Maybe not, well why not? if we can have Christmas in July why can’t we have Lohri in July? Christmas is a winter festival with snow and fireplaces, so is Lohri, a winter festival around bon Fire. As nature would have it, winter in this part of the world falls in July, so began the tradition of Christmas in July where by people would at least dress up in their winter clothes to get a feel of Christmas. InAustralia, Christmas is in December and during peak summer, so the attire is completely opposite to what it should be traditionally, Santa could be seen in shorts and thongs on the beach. Lohri,similarlyis a winter festival and when we celebrate it January here in Australia, it does not have the same feel as back in India, where it is very cold. So, with same reasoning as Christmas in July Macallan College celebrated Lohri in July at their Brisbane campus. Complete with a live Dhol( JaggiDholi) and a bon fire the celebration took place with true Lohri feeling . Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner lit the Bon fire to start the festivities, with the dhol playing one can’t stop but get into the mood of dancing, so including Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, all joined in the dancing and singing. Following the dancing and singing around the open fire everyone moved in the decorated hall for the formal Part of the evening. During the formalities, Macallan College announced the donation of $11,000-00 to Lord Mayors Charitable Trust. Lady Mayoress Nina Schrinner is the chairperson of the trust. Lord Mayor congratulated Ajitpal Singh and his team on their achievements, from their humble beginnings now they operate four campuses namely, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. Certificate of excellence was awarded to top performing

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students. Guest of Honour included Mrs Pinky Singh, Mr. Umesh Chandra OAM and Mrs Usha Chandra, Mr Umesh and Mrs Usha Chandra were Brisbane City Councils citizen of the year 2019 and Umesh Chandra was awarded Order of Australia Medal (OAM) this year. Mrs Pinky Singh is the LNP candidate in the coming seat election for the seat of McConnel. Mrs Pinky Singh was awarded a certificate of appreciation for her work within the community. The crowd cheered as she received the awarded and everyone broke out with loud slogan “Votefor? = Pinky, Vote for? = Pinky. The night included delightful and energetic cultural items by the students Macallan College and the catering was also done the students. This celebration

was part of spread a smile campaign of the college. The event was coordinated by Debbie Phipps and Tara Smith, who made sure that all safety protocols in line with COVID 19 restriction were adhered to. Macallan College trains students to achieve success in their chosen trades career paths, including Automotive, Carpentry and Hospitality. Macallan College provides world class education around Australia. Their aim is to equip students with knowledge, skills and a lifelong learning required to enter a competitive and demanding workforce or to undertake further studies. They combine theory with practical experience, meaning that their students graduate with the work-ready skills necessary for successful employment.

Like her husband Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, she believes that the sign of a

strong, healthy City is a City with a big heart. As the Chair of Lord

Mayor’s Charitable Trust, Nina is committed to ensuring the Trust continues to increase its support for the Charities that are making such a difference in our community. As the Patron of GOPIO QldWomen’s Council she will encourage and inspire the women of GOPIO Queensland via the Chairperson, Pravinita Singh-Pillay in furthering the objectives of GOPIO Queensland Women’sCouncil. GOPIO QUEENSLAND is delighted to have her on Board and thank her for graciously accepting the patronage.

White Ribbon on a new direction

Domestic and Family Violence advocacy organisation White Ribbon Australia has emerged from its problems and the related controversy. Under the stewardship of Communicare – a Perthbased social services provider – White Ribbon has a fresh vision, and a new executive director in Brad Chilcott.White Ribbon is best known for family violence prevention and gender equality campaigns in schools and workplaces and for holding a White Ribbon Day each year. To his new role, Chilcott brings a wealth of experience in the community services sector.Chilcott was founder of Welcoming Australia, a national movement cultivating a culture of welcome for people seeking asylum, as well as for refugees and other new arrivals to Australia. He also was the founding Convenor of the Family and Domestic Violence

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Advocacy Network in South Australia and the founding pastor of Activate Church in Adelaide. Queensland committee has been revived as well, under the state Chairmanship of Chiu Hing Chan who has vast knowledge of all previously working committees, Umesh Chandra OAM has taken on the vice chair role. The immediate task is formation of all the regional committees, on 22nd July, at a combined dinner and meeting held at Golden Palace Chinese restaurant Brisbane South White Ribbon Committee was formed. The dinner

was in honour of Brad Chilcott, the new executive director, during the meeting members were advised on the National and State direction of White Ribbon, engagement with Multicultural communities including youth groups. Carolyn Robinson founder of Beyond DV will be a vice chair on the committee, she has valuable knowledge of DV frontline service and her background of engaging with youth will be a great asset. The dinner /meeting was attended by members from Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 — 17

Arya Samaj Queensland

Yog and MeditationHealing through knowledge Elements of Cosmos: Nature, Consciousness, and God According to the traditional interpretation of the Vedas, the cosmos consists of three fundamen¬tal elements. They cannot be created or destroyed, but they interact with one another. This view is consistent with the model presented by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras and as explained by Vyasa. It is also in agreement with the other darshanas (Sankhya, Nyaya, Vaisesika, PurvaMimanmsa, and classical Vedanta). The three elements are as follows: 1. Nature (Prakrti) is matter, the fundamental elements that make up the physical uni¬verse. Everything that we perceive is made of matter, including our bodies and minds. Matter is eternal, but not conscious. Prakrticonsists of three classes of elements (sattva, rajas, and tamas), which will be discussed in detail while introducing the philosophy of Sankhya 2. Individual consciousness is the soul (Purusa), one for each living being. Individual souls are eternal and conscious. They are distinct from nature. Nature provides for the enjoy¬ment and liberation of individual consciousness. Consciousness needs nature to gain knowledge. There are an infinite number of individual souls. 3. God (Isvara) is the Supreme Soul (Paramatma). God is eternal, conscious, and blissful. God is untouched by the things that limit individual consciousness. God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. God does not need Nature to know anything; God knows everything by God's very nature. Everything that we observe in this universe is an interaction of these three entities. This interaction is eternal — there is no beginning or end to it. In order to bestow the knowledge and happiness that is inherent in himself (or herself, or itself, because God does not have a gender), God makes use of matter (Prakrti) to create the universe — which includes the

Nature (Prakrti) is matter, the fundamental elements that make up the physical uni¬verse. Everything that we perceive is made of matter, including our bodies and minds. Matter is eternal, but not conscious. Prakrticonsists of three classes of elements (sattva, rajas, and tamas), which will be discussed in detail while introducing the philosophy of Sankhya. planets, stars, our bodies and minds, through which individual souls can attain knowledge and bliss. Here, "creation" means the transformation of matter intothe universe as we perceive; it does not mean that God creates things from "nothing." Similarly, destruction does not mean annihilation of objects into nothingness. Rather, it is the dissolution of objects into their individual elements. This happens in a cyclical fashion as there is no begin¬ning or end to the cycle of creation and destruction. It's important to note that a Soul is an individual. It is not shared or collective, but it does inhabit a succession of bodies. It is not a being's thoughts, feelings, ego, or memories (collectively called chitta, the mind). Rather, the soul is what gives the quality of consciousness to the mind. When the body dies, the soul, along with the subtle body, leaves the gross body and enters a newborn. This is the concept of reincarnation in Vedas.(Continued in next issue) Please contact Jitendra Deo on 3273 3029 or visit www. yogguru.com.au for more information and articles.

18 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

English translation and commentary of the Rigveda in accordance with the Rishi Dayananda School of Vedic Interpretation

Jitendra Deo President ASQ

1.1 – On Agni, God and Energy 1.1.1 [On God] I praise God. I pray to Him Who leads us to victory and joy. He exists even before this current cycle of creation came into existence. He sheds light on benevolent activity in the Universe. He performs the Cosmic Sacrifice seasonally by activating the Universe in every creation-season. He fills the Cosmos with resources, and ultimately He reclaims those resources. He is the most bounteous Sustainer of all kinds of splendid wealth. [On Fire] I seek to harness Energy. Energy

supports the Cosmos since the beginning. Energy brilliantly shines in all scientific and technological processes. Energy gives and subsequently reclaims resources. Energy is the principal agent in the generation of various forms of splendid wealth. 1.1.2 [On God] God is worthy of being investigated and glorified by both teachers and their students. In being investigated and glorified, may He, in this very life-time, bring us divine virtues from all directions. [On Fire] Energy is worthy of being researched and harnessed by experienced scientists and by students of scientific research. In being harnessed, may that Energy in this very life-time bring us comfort and enjoyment from all directions. 1.1.3 [On God] By fervently investigating and adoring God day after day, a person is indeed blessed with excellent possessions. These possessions strengthen his body, mind and Soul, and also impact his family members

to become extremely brave at home, and most accomplished in society. [On Fire] By harnessing Energy day after day, a person acquires useful resources for productive living. These resources strengthen his body, mind and Soul, and also impact his family members to become extremely brave at home, and most accomplished in society. 1.1.4 [On God] O God! This Universe which You surround, govern and protect from all sides is free from violence, vice and associated flaws. Laws governing this Universe assuredly impact the minds of scholars researching Universal Truth. [On Fire] This Universe which Energy surrounds and protects from all sides is free from violence, vice and associated flaws. Laws governing this Universe assuredly impact the minds of scientists researching cosmic phenomena. 1.1.5 [On God] God is Omniscient and He executes His Cosmic Functions with penetrating vision. God gives resources

and He ultimately reclaims them – when he designs the Universe, He fills it with multiple resources and withdraws those resources when the universe is dissolved. He embodies Truth – He is the Benefactor of those who follow Truth. His Glory is most wonderful to hear and to know about. May He, Who illuminates the Universe, be realized by us through [discourses given by] scholars. [On Fire] Energy pervasively impacts the creation of everything known in civilization. Energy generates resources and reclaims them. The glory of Energy is most wonderful to hear and to know about. May Energy, the light that illuminates the Universe, be accessible to us through [the work of] scientists. (Adapted from Dr Satish Prakash Publications) Please contact President: Jitendra Deo 3273 3029 or Secretary: Sunil Dutt 5613 3410 for information on activities of Arya Samaj Queensland or log on: www. aryasamajqueensland.org/ Facebook Arya Samaj Qld.

Havan Yaj Arya Samaj Queensland has continued with its regular Havan and Satsangh via Zoom.We are using new methods of keeping connected even in isolation, thanks to technology. Arya Samaj Queensland has beenperforming ZOOM Havan and Satsangh since April and also livestreaming it on Facebook. The support from members has been overwhelming and now each household is enjoying Havan at their homes rather than at once place. Vedas state that each household should perform Havan in homes for well-being and healthy lifestyle. Pundit Ji attends to one members place and then Havan is performed.The members who have joined via ZOOM are ready with Havan Kund and ingredients and perform Havan as per pundit ji’s instructions and Mantra. It is delightful to see dozens of Havan Kund lit and Ahuti’s been offered by members and wellwishers through ZOOM. The Havan Yaj is one of the best Karma(deed) one can do. There are number of families who join through Zoom and perform or participate in the Satsangh.

The Zoom celebration has been so effective that people from overseas have become regular participants and they share their views and give speeches on Vedas. Once the Havan Yaj is completed then Satsangh includes discussion on various Vedic principles and Vedas. The Bhajans form part of the Satsangh and one member also prepares a speech on chosen topic to articulate amongst members. Arya Samaj Queensland Inc has a website and all the details of performing Havan is provided. The Havan

mantra’s in Hindi and English , utensils and ingredients required has been uploaded on the Arya Samaj Queensland website www. aryasamajqueensland.org. The files are downloadable and has full procedure for Dainik Yaj( Daily Havan Yaj). Our Facebook page Arya Samaj Queensland has the video where the Havan is explained and performed to make it easier for people. Please visit website and Facebook page for further details or you can contact me on 0411 798 012. We urge people to perform Yaj for

their well-being. We urge people to perform Havan if you can, do Yoga and meditation and look after yourselves. You can visit www.yogguru.com.au for information of Yoga and meditation. Please contact President: Jitendra Deo via phone:0411 798 012 or email: asq.president@gmail. comand if you wish to join ZOOM Havan and Satsangh the session is for 60 minutes. You can send email or PM in the messenger (Arya Samaj Queensland) or we have WhatsApp group as well and I will send you the link.

New board member biographies Mike Hirst – financial services Mike is a retired career banker who has worked across most areas of the industry and has extensive experience in retail banking, balance sheet management, financial markets and strategy. After 9 years in the role of Managing Director of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Mike retired in July 2018. Mike currently serves on a number of listed and not for profit boards including GMHBA, health.com.au, AMCIL and Racing Victoria where he is Deputy Chairman. Mike is an Honorary Member of the Business Council of Australia. Mike was previously Deputy Chairman of Treasury Corporation of Victoria and the Australian Banking Association. He was also a director of Rural Bank, Sandhurst Trustees, Colonial First State Fund Managers, Barwon Health and Austraclear Limited. During the Global Financial Crisis Mike was appointed to the Federal Government’s Financial Sector Advisory Council and remained a member until his retirement. Samantha Hogg – resources and infrastructure Samantha Hogg has more

than 25 years of experience in executive management across the resources and infrastructure sectors as well as broad Australian and International experience in finance, marketing and strategic projects. She held executive roles (20082014) including as chief financial officer (since 2012) of Transurban, through a period when the business grew to become a top 20 ASX company. Ms Hogg was also responsible for recapitalising the company in 2008 through the Global Financial Crisis and she successfully financed and transacted the $7.1 billion acquisition of Queensland Motorways. Ms Hogg is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a non-executive director of Hydro Tasmania and MaxiTRANS. Su McCluskey – agriculture, regional Australia Su is a Director of Australian Unity, Foundation for Young Australians, Australasian Pork Research Institute, NSW Rice Marketing Board, Chairman of Energy Renaissance and a Commissioner for International Agricultural Research. She was a member of the Review Panel for the

Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission Legislation, the Small Business Digital Taskforce and led the review of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman. She was also a member of the Harper Review of Competition Policy and the NSW Review of the Regulatory Framework. Su was the inaugural CEO of the Regional Australia Institute. Prior to this, Su was the CEO of the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations, the Executive Director of the Office of Best Practice Regulation and Specialist Adviser to the Office of Small Business. Su has held senior positions with the Business Council of Australia, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Taxation Office. She is also a beef cattle farmer at Yass, NSW. Su was named the Westpac /Australian Financial Review Regional Women of Influence in 2013 and received the Women in Agribusiness award in 2014 for outstanding contribution to policy development. Bao Hoang – business (franchising), health care services Bao Hoang is Founder and Group CEO of ‘Rolld’ Australia

Pty Ltd. Founded in 2012, the group includes ‘Rolld’, a fast, casual food franchise that serves Vietnamese hawkerstyle food, and ‘Mama’s Buoi’, a casual dining restaurant that serves homestyle Vietnamese cooking. After completing his Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Melbourne University in 2005, Mr Hoang immediately joined a Physiotherapy franchise, and after two years, Mr Hoang opened five clinics. In this time, he was influential in growing the corporate services unit ‘Actif’, and founded the aged care services unit ‘Revita’, of which he is a current shareholder and involved in management consultancy. Paul Howes – superannuation, workforce and workplace relations Paul Howes is the National Managing Partner of KPMG Enterprise a role that he has held since July 2019. Enterprise is KPMG’s specialist practice working with mid-market, private, family and emerging businesses. Prior to his role as National Managing Partner, Paul was the Partner in Charge of KPMG’s Customer, Brand & Marketing Advisory practice and also led KPMG’s Asset & Wealth Management

practice, leading the firm’s work in the superannuation, asset management and wealth sectors. Paul joined KPMG in 2014 after 15 years in the Australian labour movement, including 7 years as the National Secretary of The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU). He also served as Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). Paul is currently a director of Beyond Blue. He has previously served as a director and Deputy Chair of AustralianSuper, a director of the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency, the Prime Minister’s Manufacturing Taskforce, and served on the boards of a number of policy institutes. Laura Berry – Indigenous business, procurement Laura was appointed CEO of Supply Nation in 2015, having been involved with the organisation since its inception through her work with two founding member companies. Laura joined Supply Nation following four years at Qantas where she led Qantas Group’s Corporate Community Investment Program. With over two decades of experience in stakeholder management, risk mitigation

and reputation management, Laura’s career has spanned both private and public sectors. Since taking the reins at Supply Nation, Laura has led the organisation through a significant period of growth: doubling the membership base, growing the supplier base by over 300% and increasing the national footprint of the organisation. Laura is currently a member of Telstra’s Indigenous Advisory Committee, and both McKinsey & Company and NRMA’s RAP Steering Committees. Laura holds a Graduate Certificate in Management from the University of Technology, Sydney; is a graduate of the AICD Company Director’s Course, and holds memberships of the AICD and Women on Boards. Laura has previously held directorships of Engineering Aid Australia, Supply Nation and Indigenous Business Australia’s Cooee Traveller. Laura was also previously a director and the Chairperson of CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program. In September 2018, Laura was announced as one of the Australian Financial Review’s Top 100 Women of Influence. Laura proudly identifies with her Aboriginal and Italian heritage and was born and raised in Canberra.

NATIONAL AGREEMENT ON CLOSING THE GAP

Lord Mayor’s Business Awards to recognise Brisbane’s resilience

The new National Agreement on Closing the Gap has today come into effect, upon signature by the First Ministers of all Australian Governments, the Lead convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, and the President of the Australian Local Government Association. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new Closing the Gap agreement is an historic achievement. “Today finally marks a new chapter in our efforts to close the gap – one built on mutual trust, shared responsibility, dignity and respect,” Prime Minister Morrison said. “The gaps we are now seeking to close are the gaps that have now been defined by the representatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is as it should be. This creates a shared commitment and a shared responsibility.” “This is the first time a National Agreement designed to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been negotiated directly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives.” “By focusing our efforts on these more specific, practical and shared objectives we can expect to make much greater progress.” Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said the National Agreement demonstrates the Government’s commitment to work in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. “The way all levels of government and Aboriginal

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner today called on Brisbane’s business community to nominate for the 2020 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards, featuring a new category for business adaptation. Cr Schrinner said the 2020 awards program would recognise businesses that have persevered during the challenging economic conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “Now in its 15th year, the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements of Brisbane businesses and Brisbane’s businesspeople,” Cr Schrinner said. “In 2020, the awards will shine a light on the tough Brisbane spirit as we recognise businesses that have showed resilience, perseverance and adaptation in challenging economic circumstances. “For the first time, nominations are open for a new Award for Excellence in Business Adaptation, which will recognise businesses, regardless of company size, that adapted their business model in response to COVID-19.” Cr Schrinner strongly encouraged businesses of all sizes to nominate, despite the challenges faced over the past six months. “There are many Brisbane businesses, from large multinationals to

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and Torres Strait Islander representatives have come together to negotiate this National Agreement and collectively determine how we strive to close the gap demonstrates our commitment to working together through meaningful partnerships,” Minister Wyatt said. “We know that the best out comes are achieved when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are equal partners with governments, and when they have a direct say in how we are going to be successful in driving the desired outcomes.” The Lead convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, Ms Pat Turner AM, said “for the first time, First Nations people will share decision-making with governments on Closing the Gap. The National Agreement makes this a reality, not just for the Coalition of Peaks, but for all First Nations people that want to have a say on how things should be working in their communities.” “If the Priority Reforms are implemented in full by governments and through shared decision making with First Nations people, we should see changes over time to the lives and experiences of our people.” At the centre of the National Agreement are four priority reforms that commit governments to change the way they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These reforms will embed joint-decision making; build the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled

service sector; transform mainstream government services; and improve data to support informed decision-making. The new National Agreement builds on the draft targets endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments in 2018. It establishes 16 targets in areas such as education, employment, health and wellbeing, justice, safety, housing, land and waters, and languages. For the first time, all governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations share responsibility for achieving targets and significantly more reporting will increase accountability for all parties This acknowledges that all parties have a role to play in improving outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Each jurisdiction will report annually on their progress and contribution towards Closing the Gap, and the Productivity Commission will make more data publicly available and conduct an independent review of progress every three years. Parties to the National Agreement – the Commonwealth Government, State and Territory governments, the Coalition of Peaks, and the Australian Local Government Association – will now develop plans that set out how they will implement the priority reforms and contribute towards achieving the targets. The National Agreement is available on the National Indigenous Australians Agency website, https://closingthegap. niaa.gov.au/

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“For the first time, nominations are open for a new Award for Excellence in Business Adaptation, which will recognise businesses, regardless of company size, that adapted their business model in response to COVID-19.” Cr Schrinner strongly encouraged businesses of all sizes to nominate, despite the challenges faced over the past six months. community not-for-profits and start-ups, that have overcome difficult times through determination and ingenuity,” he said. “We want to rally around these businesses and acknowledge their integral contributionto Brisbane’s economic recovery, job creation and future growth. “By sharing stories of businesses adapting and prevailing, we hope to encourage and inspire other Brisbane businesses during our city’s recovery. “Being recognised as an award finalist or winner can also help businesses regather momentum, make

new connections and raise their profile to achieve greater levels of success.” Nominations close 11 September with winners to be announced at a gala dinner ceremony at City Hall on 26 November .

Eight categories are open to businesses: • HSBC Award for Excellence in Business Adaptation • CCIQ Award for Outstanding Small Business • Award for Outstanding Micro Business • Urban Utilities Award for Product Innovation • Australia Pacific LNG Award for Business Innovation • ISPT Award for Outstanding Social Enterprise • ANZ Award for High Growth Business Start-Up • Yurika Award for Environmental Sustainability in Business Two categories open to individuals: • Port of Brisbane Award for Young Business Person of the Year • The Courier-Mail Award for Business Person of the Year A final category will recognise an outstanding overall winner (not open to nominations): • Optus Business Platinum Award Visit lmba.com.auto nominate

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 — 19

Hustle Bustle at Gayatri Mandir (Boondall)

With the upliftment of the Covid 19 restrictions, the devotees are now flocking back to Gayatri Mandir to pay their respects. There certainly has been more hustle bustle, with small groups visiting, mostly in the

weekends. This month we began our spiritual journey celebration with two havany agyas . The first yagya was for the revival of energies, after many weeks of closure. The second marked the beginning of

the auspicious month of Shraavan. The havan yagya were conducted by Pujanye Pundit Sanat Pandey. Each Shraavan Monday evening several devotees chanted Shiva Stotram, followed by Aarti. During

this season deities were also adorned with new attire. The guidelines to maintain social distancing is strictly followed by all devotees. Our humble request to all visitors is to kindly adhere to the rules till further notice.

Mandir Hours Monday to Friday:

Morning: 9 am to 11 am

Morning: 8am to 11am

Afternoon: 3pm to 5pm Saturday

Afternoon: 3pm to 5pm Sunday

Morning: 9 am to 11 am

Afternoon: 3pm to 5pm

Book review No Presents Please by Jayant Kaikini winner of the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature Scribe publications It is well worth reading these short stories of pathos and comedy, set in the concealed corners of Mumbai. People we meet include factory workers Asvari and Poppart (engaged to be married but did not know who their parents were), the unhappily married Antarish and Meera, Pandoorang a bus driver and Durgi who is dying. They are the unwanted, the unknown the unloved who are not sure” if life is heaven or hell” (p169) All have in common : “dreams” - to be rich, fall in love, or have a better education, health or career. So they share the same dreams as we do. Yet they, like us, are not ordinary but extraordinary people, who, in spite of the hardships of poverty or social stigma, have the courage to dream of a better world. If I had visited Mumbai more than twice, knowing about the Nana Chowk ,

Victoria Rail terminus, or “ladies wanted “signs would have helped me understand the stories better. At the heart of the book are the uncertain relationshipsbetween people and between them and Mumbai. As Satyajit says in City without Mirrors “ I’m married to this city. Where is there space for

20 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

another relationship?”(p18) InMogris World” dreams are likened to a door with an incredible scene behind it. We just have to have the courage to open, then walk through the door. The Tick Tick Friend story (p225) mentions the 1985 Bhopal (India) gas tragedy that made world headlines. This ends with

Madhubari , a young girl effected by the tragedy, “making an earnest prayer “that her dream to meet her favourite actress and win a TV quiz, would come true. Which is another strong theme from the book : dreams do come true but not always in the way you expected them. Make sure your dreams never die!

Kannada Sangha Queensland Inc New Executive Team (2020-2021)

Kannada Sangha Queensland (KSQ) turns 25 years this year. Started in the year 1995 with few families, this organisation now as more than 500 plus families as its current members. This growth is entirely a contribution and support from our Kannada people and I only wish for this family to grow bigger and prosper in the further. I take the honour of introducing the Executive Committee for this Silver Jubilee year of KSQ: 2020-21 This year we have Mr Krishna Avadhani as our committee advisor. Prospective dates for our standard annual events (Depends on the covid-19 event restriction rules and regulations) 1. Ganesha Festival (August/September 2020) 2. Kannada Rajyothsava (November 2020) 3. Get- together (Feb/ march 2021) 3. Ugadi (April/May 2021) For more info please email to kannadasanghaqld@ gmail.com About Kannada Sangha Kannada Sangha of Queensland (KSQ) is a not for profit organisation incorporated under the Office of Fair Trading, Queensland. It was incorporated in the year 2004, although it was in existence from 1995 under the name of “Kannada Sangha”, an association of Kannadiga families. The main purpose of KSQ is to keep the vibrant and rich culture and heritage of Karnataka alive amongst the diaspora of Kannadigas who have made Queensland their home state. It started on a small scale with Kannadiga families intermingling and finding joy in celebrating Call: 07 38656533

the festivals like Deepavali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Krishnastami together in parks and people’s home and other places. It had its origin in the concept of keeping our rich traditions and culture alive and passing on the same to the new younger generation. As the number of Kannadigasmigrating to Queensland grew, there came the need to have larger venues to have the functions and festivities. KSQ had its inception in this and from that time, it has facilitated the holding of functions and festivals in large numbers. For quite a number of years now, KSQ has been organising the festivals like Ganeshotsava, Deepavali & Rajyotsava and Ugadi. This gives avenue to the participants to indulge in various cultural activities like dancing, singing, drama and quizzes. KSQ has also indulged in other activities like organising and sponsoring artists from abroad and putting on dancing & music shows of those artists. Young and adults (“young at heart”) members have both enjoyed the same and relived the nostalgia from back home in Karnataka. Youth participation in the events imbibes in them the taste for artistic and cultural activities from India and inculcates the bond and affinity towards the same. KSQ believes that this will lead to the young flowers maturing into individuals fully capable of contributing to the betterment of the society. KSQ is also a registered member of Federation of Indian Association of Queensland (FICQ) and participates in various community events like Independence Day

1. President : Mr. Preetham Krishna 2. Vice President : Mr. Hareesh Gudigar 3. Secretary : Mr. Praveen Kumar 4. Treasurer : Mr. Santhosh Mallikarjunappa 5. Public Relation Officer : Mrs. Sneha Shurpali 6. Information Coordinator : Mr Naveen Krishnamurthy 7. Committee Member : Mr. Ram Prasad Bellur 8. Committee Member : Mrs. Shwetha Milind 9. Committee Member : Mrs. Manasa Devi 10. Committee Member : Mr. RaghavendraHalli celebrations. KSQ has also organised events like blood donation camps and has lent a helping hand at events like Clean-Up Australia Day. KSQ has also been active in organising fund collection drives for disaster relief in India and other places. KSQ has also participated in food donation drives and fund collection from the sale of the same towards

construction activities like temple construction. KSQ has plans to participate in various other activities like those of fund collection to help organisations and individuals involved in the construction of new temple construction and other volunteering activities. KSQ facilitates members to come together and create new friendships

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and relationships based on their common likings towards artistic and cultural activities. KSQ has been the medium for many members who have moved interstate and from abroad and required information about the new place, they were moving to. KSQ has provided a platform for them to easily amalgamate in the new surroundings

and settle down quickly in a foreign place. The current executive committee is in awe of the great historical role that KSQ has played so far in our members’ lives and is desirous of continuing to work towards the betterment of the same. The ten executive members of the current team wish to borrow a leaf from the great work done in the past and try to emulate the same with a view to providing the succour and balm of nostalgia that only cultural and artistic ties can aspire to. The current committee hopes to bind the KSQ community in an even more closely-knit family. All the members of the committee are enthusiastic about the idea of serving the community to the best of their abilities and is looking forward to a great and successful year to come.

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 — 21

Pujya Bapu Ji had addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1993, which was 100 years after Swami Vivekananda addressed the same parliament in 1883. To awaken the cultural pride of India and to save the youth being ruined due to the lustful festivals like valentine’s day, in 2007 Pujya Bapu Ji initiated celebrations of Matri-Pitri Pujan Diwas (Parents worship day) on 14th February.

The content of this article is taken from the satsang of HH Sant Shri Asaram Bapu Ji. Pujya Bapu Ji had addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1993, which was 100 years after Swami Vivekananda addressed the same parliament in 1883. To awaken the cultural pride of India and to save the youth being ruined due to the lustful festivals like valentine’s day, in 2007 Pujya Bapu Ji initiated celebrations of Matri-Pitri Pujan Diwas (Parents worship day) on 14th February. Through his religious discourse, Pujya Bapu Ji always explained the spiritual and scientific significance of tulsi (basil) plant and argued countrymen to grow tulsi plants in every house. To save the countrymen from mental slavery and to redirect them from unacquainted to a beneficial direction, in 2013 Pujya Bapu Ji initiated celebration of tulsi poojan on 25th December. The whole world has now begun to understand the virtues and importance of the tulsi plant in the current Kovid-19 epidemic period, which Pujya BapuJi contemplatively wanted. Pujya Bapu Ji has always emphasized the necessity to follow rich Indian culture and always said that it is only the Indian culture and Sanatana dharma which can give the

world happiness & peace. Lord Sri Krishna says in the Shrimad Eknathi Bhagavat, “We should serve sadhus and saints. In fact, even among all sadhus, SatGuru alone possesses the most perfect saintliness and hence we should serve His holy feet. His Satsang and the service etc. rendered to Him break the bondage of Samsara (metempsychosis) as the Guru is the true saint and gentleman. His sweet and pleasant spiritual instructions expound the Shrutis only, which give us the sword of transcendental knowledge, with which we may arm our intellect. This weapon should then be sharpened on the sharpening stones of dispassion and renunciation of enjoyments. The strong hilt of patience thereafter ought to be attached thereto. This sword should then be held firmly without fear or doubt in one’s inner self (mind). One should practise wielding this sword heart and soul; and then aim perfectly to slay the DehaAbhimana (egoistic attachment to the body) with it. This DehaAbhimana is the source of all doubts, from which bodily afflictions arise, due to which one remains ever addicted to sense pleasures, which nurture lust and anger, which increase the three gunas (i.e. sattva, rajas, tamas),

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This DehaAbhimana is the source of all doubts, from which bodily afflictions arise, due to which one remains ever addicted to sense pleasures, which nurture lust and anger, which increase the three gunas (i.e. sattva, rajas, tamas), which create the sense of being a Jiva (individual soul) in the pure Atman, which is causative of births and deaths, release from which is very difficult for the Jiva, which is the giver of all sufferings and evils, and whose dear daughter is the sense of ‘mine-ness’ (Mamata). which create the sense of being a Jiva (individual soul) in the pure Atman, which is causative of births and deaths, release from which is very difficult for the Jiva, which is the giver of all sufferings and evils, and whose dear daughter is the sense of ‘mine-ness’ (Mamata). Maya (sense of attachment) is the mother of Mamata which nurtures it and on whose strength the Jiva remains haughty. Therefore, the brave man should wield this sharp edged weapon in the battlefield and patiently and cautiously give such a powerful blow that all the three –Maya, Mamata and Dehambhimana get cut into pieces with a single stroke. The triads of experience, the experiencer and the object of experience; action, performer of action and instrument of action; meditation, meditator and the object of meditation should be rooted out. Once the notions of self identity

such as “I am”, “Who am I?” or “I am Brahman” are removed, the devotee attains to the supreme spiritual state of Mine, the Supreme Self. Thus he becomes Brahman himself. Here you might raise an objection: ‘The measure you have suggested is merely a jugglery of words. How can the ego be annihilated merely by babbling out words? If the ego could be annihilated just through words, then why would all great scholars be engulfed by egotism? If ego were visible to the eyes, one could easily rush and cut it down, but that’s totally illogical. Thus, words alone can’t annihilate it. Similarly, even Selfrealisation isn’t possible through mere jugglery of words.’ So, listen to the reply of this objection, “One who attentively worships Me with devotion to none else (or single-mindedly) or who serves the pious feet of his SatGuru beholding

Me in Him, who worships Me with the feeling that even up to the end of the Creation there is absolutely no difference between Me and the essential being of his SatGuru, attains knowledge effortlessly. As a result of being naturally engrossed in devotion to Me he attains the sword of knowledge. He attains effortlessly such a weapon whose sharp edge terrifies even Death. Scared of this sword, Maya, Mamata and Abhimana flee from the Jiva forever; while ego, attachment and Avidya (ignorance) cease to exist. Devotees, who come by so much Knowledge through their supreme sense of devotion unto Me, may find another question arising in their mind: ‘Where should one do the Bhajan (spiritual practice)? O Lord! Your form is incomprehensible (beyond reasoning), extremely subtle and without attributes. Thus, I do not understand where I should worship You.’ If your mind ever has such doubts, let Me tell you of a very easily attainable place for worship. That is the only matchless place of worship which is My abode where you can meet Me, the Supreme Self, at all times without going to any far off places and doing hard work, without crossing millions of peaks or going to mountain caves. That is a very easily attainable place of My residence for My devotees to take rest. The resting place of all bliss, the Atma Rama (Rama as the Self or revelling in Self) resides evenly and perpetually in one’s own heart. There itself, you should worship Him with love. I alone reside in the heart of every creature right from Lord Brahma (the Creator) to a housefly - One who knows this is fortunate and this is the best worship for attaining Me. Nobody is intent on worshipping Me abiding in their hearts Who provide energy to their minds, intellects etc. for their respective functions, Whose revelation makes the absolute Knowledge easily available. But people grow weary and fall into various miseries by resorting to external forms of worship. In such a populace, it is some extremely rare person

–a supremely fortunate one –who through due discernment resolutely gets engaged in worshipping Me abiding in his own heart. By worshipping Me, dwelling in the heart, he attains my Self-Knowledge embellished with total dispassion, after attaining which one can never fall from the Highest State. The Abhimana flees merely out of the fear of that Knowledge. I bestow that Knowledge of Mine on them who constantly worship Me dwelling in their hearts. The Knowledge, which upon attainment, eradicates physical and mental disorders; sanctifies the mind, body and speech; and clears all doubts; that Knowledge enables the devotee to attain the Spiritual state. To listen Vedic/ knowldge stories or to listen 24X7 live divine Satsang, please search “Mangalmay live” on google, visit http://www. ashram.org/live or search “THE SBM STUDIO” on you tube. By the Divine Inspiration of Bapu Ji, the weekly sessions of Bal Sanskar and yoga are held in Brisbane. These sessions are aimed for the character, mental, intellectual and spiritual development of the kids. The kids are trained to learn yogic mudras, techniques, yogasnas and pranayamas. These yogic techniques along with jap and meditation help kids in attaining virtues like righteousness and selfrestraint. The kids learn precious keys to develop intelligence and take advantage of chanting and meditation while playing and laughing. Please read more about our Vedic culture in the next issue of “The Brisbane Indian Times.” To know more about His Divine Holiness Bapu Ji, please watch this video. https://bit.ly/2uZvJuN For more info about Bal Sanskar and yoga sessions, to get a free copy of monthly spiritual magazine Rishi-Prasad in your mail box in Australia or to get free online subscription of Rishi -Prasad, please contact by email at bskamd@gmail. com or by WhatsApp/ phone to Ashok Attri and Anu Attri at +61 426 834 434 & +61 405 277 802

Call: 07 38656533

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 23

Who, What, Where, When...

KettyCarpaille with Members of GOPIO Reunion Island

Damini Women’s Association of Qld receiving Blessings from Dharam Guru Acharya Pt Ram Harsh Tripathi Ji.

From Left – Umesh Chandra,Saboo John Mitchell, Savita Singh and Jared Abel Mitchell at the studios of Australian Indian Radio

Thomas Abraham GOPIO International Chairperson in a TV interview , discusses GOPIO International Vision

Damini Womens club members visited Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir on Sunday 26/07/2020 to donate cushions. Applause & Blessings to all the Damini Womens members for doing such great community work.

Matt Gregg – White Ribbon Toowoomba, Brad Chilcott Executive director White Ribbon Australia share a light moment at the combined dinner meeting in Brisbane

Usha Chandra, Director Chantex Pty Ltd celebrated her birthday with family at Clear Mountain resort

GOPIO France together with the other Indian Associations welcomed His Excellency Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India in France and Monacco at Jodhpur Palace on Thursday 23/07/2020 in a cordial meeting with the vibrant Indian community in Paris. The Presidents of the different associations gave a brief explanations about their activities and fields of actions. His Excellency was very impressed and thankful to the solidarity and helps provided to those in difficulties during the peak of COVID19 pandemics. 24 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

Australian IndiaN Radio Interviews

articles by staff reporter

Navigating the Split: The real cost of your marriage breakdown New research reveals that although going through a separation or divorce is emotionally draining and can be financially damaging, over nine in 10 Australians (93.1%) say they have grown emotionally and adapted since splitting from their former partner. According to the Real Cost of Separation Report, commissioned by Real Insurance, emotional and mental costs are the largest factors in the separation or divorce process. Among those who have split from their partners, two-thirds (62.0%) admit that the mental and emotional toll was the most difficult aspect of the

Dr Andrew Fuller, Psychologist separation, followed by the impact on children (57.1%) and the financial issues that come along with the process (54.3%). With Australians spending

almost $45 million per year on divorce application fees, it may come as a surprise that the greatest financial cost associated with separation or divorce is actually the establishment of separate

houses (66.9%), followed by legal fees (51.5%) and setting up independent finances (45.9%). Close to nine in 10 (86.5%) believe that children are better off in the long run

One-in-four Australians have experienced financial abuse New research from Commonwealth Bank’s Community Attitudes to Financial Abuse survey reveals that almost 40 per cent of the adult population has either experienced financial abuse (26%) or knows someone who has (12%). This comes as CBA launches Next Chapter a program that will see the bank bring a range of services and support to market, including a Financial Independence Hub and Community Wellbeing Team. With four-in-five Australians agreeing abuse is a widespread problem, CommBank’s tailored support services are designed to make it easier for victims and survivors to start their next chapter and achieve long-term financial independence. This comes as only half (53%) of those who have experienced financial abuse have sought help. The most common behaviour (61%) of financial abuse involves having a perpetrator who uses

Sian Lewis, Commonwealth Bank Spokesperson

all their partner’s wages for household expenses and spending their own money only on themselves, while a half take complete control of their partner’s finances (55%) and refuse to contribute financially to their household (55%). The research also revealed more than threequarters (79%) could not recall any support services available to people who are experiencing financial abuse when asked unprompted, while two-thirds (63%) believe their banks should be

doing something to address the issue. The Financial Independence Hub aims to help people impacted by financial abuse as a result of domestic and family violence establish a pathway to longterm financial recovery. In an exclusive interview Sian Lewis (Commonwealth BankSpokesperson), told Australian Indian that a new research revealed almost four in ten adult Australians have either experienced financial abuse or know someone who

has. She also said that the most common behaviour involves a perpetrator, using all their partner’s wages for household expenses while spending their own money only on themselves. She also stated that building on years of work, Commonwealth Bank announced two initiatives to tackle financial abuse in collaboration with sector partners and experts which are an in-house Community Wellbeing team, financial coaching and interest-free loans for victims.

Training the trainer – Umesh Chandra Talk to Uma Panch on Australian Indian Radio’s facebook live segment When the interviewee and interviewer share the same passion the interview tends to generate high energy, such was the case when Umesh Chandra OAM interviewed Uma Panch of iBeyondBliss. The qualities of successful including the challenges of getting optimum result out of a team, one can do a lot by oneself, but getting others to do the same with same passion is another art. When your team is not producing and you know it can be done, how do you communicate that message to the team without offending or getting then offside, also Call: 07 38656533

Uma Panch iBeyondBliss

how to manage the stress that arises from controlling your emotions in the name of political correctness,

antidiscrimination a bullying. It is a fine balancing act which needs guidance with check and balances. The interesting interview attracted 41,000 views and can be watched on Australian Indian Radio’s page, or Youtube. Uma is a Motivational Speaker, Corporate Trainer, Transformational Life Coach, and Author. Uma is a visiting faculty in Australian Universities and a Social Entrepreneur. Uma works with Celebrities, Leaders, CEOs, Business Owners, High profile Professionals including Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers

and Educators to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. She is the winner of 4 Awards from Australia which includes the Belle Polle Memorial Price, Highest Academic Achiever Award and DUX award for her 6.7/7 GPA. She is also the winner of the Entrepreneur Award for her positive contribution to society. She has positively disrupted the status quo and become a multi-award winner for her distinguished achievements. As the founder of iBeyondBliss Personal & Corporate Wellness, Uma

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if parents do what makes themselves happy and healthy while almost three quarters (72.5%) agree that if managed right, children involved in separation or divorce can emerge from the experience with no negative impacts. The report uncovers the real cost of separation prompting Australians to consider implications to their savings, assets and debts in the event of a split and highlights the top tips for parents navigating a separation with kids. In an Australian Indian Radio’s exclusive interview, clinical Psychologist, Andrew Fuller, mentioned

that despite the financial outlay, over 90% of divorced or separated Australians have grown emotionally and adapted since splitting from their partner. He said that Australians are spending a whopping $45 million per year on divorce application fees and $3.7 billion on legal costs and 9 in 10 Australians agree that children are better off in the long run if parents do what makes themselves happy and healthy. He also stated that the ‘Real Cost of Separation Report’ prompts Australians to consider finances and highlights the top tips for parents navigating a separation with kids.

Aussies reduced to pain through new normal

New research reveals that a staggering twothirds (60%) of Aussies are currently in pain, with a quarter (25%) waiting until their pain becomes chronic before seeking professional advice. This comes as musculoskeletal health services begin to reopen with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. The Pain Healthcare Report commissioned by Osteopathy Australia reveals that Aussies are ignoring their pain with more than a third (37%) admitting they would rather put up with pain than do something about it. As routines slowly return to normal, pain caused from poor ergonomic working conditions, at-home workouts and pandemic stress will continue to prevent Aussies from exercising (50%), sleeping (43%) and working (18%). While almost twothirds (60%) of Aussies reach for pain medication to manage their aches, Osteopathy takes a wholebody approach, including hands-on treatment, pain management, exercise rehabilitation, lifestyle, and wellbeing support. With the easing of

Panch is arguably one of the most successful and empowered women of her generation. She is a visionary and change-maker who is

Dr Geetha Soosay, Ostepath

restrictions, and Australians now returning to their normal routines Osteopathy Australia is urging people not to ignore pain and to be mindful about heading back into the new normal. In an Australian Indian Radio’s exclusive interview Dr. Geetha Soosay (Osteopath), mentioned that a new research revealed two-thirds of Aussies are currently in pain as health services reopen with the easing of restrictions. She said that the ‘Pain Healthcare Report’ reveals that Aussies are ignoring their pain. She also mentioned that Osteopathy Australia is urging people not to ignore pain and to be mindful about heading back into the new normal.

driven to positively impact the world. She is based in SydneyAustralia, and travels around the world inspiring, motivating and empowering people.

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 — 25

Virtues of

Fasting on Abu Bakarah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qa'dah, DhulHijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumadah and Sha'ban." Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Chief of the Messengers, and upon all his family and companions. Allah's sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein … "Al-Qur'an 9:36 Abu Bakarah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qa'dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumadah and Sha'ban." Reported by AlBukhari, 2958 Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to confirm its sanctity. Allah's words (interpretation of the meaning): " ... so wrong not yourselves therein … " mean do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months. It was reported that Ibn 'Abbas said that this phrase referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward. Qatadah said concerning this phrase that wrongdoing during the sacred months

is more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other time. Wrongdoing at any time is a serious matter, but Allah gives more weight to whichever of His commands He will. Allah has chosen certain ones of His creation. He has chosen from among the angels Messengers and from among mankind Messengers. He chose from among speech the remembrance of Him (dhikr). He chose from among the earth the mosques, from among the months Ramadhan and the sacred months, from among the days Friday and from among the nights LaylatulQadr, so venerate that which Allah has told us to venerate. People of understanding and wisdom venerate the things that Allah has told us to venerate. [Summarized from the Tafsir of IbnKathir, may Allah have mercy on him. Tafsir of Surah atTawbah, ayah 36] The Virtue of Observing More Nafil Fasts During Muharram Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'The best of fasting after Ramadhan is fasting Allah's month of Muharram.' "Reported by Muslim, 1982 The phrase "Allah's month", connecting the name of the month to the name of Allah in a genitive grammatical structure, signifies the importance of the month. Al-Qari said: "The apparent meaning is all of the month of Muharram." But it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) never fasted any whole month apart from Ramadhan, so this hadith is probably meant to encourage increasing one's fasting during Muharram, without meaning that one should fast for the entire month. It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast more in Sha'ban. It is likely that the

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virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month. [Sharh an-Nawawi 'ala Sahih Muslim] Allah Chooses Whatever Times and Places He Wills Al-'Izz ibn 'Abdus-Salam (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Times and places may be given preferred status in two ways, either temporal or religious/spiritual. With regard to the latter, this is because Allah bestows His generosity on His slaves at those times or in those places, by giving a greater reward for deeds done, such as giving a greater reward for fasting in Ramadhan than for fasting at all other times, and also on the day of 'Ashura', the virtue of which is due to Allah's generosity and kindness towards His slaves on that day … "Qawa'id al-Ahkam, 1/38 'Ashura' in History Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of 'Ashura'. He said, 'What is this?' They said, 'This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Musa fasted on this day.' He said, 'We have more right to Musa than you,'so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day." [Reported by al-Bukhari, 1865] "This is a

righteous day" – in a report narrated by Muslim, [the Jews said:] "This is a great day, on which Allah saved Musa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people." "Musa fasted on this day" – a report narrated by Muslim adds: " … in thanksgiving to Allah, so we fast on this day." According to a report narrated by alBukhari: " … so we fast on this day to venerate it." A version narrated by Imam Ahmad adds: "This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount Judi, so Nuh fasted this day in thanksgiving," and "commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day" – according to another report also narrated by alBukhari: "He said to his Companions: 'You have more right to Musa than they do, so fast on that day.' " The practice of fasting on 'Ashura' was known even in the days of Jahiliyyah, before the Prophet's mission. It was reported that 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The people of Jahiliyyah used to fast on that day … " Al-Qurtubi said: "Perhaps Quraysh used to fast on that day on the basis of some past law, such as that of Ibrahim, upon whom be peace." It was also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast on 'Ashura' in Makkah, before he migrated to Madinah. When he migrated to Madinah, he found the

and By Ml. M. Nawaaz Ashrafi Jews celebrating this day, so he asked them why, and they replied as described in the hadithquoted above. He commanded the Muslims to be different from the Jews, who took it as a festival, as was reported in the hadith of Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "The Jews used to take the day of 'Ashura' as a festival [according to a report narrated by Muslim: the day of 'Ashura' was venerated by the Jews, who took it as a festival. According to another report also narrated by Muslim: the people of Khaybar (the Jews) used to take it as a festival and their women would wear their jewellery and symbols on that day]. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'So you [Muslims] should fast on that day.' "[Reported by al-Bukhari] Apparently the motive for commanding the Muslims to fast on this day was the desire to be different from the Jews, so that the Muslims would fast when the Jews did not, because people do not fast on a day of celebration. [Summarized from the words of al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar – may Allah have mercy on him – in Fath alBari Sharh 'ala Sahih alBukhari] Fasting on 'Ashura' was a gradual step in the process of introducing fasting as a prescribed obligation in Islam. Fasting appeared in three forms. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Madinah, he told the Muslims to fast on three days of every month and on the day of

'Ashura', then Allah made fasting obligatory when He said (interpretation of the meaning): " … observing the fasting is prescribed for you … " [Al-Qur'an2:183] [Ahkam al-Qur'an by alJassas, part 1] The obligation was transferred from the fast of 'Ashura' to the fast of Ramadhan, and this one of the proofs in the field of Usul al-Fiqh that it is possible to abrogate a lighter duty in favour of a heavier duty. Before the obligation of fasting 'Ashura' was abrogated, fasting on this day was obligatory, as can be seen from the clear command to observe this fast. Then it was further confirmed later on, then reaffirmed by making it a general command addressed to everybody, and once again by instructing mothers not to breastfeed their infants during this fast. It was reported from Ibn Mas'ud that when fasting Ramadhan was made obligatory, the obligation to fast 'Ashura' was lifted, i.e., it was no longer obligatory to fast on this day, but it is still desirable (mustahabb). The Virtues of Fasting 'Ashura' Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of 'Ashura', and this month, meaning Ramadhan."Reported by AlBukhari, 1867 The meaning of his being keen was that he intended to fast on that day in the hope of earning the reward for doing so. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "For fasting the day of 'Ashura', I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before." [Reported by Muslim, 1976] This is from the bounty of Allah towards us: for fasting one day He gives us expiation for the sins of a whole year. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty. Which Day is 'Ashura'? An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "'Ashura' and Tasu'a' are two elongated names [the vowels are elongated]

as is stated in books on the Arabic language. Our companions said: 'Ashura' is the tenth day of Muharram and Tasu'a' is the ninth day. This is our opinion, and that of the majority of scholars. This is the apparent meaning of the ahadith and is what we understand from the general wording. It is also what is usually understood by scholars of the language."Al-Majmu' 'Ashura' is an Islamic name that was not known at the time of Jahiliyyah. [Kashshaf al-Qina', part 2, Sawm Muharram] Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "'Ashura' is the tenth day of Muharram. This is the opinion of Sa'id ibn alMusayyib and al-Hasan. It was what was reported by Ibn 'Abbas, who said: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded us to fast 'Ashura', the tenth day of Muharram.' [Reported by at-Tirmidhi, who said, a sahihhasan hadith] It was reported that Ibn 'Abbas said: 'The ninth,' and reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast the ninth. [Reported by Muslim] 'Ata' reported that he said, 'Fast the ninth and the tenth, and do not be like the Jews.' If this is understood, we can say on this basis that it is mustahabb (encouraged) to fast on the ninth and the tenth, for that reason. This is what Ahmad said, and it is the opinion of Ishaq." It is Mustahabb (Encouraged) to Fast Tasu'a' with 'Ashura' 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fasted on 'Ashura' and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, 'O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.' The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, 'If I live to see the next year, in sha Allah, we will fast on the ninth day too.' But it so happened that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) passed away before the next year came." [Reported by Muslim, 1916] Ash-Shafi'i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaq and others said: "It is mustahabb to fast on both the ninth and tenth days, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fasted on the tenth, and intended to fast on the ninth." On this basis it may be said that there are varying degrees of fasting 'Ashura', the least of which is to fast only on the tenth and the best of which is to fast the ninth as well. The more one fasts in Muharram, the better it is.

The Reason Why it is Mustahabb to Fast on Tasu'a' An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The scholars – our companions and others – mentioned several reasons why it is mustahabb to fast on Tasu'a': The intention behind it is to be different from the Jews, who only venerate the tenth day. This opinion was reported from Ibn 'Abbas … The intention is to add another day's fast to 'Ashura'. This is akin to the prohibition on fasting a Friday by itself, as was mentioned by al-Khattabi and others. To be on the safe side and make sure that one fasts on the tenth, in case there is some error in sighting the crescent moon at the beginning of Muharram and the ninth is in fact the tenth." The strongest of these reasons is being different from the People of the Book. ShaykhulIslamibnTaymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade imitating the People of the Book in many ahadith, for example, his words concerning 'Ashura': 'If I live until the next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth day.' " [Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, part 6, SaddadhDhara'i' al-Mufdiyyahila'lMaharim] Ibn Hajar (may Allah be pleased with him) said in his commentary on the hadith "If I live until the next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth day" and "What he meant by fasting on the ninth day was probably not that he would limit himself to that day, but would add it to the tenth, either to be on the safe side or to be different from the Jews and Christians, which is more likely. This is also what we can understand from some of the reports narrated by Muslim." [Fath, 4/245] Ruling on Fasting Only on the Day of 'Ashura' Shaykhul-Islam said: "Fasting on the day of 'Ashura' is an expiation for a year, and it is not makruh to fast only that day … " [Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, part 5] In Tuhfat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, it says: "There is nothing wrong with fasting only on 'Ashura'." [Part 3, Bab Sawm at-Tatawwu'] Fasting on 'Ashura' even if it is a Saturday or a Friday At-Tahawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) allowed us to fast on 'Ashura' and urged us to do so. He did not say that if it falls on a Saturday we should not fast. This is evidence that all days of the week are included in this. In our

view – and Allah knows best – it could be the case that even if this is true (that it is not allowed to fast on Saturdays), it is so that we do not venerate this day and refrain from food, drink and intercourse, as the Jews do. As for the one who fasts on a Saturday without intending to venerate it, and does not do so because the Jews regard it as blessed, then this is not makruh … " [Mushkil al-Athar, part 2, Bab SawmYawm as-Sabt] The author of Al-Minhaj said: "It is disliked (makruh) to fast on a Friday alone … But it is no longer makruh if you add another day to it, as mentioned in the sahih report to that effect. A person may fast on a Friday if it coincides with his habitual fast, or he is fasting in fulfilment of a vow, or he is making up an obligatory fast that he has missed, as was stated in a sahih report." Ash-Sharih said in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj: "If it coincides with his habitual fast – i.e., such as if he fasts alternate days, and a day that he fasts happens to be a Friday, if he is fasting in fulfilment of a vow, etc." – this also applies to fasting on days prescribed in Shari'ah, such as 'Ashura' or 'Arafah. [Tuhfat alMuhtaj, part 3, Bab Sawm al-Tatawwu'] Al-Bahuti (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "It is makruh to deliberately single out a Saturday for fasting, because of the hadith of 'Abdullah ibn Bishr, who reported from his sister: 'Do not fast on Saturdays except in the case of obligatory fasts' [reported by Ahmad with a jayyidisnadand by alHakim, who said: according to the conditions of alBukhari], and because it is a day that is venerated by the Jews, so singling it out for fasting means being like them … except when a Friday or Saturday coincides with a day when Muslims habitually fast, such as when it coincides with the day of 'Arafah or the day of 'Ashura', and a person has the habit of fasting on these days, in which case it is not makruh, because a person's habit carries some weight."[Kashshaf alQina', part 2, Bab Sawm alTatawwu'] What Should be Done if there is Confusion about the Beginning of the Month? Ahmad said: "If there is confusion about the beginning of the month, one should fast for three days, to be sure of fasting on the ninth and tenth days." [AlMughni by Ibn Qudamah, part 3 – as-Siyam – Siyam 'Ashur'] If a person does not know when Muharram began, and he wants to be sure of fasting on the tenth, he should assume that DhulHijjah was thirty days – as

is the usual rule – and should fast on the ninth and tenth. Whoever wants to be sure of fasting the ninth as well should fast the eight, ninth and tenth (then if Dhul-Hijjah was twentynine days, he can be sure of having fasted Tasu'a' and 'Ashura'). But given that fasting on 'Ashura' is mustahabb rather than wajib, people are not commanded to look for the crescent of the new moon of Muharram as they are to do in the case of Ramadhanand Shawwal. Fasting 'Ashura' – For What Does it Offer Expiation? Imam an-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "It expiates for all minor sins, i.e., it brings forgiveness of all sins except major sins." Then he said (may Allah have mercy on him): "Fasting the day of 'Arafah expiates for two years, and the day of 'Ashura' expiates for one year. If when a person says 'Amin' it coincides with the 'Amin' of the angels, he will be forgiven all his previous sins … Each one of the things that we have mentioned will bring expiation. If there are minor sins for which expiation is needed, expiation for them will be accepted; if there are no minor sins or major sins, good deeds will be added to his account and he will be raised in status … If he had committed major sins but no minor sins, we hope that his major sins will be reduced."[Al-Majmu' Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6, SawmYawm 'Arafah] Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (ay Allah have mercy on himmay Allah have mercy on him) said: "Taharah, salah, and fasting in Ramadhan, on the day of 'Arafah and on 'Ashura' expiate for minor sins only." [Al-Fatawa al-Kubra, part 5] Not Relying Too Much on the Reward for Fasting Some people who are deceived rely too much on things like fasting on 'Ashura' or the day of 'Arafah, to the extent that some of them say, "Fasting on 'Ashura' will expiate for the sins of the whole year, and fasting on the day of 'Arafah will bring extra rewards." Ibn al-Qayyim said: "This misguided person does not know that fasting in Ramadhan and praying five times a day are much more important than fasting on the day of 'Arafah and 'Ashura', and that they expiate for the sins between one Ramadhan and the next, or between one Friday and the next, so long as one avoids major sins. But they cannot expiate for minor sins unless one also avoids major sins; when the two things are put together, they have the strength to expiate

for minor sins. Among those deceived people may be one who thinks that his good deeds are more than his sins, because he does not pay attention to his bad deeds or check on his sins, but if he does a good deed he remembers it and relies on it. This is like the one who seeks Allah's forgiveness with his tongue (i.e., by words only), and glorifies Allah by saying "Subhanallah" one hundred times a day, then he backbites about the Muslims and slanders their honour, and speaks all day long about things that are not pleasing to Allah. This person is always thinking about the virtues of his tasbihat (saying "Subhanallah") and tahlilat (saying "La ilahaillallah") but he pays no attention to what has been reported concerning those who backbite, tell lies and slander others, or commit other sins of the tongue. They are completely deceived." [Al-Mawsu'ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 31, Ghurur] Fasting 'Ashura' When One Still has Days to Make Up From Ramadhan The fuqaha' differed concerning the ruling on observing voluntary fasts before a person has made up days that he or she did not fast in Ramadhan. The Hanafis said that it is permissible to observe voluntary fasts before making up days from Ramadhan, and it is not makruh to do so, because the missed days do not have

to be made up straight away. The Malikis and Shafi'is said that it is permissible but is makruh, because it means that one is delaying something obligatory. AdDusuqi said: "It is makruh to observe a voluntary fast when one still has to make up an obligatory fast, such as a fast in fulfilment of a vow, or a missed obligatory fast, or a fast done as an act of expiation (kafarah), whether the voluntary fast which is being given priority over an obligatory fast is something confirmed in Shari'ah or not, such as 'Ashura' and the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, according to the most correct opinion." The Hanbalis said that it is haram to observe a voluntary fast before making up any fasts missed in Ramadhan, and that a voluntary fast in such cases does not count, even if there is plenty of time to make up the obligatory fast. So a person must give priority to the obligatory fasts until he has made them up. [AlMawsu'ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 28, Sawm at-Tatawwu'] Muslims must hasten to make up any missed fasts after Ramadhan, so that they will be able to fast 'Arafah and 'Ashura' without any problem. If a person fasts 'Arafah and 'Ashura' with the intention from the night before of making up for a missed fast, this will be good enough to make up what he has missed, for the bounty of Allah is great.

ON BEHALF OF THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF ALGESTER, WE WISH ALL THE MUSLIMS A WONDERFUL NEW HIJRI YEAR. AAMEEN. Call: 07 38656533

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AUSTRALIA’S PROPERTY MARKET IS BALANCING ON A TIGHTROPE: WHERE TO NOW? – QUEENSLAND Median house prices continued to grow in capital city, metropolitan and regional markets in the 12 months to the first half of 2020 according to the latest PRD Real Estate Australian Economic and Property Report 2020. PRD Real Estate Chief Economist, Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo, believes the market has shown great resilience despite everything that was thrown at it in the past 12 months. “While COVID-19 hit us swiftly this year and threw the economy and property markets into turmoil, things settled down within the property market fairly quickly,” Dr Mardiasmo said. PRD Real Estate Managing Director Todd Hadley said the market had not returned to normal conditions yet, but the report, Balancing on a Tightrope, Where to Now?, showed that Government stimulus had quickly helped prop up the property market and balance out some of the ill effects of the shutdown. The report includes property market data up to and including June 2020

Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo, PRD Real Estate Chief Economist

and captures the impact of COVID-19. Queensland (QLD) Key Findings include: On average median house prices grew for capital city, metropolitan, and regional markets in the 12 months to the first half of 2020. Brisbane performed the best, up by 3.6%. QLD metropolitan areas grew on average by 1.2% and regional QLD held steady. QLD metro area settled sales grew by 6.3% in the 12 months to May 2020. In the same time frame regional QLD settled sales grew by 8.6%, the highest across all

regional areas in Australia. Consumer confidence has returned to pre-COVID-19 levels with confidence up by 23.9% in June 2020 after a plummet in April. Business confidence has also dramatically improved. QLD experienced one of the largest declines in residential construction in the 12 months to the March quarter of 2020, of -22.4%. QLD home loan affordability declined by -2.6% in the 12 months to the March quarter of 2020, sitting at 32.9 index points. This is a higher home loan affordability reading compared with Australia (28.8 index points) and a lower rate of decline compared with Australia (-7.1%). QLD is one of the more affordable markets during COVID-19. QLD first home buyer activity remains strong, increasing by 20.8% in the 12 months to the March quarter of 2020. The proportion of family income devoted to meeting average loan repayments only increased by 2.7% in QLD, lower than the Australian average of

7.4%. The Time to Buy a Dwelling Index across Australia is showing a cautious market, with many individual state-level indices reading just under 100 points (positive sentiment level) in June 2020. There is cautious confidence in NSW, VIC, and QLD markets, reading at 97.8, 99.9, and 98.2 index points respectively. Brisbane recorded the highest change in median two-bedroom unit rental price, up by 6.6% in the 12 months to the March quarter of 2020. Vacancy rates at 2.2% remained below the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s healthy benchmark of 3%. “There is no doubt we are seeing signs of gradual improvement,” Dr Mardiasmo said. “The key going forward will be increasing levels of employment, public and private investment and consumer confidence based on the ongoing impact of COVID-19. This sets the scene as we walk the tightrope to full economic recovery,” Mr Hadley said.

LOWEST QUARTERLY CPI EVER SHOWS IMPACT OF COVID The June 2020 quarter CPI figures show the impact the COVID pandemic is having on the economy as consumers restrict their spending and adjust their activities and way of life, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA). “The All Groups CPI, fell 1.9 per cent in the June 2020 quarter giving an annual drop of 0.3%. This is markedly down on the March quarter figures of increases of 0.3 % and 2.2%, respectively, and was the largest quarterly fall in the 72 year history of the CPI," REIA President Mr Adrian Kelly said. “The quarterly changes for the analytical series of trimmed mean and for the weighted median were -0.1 and +0.1 respectively. The annual changes in the trimmed mean and weighted mean were 1.2% and 1.3% with the trimmed mean being below 2% since December 2015.” “The Housing Group decreased by 0.7% for the quarter and increased by 0.1% for the year to June 2020.” “Rents fell for the quarter

“The All Groups CPI, fell 1.9 per cent in the June 2020 quarter giving an annual drop of 0.3%. This is markedly down on the March quarter figures of increases of 0.3 % and 2.2%, respectively, and was the largest quarterly fall in the 72 year history of the CPI." and the year by 1.3% and 1.2% respectively. This is the first time since ABS started the series in September 1973 that we have seen rents drop for the quarter and the year.” “Under normal circumstances this would be good news for renters but in the present circumstances the underlying reasons are of concern for all. This does however provide justification for the Government’s announcement last week to extend JobKeeper, JobSeeker and rental assistance for those receiving JobSeeker,” concluded Mr Kelly.

Australian housing values continue to drift lower, falling 0.6% in July as the COVID driven housing downturn moves through a third month of orderly decline. Australian housing values racked up a third consecutive month of declines in July, with CoreLogic’s home value index dropping 0.6% over the month, a slight improvement from June when the national series was down 0.7%. Across the capital cities, only Canberra (+0.6%) and Adelaide (+0.1%) posted a rise in dwelling values over the month, while Melbourne (-1.2%) and Sydney (-0.9%) led the decline, recording the largest month-on-month falls in July. Regional markets are generally showing more resilience to falling values. Across the combined regional areas, housing values were unchanged in July compared with a 0.8% fall across the combined capital cities index. Regional Victoria (-0.5%) and regional Western Australia (-3.2%) were the only non-capital city markets to record a fall in values over the month. According to CoreLogic’s head of research, Tim Lawless, housing markets have remained relatively resilient through the COVID period so far. “The impact from COVID-19 on housing values has been orderly todate, with CoreLogic’s national index falling only 1.6% since the recent high in April and housing turnover has recovered quickly after it’s sharp fall in late March and April.” “Record low interest rates, government support and loan repayment holidays for distressed borrowers have helped to insulate the housing market from a more significant

downturn. Advertised supply levels have remained tight, with the total number of properties for sale falling a further 4.3% in the 4 weeks to July 27th, sitting 15.2%below where they were this time last year. Additionally, increased demand driven by housing specific incentives from both federal and state governments, especially for first home buyers, have become more substantial.” However, with fiscal support set to taper from October and repayment holidays expiring at the end of March next year, Mr Lawless believes the medium term outlook remains skewed to the downside. “Urgent sales are likely to become more common as we approach these milestones, which will test the market’s resilience. Similarly, the recent concerns of a second wave of the virus and the potential for renewed border closures and stricter social distancing polices are likely to further push consumer sentiment down. This is likely to weigh on both home buying and selling activity more broadly.” The most expensive quartile of housing continues to lead the downturn. “Higher value markets tend to be more reactive to changes in the economic environment, having led both the upswing and the downturn over previous cycles. The COVID related downturn has seen this trend playing out again, with upper quartile values down 2.9% across the combined capital city index

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since the end of March, while lower quartile values have fallen by only 0.5%,” Mr Lawless said. This capital city trend is driven mostly by Sydney and Melbourne, while the smaller cities have shown a mixed result across value segments. In Sydney, upper quartile values are down 2.5% over the past four months, while lower quartile values are virtually flat at - 0.1%. Similarly, over the same period in Melbourne, upper quartile values are down 5.2% while lower quartile values have declined a more modest 1.2%. Importantly, the upper quartile of these markets also recorded the most significant run-up in values throughout the second half of last year and into early 2020. Real estate agent activity has recovered to the same levels as a year ago. After plummeting by around 60% between midMarch and Easter, real estate agent activity across CoreLogic platforms is now tracking at similar levels compared with 2019. Real estate agent activity is highly correlated with the number of new listings coming on the market, with a two week lead. The number of newly advertised properties is up 46% from the recent lows of early May. Nationally, the rolling 28 day count of new listings was 1% higher than a year ago, with new capital city listings tracking 8.9% above levels recorded this time last year. The recovery in new listing numbers aligns with higher consumer sentiment readings; although measures

of consumer sentiment have recently trended lower, consumer spirits remain well above the recent April lows. The rise in fresh listings implies home owners have become more willing to test the market. While new listings are ramping up, the total listing count remains 15.2% below last yearâ€™s level nationally and 12.5% lower across the combined capitals. The diverging trend between new and total listing numbers implies a strong rate of absorption where demand for established housing stock is outweighing advertised supply. Auction markets showed a temporary recovery through June and early July but have since weakened as Melbourne moved back into lockdown. Auction volumes have been tracking higher than a year ago since late June and auction clearance rates had been hovering around the decade average (61%) since the second week of May. Since early July, clearance rates have trended lower due to a substantial rise in withdrawn auctions in Melbourne. Consumer sentiment readings weakened through July signposting a reduction in housing market activity. After recovering from recessionary lows in April, consumer sentiment is again weakening due to concerns associated with the second wave of the virus in Melbourne, and growing case numbers nationally and internationally. Consumer sentiment readings show a high correlation with housing market

activity, so the recent downward trend implies home buyers and sellers may once again retreat to the sidelines. Sales activity has trended higher since May. After home sales plunged by about one third in April, sales activity has consistently improved. CoreLogic estimates for national sales over the past three months were tracking 2.9% higher than the same period in 2019. The rebound in CoreLogic estimates of sales activity is validated by the strong rate of listings absorption, a similar lift in purchase related valuations and improvements in consumer sentiment. However, the recent slump in sentiment amidst a new wave of the virus could interrupt the rise in home sales until restrictions are lifted and confidence returns. Rental rates have continued to trend lower through July, with the weakest rental conditions emanating from Hobart, Sydney and Melbourne, and the unit sector driving the largest falls. Since March, capital city house rents have dropped by only 0.3% while over the same period unit rents are down a more substantial 2.6%. Hobart stands out as recording the largest decreases, with rents for houses down 2.0%, and units down 4.4% since March. According to Mr Lawless, weaker rental conditions are most evident in those markets where rental demand has been impacted by border closures and supply additions. “Some inner city areas of Melbourne and Sydney have seen rental

listings more than double since March due to the combined effect of temporary migrants departing, and overseas arrivals, including foreign students, stalling. Compounding this weak demand position is the surge in construction activity and investment over previous years, which has added to inner city rental supply. “Mr Lawless notes other factors are also impacting rental markets. “Anecdotally, the transition of short-term accommodation, namely Airbnb, to permanent rentals is temporarily adding to supply. Additionally, the significant employment decline across food and accommodation services, arts and recreation services is compounding the weak rental demand as these sectors workers are more likely to rent. To date these sectors have seen the largest number of job losses and impact to wages. With the second wave of social distancing policies and border closures, these workers are once again facing hardship” he said. Perth and Adelaide are showing the strongest rental conditions amongst the capital cities. These markets have also generally seen lower levels of investor participation, and less ‘investment grade’ construction over recent years, which has kept rental supply reasonably tight. The median value is the middle estimated value of all residential properties derived through the hedonic regression methodology that underlies the CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index.

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30 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

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A SIMPLE CHEEK SWAB CAN SAVE A LIFE! Did you know the cure to some blood cancers exists in your body? Sometimes blood cancer patients can have their disease cured through a stem cell/bone marrow transplant. Every 40 minutes, someone in Australia is diagnosed with a blood cancer and for most, a blood stem cell or bone marrow transplant from a stranger is their only hope. A patient needs to find a matching donor willing to donate their stems cells to have the lifesaving transplant. But if the patient is Indigenous or ethnically/ culturally diverse, the chances of finding a match are much harder. A patient is more likely to find their

match with someone who shares a similar cultural background, and unfortunately there are not enough people of culturally diverse backgrounds registered as potential donors on the Australian and worldwide registries. Less than 1 per cent of people on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (blood stem cell registry) are from Aboriginal or Middle Eastern background, less than 3 per cent are Asian, and less than 5 per cent are Pacific islander.(refer to “bar graph” image) UR the Cure is a registered charity and an official partner of the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and their “Strength to Give”

ORDER YOUR CHEEK SWAB KIT www.urthecure.com.au/swab campaign. Their mission is to increase the numbers and diversity of people onto The Registry to find more lifesaving matches for patients in need. UR the Cure and The Registry are encouraging more people to join through an easy to complete mouth cheek swab! Joining The Registry is easy and free, people can order their cheek swab kit online and do the swab themselves at home by rubbing a special cotton q-tip on the inside of their cheek. (refer to “young man swabbing” image) A simple form is

completed and posted back to The Registry along with the completed swabs. Only a small

“Did you know the cure to some blood cancers exists in your body?” number of people are called and asked to donate

PEOPLE WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS ARE ESPECIALLY NEEDED TO JOIN THE REGISTRY • People aged 18 to 35 (up to 45 accepted) • People with culturally diverse backgrounds • Young males in general regardless of ethnicity Visit the website for other eligibility their stem cells. If you are matched with a patient, 90% of the time donating stem cells is like giving blood! It’s simple and can save a life! (refer “young man donating” image) People up to the age of 45 are eligible to join, with a particular focus on young men aged 18 to 35 as they literally have more stem cells to give! People with culturally diverse backgrounds (Indigenous, Middle Eastern, Asian, Italian, Greek and more)

are strongly encouraged to join as patients with diverse backgrounds often struggle to find a lifesaving match. With 30,000 people retiring off The Registry soon, we urgently need more people to join. We encourage eligible members of the community to order their swab kit online to join The Registry (www. urthecure.com.au/swab) and who knows maybe one day you could save a life! For more info visit www. urthecure.com.au and follow on social media.

4 annual Presidential changeover by the Rotary Club of Brisbane International th

The Rotary Club of Brisbane International had its 4thannual Presidential changeover, inducting Sokoveti Niko as the new president. The baton was passed by P Nirmala Prasad. The Rotary annual changeovers are celebrated around 33000 Rotary clubs in 200 countries meeting to celebrate the Transition of Leadership, and congratulate the outgoing board for the fabulous Rotary year connecting the world and then establish a platform for the year ahead as Rotarians throughout the World has been challenged to open opportunities. In our endeavours to establish these platforms Rotary International President-elect Holger Knaack is encouraging Rotarians to seize the many opportunities Rotary offers to enrich their lives and the communities they serve for the coming Rotary year. Rotary isn’t just a club for people to join, but rather “an invitation to endless opportunities,” and we should remember that Rotary creates pathways for members to improve their lives and the lives of those

they help through service projects. P Nirmala Prasad thankedthe members of the club, friends of the club and her family for the support for the fabulous and rewarding year that she and the club achieved. This is despite the unprecedented times with the Covid virus engulfing the nation since March 2020. The highlights of the year included the successful flagship fundraising events, High tea and Bollywood in Brisvegas, shipment of 500 school bags filled with stationery and 90 carton of books to Fiji, providing air con units and installations to Kingston Centre for Learning, donating funds to Rama Krishna Mission (RKM) project MVuli, on line learning platform for

32 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

Primary schools in Fiji, chartering of Rotary club of Browns Plains, hosting youth exchange student from Italy, serving in excess of 1500 freshly prepared nutritious hot meals to the homeless in Roma street parklands. The evening also recognised Surekha Padarath for her outstanding and

inspirational service above self with a Paul Harris Fellow. The Rotarian of the Year was awarded to President Elect Subhashni Singh, with commendable Heroes’ award to Ajnesh Singh, Avinendra Sharma and Jeff Jones. P Soko will be the Centennial President of the club, as Rotary celebrates

100 years of service to making a difference serving humanity in Australia and New Zealand. She inspired the members and guests with her passionate journey, from humble beginnings in Verata Village, Nausori, Fiji Islands to today, teaching at Glenala High School. With husband Filipe, and

2 kids, Sinu and Inoke, P Soko and the RCBI team is very excited for the goals and visions ahead, certainly opening opportunities, as together Rotary sees a world where people unite and take actions to create lasting change, across the globe, in our communities and on ourselves.

SRI SELVA VINAYAKAR KOYIL (GANESHA TEMPLE) BRISBANE (South Maclean)

Newsletter 163-115 Aavani/Shrāvaṇa Month (mid-August 2020 to mid-September 2020) Festivals Dear Sri Selva Vinayaka devotees, Hindu Ahlaya Sangam Qld Inc (HASQ) cordially invites you to Sri Selva Vinayakar Temple Brisbane (South Maclean) for Aavani /Shrāvaṇa Month Festivals.

Sri Lalitha Sahastranama Stotram Chanting on Sunday 16 August 2020 Sri AyyapaSwamy Simha Masa Abishekam/Aavani Maasa Pirappu (Shrāvaṇa month starts) on Monday 17 August 2020 Vinyaka Chathurthi Viratham / Festival on Saturday 22 August 2020 Aavani Moolam on Friday 28 August 2020 Pirathosha Viratham on Sunday 30 August & Tuesday 15 September 2020 Aavani Onam on Monday 31 August 2020 Nadesar Abishekam Tuesday 01 September 2020 Full moon/ Powrnami & Sathya Narayanar Poojai on Wednesday 02 September 2020 Sankatahara Chathurthi on Saturday 05 September 2020 Sri Vishnu Sahastranamam & Paaraayanam on Sunday 6 September 2020 Krishna Jayanthy on Wednesday 09 September 2020 Visit Brisbane Sri Selva Vinayakar (Ganesha) Temple and get the Blessing of Lord Ganesha. For further information please contact our Temple or the Secretary Mr: M.Surendra on Mobile-0407-753991

Temple Website: http://www.sriselvavinayakar.org Follow us on (click the icons): 4915-4923, Mt Lindesay Highway, South Maclean, Queensland-4280, Australia, Phone: +61 7 5547 7302

Kavita ji

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Amit Shah Tests Positive For COVID-19, Attended Cabinet Meet On Wednesday Union Home Minister Amit Shah has tested positive for coronavirus, which has infected more than 17 lakh people in the country. Sources said he has been admitted to Medanta hospital, located in Haryana's Gurugram near Delhi. In a tweet, the minister said his health was "fine" but he was being hospitalised "on the advice of doctors". He also requested that all those "who have come in contact with me in the last few days, please isolate yourself and get your inquiry done". Sources said extensive contact tracing will be carried out and anyone who came in contact with the minister will have to self-isolate. Mr Shah, 55, had taken part in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, which was attended by all top ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh, and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. All safety norms, including social distancing, were followed at the crucial meet, where the National Education Policy was approved. Sources said there is a

strict coronavirus protocol at PM Modi's official residence, where cabinet meetings are held. Apart from the mandatory temperature check and the use of Aarogya Setu app, it also involves some extra measures. The use of cars inside the premises has been stopped. While most of PM Modi's meetings are now held online, cabinet meetings are not virtual. On Sunday afternoon, Mr Shah tweeted: "On getting the initial symptoms of coronavirus, I got the test done and the report came back positive. My health is fine, but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors. I request that

all of you who have come in contact with me in the last few days, please isolate yourself and get your inquiry done," Mr Shah's tweet in Hindi roughly said. The country logged more than 17 lakh cases of coronavirus today - adding more than one lakh patients to the tally in just two days. The pandemic has claimed the life of a minister in Uttar Pradesh. Kamal Rani Varun, 62, died at Lucknow's Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences this morning. Last week, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tested positive for the virus. He has been in hospital for nine days, and tweeted today to say that he was well. From his hospital bed, the Chief Minister tweeted a get-wellsoon message for Mr Shah. "Home Minister Amit Shah, may God help you recover soon, so you can serve the nation with full energy. Our best wishes are with you," his tweet in Hindi read. Tamil Nadu's Governor Banwarilal Purohit has also tested positive for

coronavirus today, said Chennai's Kauvery Hospital, where he has been admitted. He is asymptomatic and clinically stable, the hospital said. Over the last 24 hours, 54,735 cases of the disease were reported, taking the total number of cases to 17,50,723, data from the Health Ministry showed. The spike came as the country rolled Unlock 3 the third phase of lifting of restrictions - was rolled out last week. The government, however, is yet to open places which see a large gathering of people, including schools and colleges, cinema halls, swimming pools, bars and assembly halls. Many states announced lockdown in different degrees last month as numbers spiked. It took just 185 days for India to cross the 17-lakh mark after the first case was reported in Kerala in January this year. The country had crossed the one lakh-mark in 110 days. More than 60 per cent of total cases in the country and over 50 per cent of total deaths have been recorded in July.

COVID-19: No Free Travel For Women In Haryana Buses On Raksha Bandhan Chandigarh: The Haryana government on Sunday said there will be no free travel facility for women in state roadways buses on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government's decision, which came on the eve of Raksha Bandhan, drew criticism from senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda. He said instead of using the pandemic as an excuse, the government should run more buses to ensure social distancing. "The free (travel) service has been discontinued (for women) on Monday this time in view of the COVID-19 situation as a limited number of people are allowed to travel in a bus," Haryana Transport Minister Mool Chand Sharma

said. "In a 52-seater bus, only 30 passengers are allowed to travel," he said. Mr Sharma also appealed to people to maintain social distancing, wear face masks

and sanitise their hands before boarding the buses. Hitting out at the government over the decision, Mr Hooda alleged it will put undue burden on a large number of families

Rajasthan Approves 5% Quota For More Backward Classes In Judicial Service Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has approved five per cent reservation to the ''more backward classes'', including Gurjars, in the state judicial service, according to a statement. The government has

amended the Rajasthan Judicial Service Rules, 2010, through the state cabinet on the initiative by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to provide five per cent reservation in place of one per cent, an official statement said.

34 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

Candidates belonging to the more backward classes have been demanding amendment in the judicial service rules for a long time so that they can get five per cent reservation in the state judicial service instead of one per cent.

facing financial distress due to months of lockdown and an economic slowdown in the country. "This will be the first time in 14 years that the government will collect fare from women on Raksha Bandhan. Our government started this free bus service giving women of the state a gift on Raksha Bandhan," the former Haryana Chief Minister said. He said the government should reconsider its decision. Mr Hooda said the government should not give the excuse of COVID-19 to discontinue the free travel service on Raksha Bandhan and instead run more buses to avoid crowding and ensure social distancing and safety of women who will visit their brothers.

Shiv Sena Has Contributed Rs 1 Crore For Ram Temple As Promised: Rajya Sabha MP Mumbai: The Shiv Sena has honoured its commitment by transferring Rs 1 crore to the trust overseeing the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, a senior party leader said on Sunday. The Sena's clarification came amidst reports quoting Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairman of the trust, as saying that no money was received from the Shiv Sena as promised, he said. The foundation laying ceremony for the construction of Ram temple is scheduled on August 5 for which the trust has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The amount was transferred in the bank account of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust on July 27, the 60th birthday of Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai said in a statement. "We have received confirmation and acknowledgement of the amount transfer from the

trustee and treasurer (of the trust)," he said in a statement. We were surprised at reports of Nritya Gopal Das Maharaj saying that no money has been received from the Shiv Sena, Mr Desai said. During his visit to Ayodhya in March this year, Mr Thackeray had announced Rs 1 crore from his trust for the construction of a Ram temple. "Today, I want to announce that not from the state government, but from my trust, I offer an amount of Rs 1 crore for the construction of Ram Temple here. It is just a small contribution from our part," he had said.

Clothes Of Many Colours For Ram Lalla Idol Ready: Chief Priest In Ayodhya Ayodhya: Depending on the day's significance, the idol of Ram Lalla is likely to don different coloured attires from Monday onwards till August 5, the day for "bhoomi pujan" for the grand temple's construction in Ayodhya, said Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of the makeshift temple on Sunday. "From tomorrow onwards till August 5, we will dress Ram Lalla as per the day's significance. For tomorrow, i.e. Monday, it would be white clothes, for Tuesday it would be red clothes and for Wednesday it would be green clothes," Acharya Das told ANI. "We have also kept an option of yellow and saffron clothes," he added. Pandit Kalki Ram, president of Ramdal Seva Trust on Sunday handed over the clothes for Ram Lalla's idol to the chief priest, ahead of foundation stone laying ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya. "I have collected the clothes for Ram Lalla from the tailor, and handed over to the chief priest Satyendra Das Ji. Prime Minister Modi is coming on August 5 to lay the foundation stone of the temple," he said. Bhagwat Prasad, one of the shop owners of "Babu Lal Tailors" who has been stitching clothes for idols of Gods and Goddesses in temples for several years said that various coloured

clothes have been prepared. "The order for the clothes were given by Pandit Kalki Ram ji - white for Monday, red for Tuesday and special green clothes for Wednesday. Saffron clothes have also been prepared," he said. PM Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5, according to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the president of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust. The construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya will begin after the ceremony to lay the foundation stone in which chief ministers of many states, ministers from the union cabinet and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat are also likely to participate. In March this year, the "Ram Lalla" idol was shifted to a temporary structure. Supreme Court, on November 9 last year, had directed the central government to hand over the site at Ayodhya for the construction of a Ram temple.

Message from the Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Stirling Hinchliffe MP Minister for Local Government, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs

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I offer my sincere congratulations to all Queenslanders of Indian heritage celebrating the 73rd anniversary of India’s independence. Queenslanders of Indian heritage and birth have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to our social and economic prosperity, including in business, health, education, the arts and sport. Our State is a far richer place because of the more than 84,000 Queenslanders who identify with Indian heritage, adding to our wonderful cultural diversity. In this, it’s important to recognise the hard work of GOPIO Queensland in sharing Indian culture with the broader community and helping to make Queensland more inclusive, harmonious and unified - a place where we strive to ensure that everyone belongs. While it is unfortunate the current coronavirus pandemic means we are not able to celebrate with the usual India Day Fair event GOPIO traditionally organises to mark India Independence Day, it is good to see the community’s flexibility and innovation in marking the occasion in different ways this year. Regardless of our cultural heritage, we can look with admiration at what was achieved those seven decades ago. An independent nation was born, not through violence nor subjugation, but through peaceful resistance in order to bring about change. Unfortunately, there are many today who are still too quick to turn to aggression to settle differences or achieve agendas. Those who peacefully sought change so many years ago in India, particularly those who sacrificed all to attain it, remain a shining example of a better way to achieve a better world. I wish you all a happy India Independence Day.

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 — 35

FOCUS ON FIJI 3 taxi drivers arrested after seizure of apparatus and equipment allegedly used to produce hard drugs Three taxi drivers were arrested after a raid conducted in a house resulted in the discovery of apparatus and equipment allegedly used to produce hard drugs. A 45-year old taxi driver of Nasinu was arrested after a raid conducted at his home while the other two taxi drivers were arrested at the alleged scene of crime. Police say smoking apparatus, electronic items and foreign currencies were also found during the raid. In other separate cases in the Western Division, three

men appeared in court as they were allegedly found with methamphetamine and marijuana. The first accused, a 28-year-old unemployed man of Waiyavi was arrested following a raid in an apartment complex where he was allegedly found with methamphetamine and marijuana. In the second incident, a taxi driver and a tow truck driver were arrested in Lautoka after they were found with plastic containing methamphetamine.

Police working with stakeholders to improve service when addressing gender based violence Police are currently working with relevant stakeholders to address issues regarding their services which includes lack of urgency in issuing domestic violence restraining orders, lack of professionalism when handling reports of genderbased violence and the lack of urgency in attending to reports. These issues were highlighted when the Police Eastern Division Command Group met with the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, professional counselling groups and nongovernmental organisations. The meeting was held in a bid to improve responses to cases of gender-based violence. Chief Operations Officer ACP Abdul Khan says establishing these channels and exchanging contact details will enable them to

The Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister Yogesh Karan has stressed that now more than ever they have to work smarter and ministries under his leadership will have to economise to save extra operational costs. Karan says even though the allocations for the various ministries have been slashed, the national budget has been outlined well, taking into account stimulus packages and the revival of the economy. Karan says their services to the people of Fiji will not

slow down, in fact, they will continue the momentum. He says they have to do more with less and will work around these allocations and maintain the work pace. The Office of the Prime Minister has been allocated $14.9 million in the 2020-2021 Budget which is a decrease of $2.7 million. Apart from the Office of the Prime Minister, Karan is also the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Sugar Industry, Immigration and Acting Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

Drug raids in Kadavu results in seizure of 1,500 marijuana plants

improve responses when addressing gender-based violence. He says they are there to serve the public and need to work together with the stakeholders. Khan says rather than waiting for a major meeting to address shortfalls in service delivery, they are streamlining processes

by improving networking amongst all stakeholders to ensure issues can be addressed immediately. He says the meeting gave members of the Eastern Division Command Group the opportunity to hear first-hand information on issues encountered by the representatives. Since the first meeting

in May, ACP Abdul Khan has held similar meetings at the Divisional level where the representatives have so far met with the Divisional Police Commander Southern, Officer in Charge Totogo and their managers. Discussions on having similar meetings in the Western and Northern Divisions are ongoing.

30% increase in sugar cane yield since 2016 Permanent Secretary for Sugar, Yogesh Karan says that since 2016 there has been a 30 percent increase in sugar cane yield. Karan says cane growers are making profits averaging from $25 to $35 for every tonne of cane which is nearly 30 to 40 percent gross margin after costs are met. Karan says both the cane production and yield has continually increased from 1.39 million tonnes of cane and 37 tonnes of yield per hectare to 1.81 million tonnes in 2019 with a yield of 48 tonnes per hectare. He says on average, the cane production cost is

Now more than ever we have to work smarter to save extra operational costs - Karan

$31.00 per tonne and average harvesting and cartage cost of $30.00 per tonne adding about 40 percent of the cane production cost is absorbed by the Government through weedicide subsidies of 55 percent and fertiliser

36 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

subsidies which are 56 percent. Karan says when compared to other businesses, the growers are way better off at cane payment of $85 per tonne and the higher the yield for farmers, the higher their total net income. The Permanent Secretary reiterates Government will continue with its ongoing support and commitment to sustain the industry. Karan says Government has allocated more than $15 million towards the Fertilizer Subsidy Programme in the 2020-2021 financial year to ensure that the growers apply the required amount of

fertiliser to their cane fields and replenish nutrient loss. Karan adds the Ministry will also introduce the green manuring programme which is a process whereby leguminous plants such as pulses, lentils, peas, peanuts and mucuna that are capable of trapping nitrogen from the atmosphere are incorporated into the soil to improve soil health. He says these plants will be cultivated on the same land few months prior to cane planting. The Ministry of Sugar is allocated a total of $53.6 million in the 2020/21 National Budget.

Drug raids conducted in Kadavu last week resulted in the seizure of up to 1,500 marijuana plants. Police say the raid conducted at Muanisolo in Naceva resulted in the discovery of up to 400 marijuana plants and in another raid, 400 marijuana plants were discovered near Naivakarauniniu Village. A 59-year-old farmer was arrested following the raid in Naivakarauniniu Village. The third raid was conducted in Nauciwai Village in Yale where more than 700 marijuana plants were discovered. Chief Operations Officer, ACP Abdul Khan says police officers deployed to Kadavu have been receiving overwhelming support for

the ongoing efforts on the war on drugs. Khan says while some have labelled the operations a waste of time, they will continue to deploy officers to Kadavu and other parts of Fiji if it means saving another innocent life from the harmful effects of drugs.

COVID-19: 47 people arrested in last 48 hours Forty-seven people were arrested in the last 48 hours for breach of curfew. According to police, From Friday 11pm to Saturday 4am 25 arrests were recorded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Eastern Division recorded nine cases, Southern six cases, West five cases, North four cases and the Central Division recorded one (1) case.Of the 25 reports, 24 cases involved those who were intoxicated,â&#x20AC;? said police in a statement on Facebook.

Police added from 11pm last night till 4am this morning, 22 reports were recorded. The Western Division recorded eight cases, South six cases, Central five reports and East recording three cases. Of the 22 reports, 14 were intoxicated during their time of arrest. All remain in custody and will be produced in court at the next available court sitting.

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Sushant Singh Rajput case: Senior Bihar cop says Rhea Chakraborty will be taken into custody if need be Senior Bihar cop Vinay Tiwari has been home quarantined by the BMC in Mumbai owing to the widespread coronavirus pandemic. In an interview with a news portal, Tiwari reportedly said that Sushant Singh Rajput’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty might be taken into custody. Vinay Tiwari reportedly said that they have registered an FIR against Rhea and have started their investigations. Although they have no plans of arresting her for now, he added that she might be taken into custody if need be. He also stated that statements of many people have also been recorded in the past few days. Talking about coordinating with Mumbai police on the case, he reportedly said that they haven’t received the case-

related documents from Mumbai police yet. He added that they will collect all the documents, including the accidental death report, postmortem and forensic reports and statements of people interviewed by Mumbai cops. Elaborating more, he added that there is no proper coordination between Mumbai and Bihar police and that is why he has come to Mumbai. He stated that he will guide his officers. Superintendent of Police Vinay Tiwari has been sent from Bihar to head the fourmember team carrying out an investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. Sushant Singh Rajput passed away on June 14. His funeral was held the next day on June 15 which was attended by his family, friends, and Bollywood counterparts.

Kangana Ranaut and sister Rangoli Chandel receive a sweet surprise from their brothers on the eve of Raksha Bandhan; watch video Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who is currently in Manali with her family, recently received an adorable surprise from all her brothers on the eve of Raksha Bandhan. The diva's team took to social media to share a glimpse of the brother-sister cute bond on the special occasion. Kangana and Rangoli were not only treated with scrumptious food by their brothers but were also given head massages as well. The 'Queen' actress along with her sister and her nephew Prithvi can be seen enjoying the delicious treat as they celebrate Rakhi. Her team took to social media to share the video

from their celebration and wrote, "Rakhi 2020 On the eve of #Rakshabandhan, Rangoli & Kangana’s

brother’s surprised them with a sun-down dinner. Not only did they cook for them, but gave head

massages as well. Meanwhile, a few days back, gunshots were heard near Kangana's house due to which police security has been deployed outside her Manali house. Talking about the incident, Kangana told ETimes, "I do feel that, you know, because I have made a political comment on people who are known for their goondagardi. So this may have been a small-time alarming call for me that okay, you know, don't talk like that about us or something like that… to me seems like that, because such an activity has never happened here before. And I have witnesses who have also heard it along with me."

Big B beats Covid-19, returns home; Abhishek still in hospital MUMBAI: After 21 days in hospital, superstar Amitabh Bachchan beat Covid-19 and returned home on Sunday. His actor son Abhishek (44), who was admitted to Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle on the same day as his father on July 11, continues to be hospitalised due to comorbidities. The 77-year-old veteran actor was discharged after his latest Covid-19 test came negative. An ambulance from the hospital dropped Amitabh to his Juhu bungalow, Jalsa, on Sunday evening. “I have tested Covid-, have been discharged. I am back 38 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

home in solitary quarantine (sic),” the senior Bachchan tweeted. He also thanked his friends, fans and the hospital staff for their support in helping him recover. Sources said the actor was not completely symptom-free and continued to suffer from body ache and weakness that is known to linger in many Covid patients. Abhishek took to Twitter on Sunday to inform that he was still in hospital. “I, unfortunately due to some comorbidities, remain Covid-19 positive and remain in hospital. Again, thank you all for your continued wishes and

prayers for my family…” A day after Amitabh and Abhishek’s hospitalisation, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and eight-yearold daughter Aaradhya had tested positive on July 12. While they initially chose to self-isolate at home, they were hospitalised on July 17 after both developed fever. Both were discharged on July 27 after they tested negative, but continued to be quarantined at home. Amitabh’s wife and actor Jaya Bachchan had tested negative along with their daughter Sweta Bachchan Nanda and her family members.

Akshay Kumar dedicates new film, RakshaBandhan, to his sister in heartwarming social media post As Indians globally celebrate RakshaBandhan, international megastar Akshay Kumar announced that an upcoming film project of the same name will be dedicated to his sister, Alka Hiranandani, while also naming this exciting project as “special”. Set to be directed by Aanand L Rai, RakshaBandhan will celebrate the relationship between brothers and sisters in what is already expected to be one of the most emotionally poignant blockbusters for 2021, as it focuses on one of the most unbreakable and important bonds. Sharing a hearttouching poster for the movie, Akshay Kumar is seen embracing his three on-screen sisters in what elegantly highlights the beautiful relationship brothers and sisters share with one another. Taking to social media to share the exciting news, Akshay Kumar said how this was the “quickest” he had ever agreed to star

in a film. He posted the following message to his 100M+ followers: “A story that touches your heart so deeply & so instantly, it’s the quickest I’ve signed a film in my career. Dedicating this film, #RakshaBandhan to my sister, Alka & to the most special bond in the world… that of a brother and sister. Thank you @aanandlrai, this one is very special” RakshaBandhan, which is due for release in cinemas on 5th November 2021, was written by the awardwinning writer Himanshu Sharma and will be produced by Colour Yellow Productions in association with Cape of Good Films. However, fans of Akshay Kumar do not have to wait that long to see him on their screens again with the superstar set to feature in a number of anticipated films such as Laxmmi Bomb and Sooryavanshi while he is also working with Rai on the director’s next release, Atrangi Re.

Preity Zinta shares a sweet picture with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on Friendship Day

Bollywood celebs took over social media to share pictures and videos with their best friends on the occasion of friendship day. Now, Preity Zinta took to Instagram to share a picture with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan along with her other BFFs. The duo looked absolutely pretty in their respective traditional avatars! She captioned the post, "Friendship is like a renewable source of power and the best kind of friendships are fierce girl friendships where you aggressively believe in each other, defend each other and think the other deserves the world ❤️Celebrating my Gorgeous girlfriends today & everyday.

Meanwhile, the actress has been sharing pictures and videos of how she is spending her lockdown days. In her recent video, she gave her fans a tour to her kitchen garden and also thanked her mother for inspiring her to grow vegetables at home. The actress is currently living in the US with husband Gene Goodenough. On the work front, the actress was last seen in a film titled 'Bhaiaji Superhit' co-starring Sunny Deol. Helmed by Neeraj Pathak, the film was released in November 2018. On the other hand, Aishwarya recently returned home from the hospital after testing negative for COVID-19.

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 39

Which doctor should you see about hepatitis B, a GP or a Specialist? Hepatitis B is a chronic disease caused by a virus that can lead to fibrosis or cirrhosis, liver cancer and sometimes death. In Australia hepatitis B, like other chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure etc., can be monitored and managed well by GPs.If the patient is generally in good healthand the GP does not thinkthe patient needs to be referred to a specialist, they can undertake the recommended appropriate follow up and monitoring, especially if medication for hepatitis B is not required. GPs in Australia are highly trained in managing chronic conditions. The Australian Medical Association states ‘General Practitioners/family doctors are specialists in their own right’. GPs must undertake a minimum of 10 to 15 years of training to be able to work independently. Some GPs have had

additional training for conditions that they have a special interest in, including conditions such as antenatal care, dermatology, diabetes, HIV and hepatitis B and C.Currently there are over 50 GPs in Queensland who have completedextensive training in prescribing hepatitis B medication for patients without significant damage to their liver which would usually beprescribed by a specialist You can find the list of these GPs at www. ashm.org.au For general hepatitis B monitoring, all GPs must follow strict guidelines in the care of patients and can access advice when required from specialists in the public hospitals. If the patient has damage to the liver or other signs and symptoms of concern caused by hepatitis and other conditions, or have multiple health issues, they will generally refer the patient to a specialist. Specialist care for

hepatitis B is usually either undertaken in Public or Private Hospital settings. Many Liver Specialists work betweenboth public and private hospitals/clinics. People have the right to choose where they would like to be seen if they need to be referred to a specialist. If the person has a Medicare Card, they will receive free Specialist care in a public hospital. Private Specialists charge fees in order to maintain their private practice and these may not be fully covered by Private Health Insurance and the patient may need to pay a ‘Gap fee’ or ‘Out of pocket’ amount. Regardless, whether you see a GP or a Specialist in a public or private hospital, it is veryimportant that youattend appointments as requested. The majority of people with hepatitis B should see their doctor at least every six months to check the liver in order to

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identify anychanges in their liver health. Contact us ECCQ’s Hepatitis, HIV/ AIDS and Sexual Health Programcan provide free Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and STIs information, resources and support in different languages: Website: eccq.com.au/bbv Phone: 07 3844 9166 Email: health@eccq.com.au If you live in Cairns, you can also contact:

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Home Remedies for Rough Dry Hands (Part 1) Nimisha Modi

Hetvi Hair & Beauty 0412350013

Who doesn’t love to have soft and smooth hands with a pink tone? Due to Covid after washing hands so many times and use of sanitizer our hands are dry and rough. There are many home remedies for dry and rough hands and you can use them easily without any hassle. Causes for Dry and Rough Hands Before you go on to read these home remedies for dry and rough hands, you need to understand the causes that lead to such condition of your hands. • Dry air • Cold and dry weather • Low humidity • Sun exposure • Washing hands frequently or keeping hands immersed in water for long time • Dealing with harmful chemicals, especially with bare hands • Swimming in chlorinated pools • Using harsh soap bars to wash hands • Improper care of hands • Inadequate moisturizing of hands • Skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema etc. • Allergy affecting hands The solution to get soft hands is to take proper care of your hands and using the right products like soaps, moisturizers etc. so that your hands don’t become rough and dry.

Home Remedies for Dry Rough Hands If somehow, you get dry rough hands, try these natural remedies to make your hands softer. 1. Give Oil Massage to your Dry and Rough Hands Oils are one of the ancient and proven methods to make anything soft. Hands are no exception. You can massage your dry rough hands with oil and get soft hands. However, you need to do this regularly. It doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes to massage your hands daily with an oil. You can use any oil but some oils are better than others such as castor oil, olive oil and coconut oil. oil has antioxidants and healthy fatty acids that moisturize dry hands in excellent ways, makes your hands looks beautifully. Get this: Oil (castor, olive/coconut/ any other oil) Do this: Warm the oil of your choice. It should be warm and not hot oil. Massage your hands with this warm oil daily for 5-10 minutes initially. As days go by and your hands become less drier and rough, you can reduce the time of massaging your hands. You can now massage them for only 1-2 minutes every day and 2-3 times a day. 2. Olive Oil and Sugar Scrub to get rid of Dry Rough Hands instantly If you are in a hurry and can’t wait to get soft hands,

40 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

over hands for few minutes. Wash off with warm water. Pat dry and apply some moisturizer. To make it more effective, you can add little olive oil and lemon juice to honey. Mix the things well. Apply this to your hands. Leave for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with warm water, pat dry and moisturize your hands. Repeat 2-3 times a week. instead of massaging them with olive oil, make a scrub using sugar and olive oil. This way, you can get rid of dry and rough hands in less than one minute! Isn’t this amazing! But how does this happen? Olive oil moisturizes and hydrates the skin cells of your dry rough hands whereas sugar exfoliates and sloughs off the rough dead skin cells giving way to healthier new cells. Get this: Olive oil- 1-2 tbsp Sugar- 1-2 tbsp Do this: Mix the equal amounts of olive oil and sugar. Now rub this scrub into your palms and hands with gentle circular motions for a couple of minutes. Leave the scrub into your hands for another couple of minutes. Now wash it off with warm water and pat dry Apply petroleum jelly Feel the softness in your hands. Do this 2-3 times a week. 3. Rub Fresh Cream on your Dry and Rough Hands Oils are not the only things

that have high fatty contents. Milk cream/ coconut cream is another ingredient which is high in fat content. This fatty composition of cream provides ultimate moisturization to your dry and rough hands. What more, lactic acid present in milk and its cream exfoliates the dry skin as well as maintains the pH level of your skin to keep it smooth and soft. Get this: Milk cream/ Coconut cream Gram flour (optional)- 2 tbsp Do this Take some fresh cream and apply on your palms, fingers, all over your hands. Wait for a few minutes, about 5-10 minutes. Now rub it slightly all over your hands for another 1-2 minutes. Wash off with warm water. If your hands are extremely rough and dry, use this remedy daily otherwise 2-3 times a week is enough. You may also give it an exfoliating effect by adding gram flour to cream. Mix about 2 teaspoons of fresh cream with 2

tablespoons of gram flour and make a paste. Decrease or increase the quantity of both the ingredients as per convenience. You need a smooth paste. Apply this to your hands. Leave it for 15 minutes Now rub it slightly for 1-2 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Repeat 2-3 times a week. 4. Honey, the sweet remedy for Dry Rough Hands Honey health benefits need no introduction. The good news is that honey is also good for your skin health. It is one of the best natural moisture loaded with antioxidants, antimicrobial and humectant properties. Its humectant effects help in locking the moisture and keep your hands soft and smooth. Get this: Honey- 1-2 tsp Olive oil (optional)- ½ tsp Lemon juice (optional)few drops Do this: Honey, by itself, is a good remedy for dry rough skin of your hands. Just rub a little honey into your palms and all

5. Oatmeal-Honey Scrub for Dry and Rough Hands With the great moisturizing effects of honey, you can add the excellent exfoliating effects of oatmeal and convert your dry rough hands into super soft hands. Oatmeal naturally cleanse and exfoliates the skin of your hands. Get this: Ground oatmeal- 2 tbsp Honey- 1 tsp Lemon juice (optional)few drops Water- as required Do this: Combine oatmeal, honey and lemon juice, if using. Mix some water to this to get a paste like consistency. Apply this paste onto your hands. Leave it for a couple of minutes. Now rub your hands gently for about 5-10 minutes. If required, use some water when it gets tough to rub due to dried paste. Now wash off with warm water and pat dry. Apply moisturizer. Repeat 1-3 times a week depending on the roughness and dryness of your hands.

NDIS TRANSFORMING LIVES

NDIS has transformed lives of thousands of people with disabilities – when used creatively. The challenge is that it is a rather complex scheme which requires an expert to simplify it and explain it to you so that you can make the most out of the funding and use it in ways that suit your unique needs and to fulfil your goals. Unfortunately, due to cultural and linguistic barriersthis is often difficult and after over 2 years of the scheme in QLD, multicultural people are NOT benefiting from NDIS as much as mainstream persons are. The reasons are mainly that there is still a large stigma within the multicultural families in acknowledging a loved one’s disability as well as reaching out for help. Do stop to ask yourself if you are doing everything possible for your loved one with a disability? Could your loved one benefit from external support? Could they learn to be more independent? Could they learn a more fulfilling life in the community than they are now? If your answer is yes, please do consider all options that NDIS can offer in enriching your loved one’s life. NDIS was designed with the vision of people with disabilities achieving their goals with supports that

Do stop to ask yourself if you are doing everything possible for your loved one with a disability? Could your loved one benefit from external support? Could they learn to be more independent? Could they learn a more fulfilling life in the community than they are now? If your answer is yes, please do consider all options that NDIS can offer in enriching your loved one’s life. suit their unique needs. For example, did you know that NDIS funds can be used to hire someone (support workers) in the community who shares your culture and language so that they can teach your loved one life skills such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting, taking transport etc? These support workers could even take them out on day trips with groups, on holidays or they could stay overnight at your place and look after your loved one while you take a break. NDIS can also fund independent living arrangement including housing and support workers

to look after the person with a disability. Think of a middle-aged person with a disability whose parents are getting older and cannot look after him/her. NDIS could possibly fund for an independent housing arrangement as well as fund for the support workers who need to be trained to look after this person so they can live safely on their own. NDIS funding can also be used for people who require assistive technology – iPad / exercise equipment / wheelchair/ shower chair / electric bed / orthotics and other items that are beneficial to their disability. NDIS funding can also be used to modify the home in

Think of a middleaged person with a disability whose parents are getting older and cannot look after him/ her. NDIS could possibly fund for an independent housing arrangement as well as fund for the support workers who need to be trained to look after this person so they can live safely on their own. ways that make it easy for the person with disability to do things on their own.

“My 14 year old son with Autism has learnt to do basic tasks at home such as make a sandwich, clean his room, take out the rubbish, take the bus to school..........all because his support worker has the patience to teach his step by step and is like a friend to him! As a mother, I always thought it was my duty to do these things for him and I would have continued to do this for years. But I can see that he is so happy to be independent and he can do a lot more than I thought. I am so happy and hopeful now of the future!” Mum of 3 children in Ipswich. “My sister is in her 40s and is intellectually disabled. Before NDIS, I used to be her only support. If not for NDIS, I would have to do help her with all day to day tasks such as cleaning, cooking, shopping, exercising, going to appointments and looking after her health. NDIS has also funded for her wheelie walker, iPad and other exercise items that she needs to stay fit. She also attends art classes which she enjoys and this is all paid by NDIS”. Lady in her 30s in Brisbane North. “I am a victim of a severe stroke and with NDIS funding, I am able to pay for physio, speech therapy, workers who help me with all my household duties. I am so grateful that I have this support and don’t have to rely on my adult children who are busy with their own lives and families”. 59 year old man living on his own in Logan. There is also a lack of awareness on which disabilities are accepted in the NDIS scheme – so here is a list of disabilities listed on the NDIS website (not exhaustive): • Acquired Brain Injury • Autism • Downs Syndrome

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 — 41

AUGUST 2020

Aries ( 21st March to 20th April )

Taurus ( 21st April to 21st May )

Gemini ( 22nd May to 21st June )

This might not be a favorable month for getting married. However, married couples may enjoy life to the fullest, learning to accept their partners wholeheartedly. You may be able to find various avenues of earning money. However, there may be no major expenses, apart from some money spent to decorate your living room. Singles might be preoccupied and concerned with their career growth during this month, and may not be in any mood to develop any relationships. This may not be a good time to get too close to new friends. The inflow of finances might steadily increase. This may fill you up with positivity and enthusiasm. For married couples, current planetary influences may be favorable. You may wish to spend a substantial sum of money to decorate the interiors of your house. There may be no major accidental expenses foreseen during this period. The movement of two major planets may cause a slight delay in the finalization of this deal. This phase might be moderate for the native of Aries. You may not face any accidental expenses during this period, however, your personal habitual expenses might increase. Try to control unwanted expenses during this period. Businessmen may do well to prepare to meet all challenges head-on.

During this phase, those in committed relationships may be keen to experience intimate pleasures. However, they may decide to get married at the earliest possible convenience to enjoy such pleasures. During this phase, keep a tight leash over unwanted expenses, and do not purchase unnecessary things you do not require. You may be focused upon saving money for the security of your future. Singles might fall in love with someone of the opposite sex, who may move into the nearby vicinity. The feelings may be mutual, and there may be something between the two that immediately click. During this month, monetary gains may thrill you and you may be brimming with positivity. On the other hand, your expenses might increase. You may want to control unwanted expenditures. Married couples might want to visit a nearby resort to spend quality time together. There may be minor issues and family-related disturbances this month. Mars may transition through the twelfth house, which may lead to an increase in personal expenses. Try and keep a tight leash over unwanted expenses, and focus on saving money for the future. This period may be blissful for married couples. You may try to keep your family members happy and satisfied. You might be tempted to spend money buying exorbitant things you don't need, and there may be a chance your personal spending habits increase. Try to control unwanted expenses. Businessmen may do well to adopt a systematic approach and learn to accept new challenges head-on.

During this phase, you might spend some joyous moments with your family. However, you may have differences of opinions with the one you are emotionally attached to. You should aim to sort out such differences amicably. There may be some handsome financial gains in store for you during this phase. There may be no major expenses during this month. In order to avoid unnecessary conflicts and maintain family peace, you may need to agree with all the views of your family. However, do not blindly trust new friends. There may be no accidental financial expenses for you during this phase. You may be focused on saving money for the security of you and your loved one's future. You may do well to try to develop new contacts to expedite your sales procedure. Married couples may be troubled due to their spouse's non-cooperative attitude. They may need to do something different to spark the romance. Businessmen may be presented with many lucrative chances, starting from mid-month to the end of the month. You may feel elated, as your financial situation may grow stronger with each passing day. You may have some differences of opinions with someone with whom you have an emotional attachment. Try and give that person enough space, and resolve all issues amicably. Planetary influences indicate that you may be motivated enough to accomplish something big. There may be a major financial gain in store for you. You may do well to stay away from intoxicants.

Cancer ( 22nd June to 22nd July )

Leo ( 23rd July to 22nd August )

Virgo ( 23rd August to 22nd September )

Married couples may be unhappy due to the indifferent and uncaring attitude of their spouse. They may do well to exhibit patience with their spouse, as better days are just around the corner. The movement of Rahu through the twelfth house may increase the probability of unwanted expenses. Do try to keep a tight leash on them, because doing so may guarantee a strong financial position. You may spend money on purchasing luxuries for your family. Married people may need to exhibit patience towards one another, as this month may not be very favorable. The Sun and Mercury are moving through the second house. This may result in a financial gain, increasing your financial stability overall. Married couples might be unhappy, and may keep finding faults with their spouse. They may do well to be patient, and refrain from verbal accusations. During this phase, try to keep the family elders happy. There may be a temptation to purchase things you don't need. Don't give in to it. Control unwanted expenses. Businessmen might be able to strike a very profitable deal during this month. Married couples may need to give each other plenty of time and space. They may need to adapt to their spouse's views, to retain peace and harmony in their marital life. Planetary influences indicate an increase in income. However, you may need to put in a lot of consistent effort before being successful.

This might not be a great month for married couples, and it may be crucial that they give each other time and space. This might help them to maintain harmony. Try budgeting your finances and keeping tight control over unwanted expenses. You may easily be able to manage any routine and incidental expenses. Businessmen may make positive progress, according to planetary influence. Married people might need to try something different to spark romance in their life. Surprise gifts or romantic dates may help reignite the flame. Financial planning is important. Try not to be a spendthrift, and plan your budget accordingly to manage money matters diligently. Focus on saving. Businessmen might do well to move away from old strategies. Married couples might fight to the point that they might want to terminate relations with each other. Ganesha advises giving each other time and space. You might want to spend a lot of money on activities that make you happy. Your financial stability, throughout the month, might be rock solid. You might develop misunderstandings with a person with whom you may be emotionally involved with. Instead of harsh arguments, try soft approaches and handle the issue tactfully. An excellent, well-timed and thoughtful move by you may prove to be very profitable during the month. Your financial inflow may substantially increase, and these gains may strengthen your financial capacity.

During this phase, Mars influences the second house, disturbing family tranquillity. Try to handle any family issues tactfully. Maintain your composure, and try to resolve disputes amicably. Your financial position may be rock solid. You might feel like spending and showing off within your social circle. You may do well not to go overboard in spending money. You might meet people with varied interests, and develop new friends. However, be careful and don't make friends before knowing people well first. You might spend a substantial amount of money for charity. While doing that is good, ensure you don't go overboard spending for charities. Married couples might face differences in opinions. Despite adversities, they may have a romantic time. There may be a possibility of spending money to keep your family members satisfied. You may also want to donate a certain amount of money to charity. You may spend a substantial amount of money enjoying and partying with friends. This month might favor married couples, as they may feel cheerful and responsive to each other. Any differences with a loved one should be sorted out amicably. Planetary influences indicate that you may be very focused and concentrated on any task you take up. This might ensure a gradual, but steadily increasing financial flow.

Libra ( 23rd September to 22nd October )

Scorpio ( 23rd October to 22nd November )

Sagittarius ( 23rd November to 21st December )

During this phase, you might meet a lot of new people from your social circle, at parties or functions. New friendships might develop and you might have a pleasant time with these new comrades. Your overall financial flow may increase. Businessmen planning to commence a partnership venture may do so successfully. There may be no accidental expenses during this month. Try not to hurt your partner's ego time and again, and instead, try to think from their perspective. Respect their thoughts, and give them enough time and space. Businessmen might be inclined to invest money in a new business venture. Planetary influences may help you succeed. However, you may do well to roll up your sleeves and prepare to face new challenges. Singles may receive romantic signals from someone of the opposite sex who has recently come to stay in the neighborhood. Both might want to take this relationship to the next level. You may want to start a partnership to increase your financial inflow. Planetary influences are favorable towards such a venture. Planetary influences suggest you may start a new business that may be successful. Businesses related to cosmetics, items of luxury and female beauty products might thrive during this month.

Singles might bump into their childhood crush at a social function. Things may not go so smooth on the family front. You may do well to handle the situation tactfully without losing your temper. Try to avoid unnecessary expenses whenever possible. This may ensure a stable financial position throughout the month. Patience and self-control may be important. Your financial inflow may increase. While you may meet numerous people at a social function and make friends, be careful while choosing new friends. Exercise proper discretion. You might wish to spend money on things you don't need. However, you may be able to easily manage routine and incidental expenses. Married couples might plan a small trip to give each other quality time. They may have a great time together. Every moment spent together may be flooded with romantic bliss. Your regular income flow may not be disturbed. However, you may constantly look out for other avenues of increasing income. Businessmen may need to persevere and work hard. Middle-aged and older people may remain distressed due to some family issues. Try not to turn it into an ego issue and stretch things too far. You may do well to have a malleable attitude. If you are unable to generate sufficient funds through your current sources of income, we suggest looking out for new avenues to earn.

During this phase, you might face some minor familial issues. We recommend that you remain calm and composed and try to solve all issues tactfully and amicably. You may be lured into cutting corners and adopting unethical ways to make a quick buck. However, don't be taken in by such schemes as you may find yourself in a financial mess. Married couples might face adjustment issues, and may constantly feel as if their partner is non-responsive. The only solution to this is to spend quality time with each other. You may be prepared to face challenges head-on. Nothing might steer you off the road to success. Be prepared to face some unexpected expenses. There might be a chance that the elders of the family may keep you negatively disturbed. Try not to enter into futile arguments with them, and instead aim to keep them satisfied. You may need to work hard to attain progress and may need to accept challenges head-on. Do not shy away from doing or attempting something new. Our advice to businessmen would be to persevere and be patient. Middle-aged people might be distressed due to a family issue. You may do well to avoid aggressive arguments. Your prime objective must be to retain familial peace and harmony. You may be able to think of new strategies to earn money, and may take all the correct decisions at the right time to increase your financial inflow.

Capricorn ( 22nd December to 20th January )

Aquarius ( 21st January to 18th February )

Pisces ( 19th February to 20th March )

You might spend a pleasant time with newfound friends. Try to maintain peace and harmony within the family by resolving any issue that has come up tactfully. Your overall financial inflow may increase. Monetary gains may strengthen your financial capacities substantially. There may be no major accidental expenses foreseen during this phase. While you may make new friends, don't get carried away by promises made by them. The family atmosphere may be amiable. There may be a chance of spending money on things you don't need. However, you may be able to manage routine and incidental expenses easily. Singles may be keen to experience intimacy. However, they may decide to get married before doing so. Salaried people may feel secure about their position in the company. They may be able to perform well and may finish all assigned tasks within the stipulated time. You may have many friends, but don't reveal all your secrets without knowing them properly first. There may be no major unforeseen expenses. Household and family expenses might increase. There may be monetary gains to strengthen your financial capacity. Be prepared to work hard. Salaried people might feel safe and secure within their organization.

During this phase, some family issues may arise. Try to maintain a malleable attitude, and don't be rigid in your opinions. Peace within the family should be your top priority. You may do well to avoid unwanted expenses. Certain habitual expenses must also be curbed. Patience may be a key factor during this phase. Ketu moving through the eleventh house ensures a monetary gain. Financial gains may enliven your spirits, and you may be optimistic about future financial prospects. You may develop some misunderstandings with someone you are close to. Try to resolve these differences amicably, and aim at maintaining peace and harmony within the family. Do not be tempted to cut corners to earn money. Such methods might be lucrative at first glance but may eventually end in disaster. You may face some differences in opinions with someone you are emotionally attached to. Planetary influences may not help you solve this amicably. Planetary influences may not offer any major financial gains. You may need to work extra hard to maintain your regular income inflow. Do not be tempted to cut corners.

Singles might fall in love during this phase and may be able to convey their feelings to someone who may reciprocate favorably. Two major planets transit through the eleventh house, resulting in opportunities to strengthen your finances. Focus on saving money for your loved ones. Married couples may be stressed due to the non-cooperative attitude of their life partner. It may be very important to be patient. Things may normalize within some time. Businessmen may do well to use this month favorably to try to strike a major deal. If you work hard enough and are successful in striking this deal, your financial position may be rock solid. Salaried employees may be positively motivated to deliver more output. You may do well to be patient with you and your spouse. As the month-end approaches, your spouse may realize their mistake and may want to mend ways. Prepare for a beautiful, romantic time spent together. You may receive great opportunities to earn. Your personal spending habits may increase. Married couples may be stressed due to their life partner's indifferent attitude. They may do well to be patient with themselves and their partners. During this phase, planetary movements may present good financial chances. Your income inflow may increase. However, don't make any major financial decisions without due consideration.

42 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

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THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, January, 2020 — 51

THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020 — 43 www.indiantimes.com

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BCCI not to punish players if they admit to age fudging, two-year ban otherwise NEW DELHI: The BCCI on Monday said it will grant amnesty to registered players who voluntarily declare any age fraud but those found to be in breach of the unusual scheme could be slapped with a twoyear suspension. The measures will be applicable to all cricketers participating in the board's age-group tournaments from the 2020-21 season onwards. "Under this scheme, players who voluntarily declare that they have manipulated their date of birth by submitting fake/ tampered documents in the past will not be suspended and allowed to participate in the appropriate age group level if they disclose their actual date of birth (DOB)," the BCCI said in a release. "Players have to submit

a signed letter/email along with supporting documents to BCCI Age Verification Dept. revealing their actual DOB before 15th September 2020." The apex body also made it clear that if the players don't accept it now and are later found to be guilty of age fraud then they will be heavily sanctioned. "However, if registered players do not disclose the facts and are found to have

submitted fake/tampered DOB proof documents by BCCI, then they will be banned for 2 years, and after completion of 2-year suspension, they will not be allowed to participate in age group tournaments of BCCI, as well as, age group tournaments organized by the State Units." The BCCI also said that "all cricketers committing Domicile fraud, including senior men & women, will

be banned for 2 years" and "voluntary disclosure scheme does not apply for cricketers who have committed domicile fraud." Both BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and his former India teammate Rahul Dravid, who is now the NCA head, had emphasised on sternly dealing with the issue of age fraud. Among other measures, the governing body said for the under-16 age group tournament "only players who are between 14-16 years old will be permitted to register." "In the Under-19 age group, if a player's birth is found to be registered more than 2 years after birth, as mentioned in the birth certificate, then there will be restrictions on the number of years allowed to participate in the BCCI

Olympic and Paralympic sports receive funding boost The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has announced a boost in high performance funding for Olympic and Paralympic national sporting organisations (NSOs), with increased allocations to Rugby 7s, Football, Paralympics and Surfing. This critical funding also provides 34 NSOs with muchneeded certainty as they re-set for the Tokyo Games in 2021 and follows the Federal Government’s recent announcement of a $50.6million investment over two years towards high performance sport. As part of this funding, Rugby Australia ($2.2m), seven Paralympic sports ($1.5m to Archery, Men’s Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia, Wheelchair Rugby, Triathlon, Shooting and Canoeing), Football (men’s $0.4m) and Surfing ($0.2m) will receive one-off increases

in line with the AIS investment model. Funding for 2020/21 has been maintained to all remaining sports at current levels. The AIS Investment framework is focused on funding for international podium results and to prioritise delivering sustainable success at multi-sport pinnacle events, the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games. Chair of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) John Wylie said NSOs need the best chance of achieving medal success come 2021 and this investment is critical to providing the platform to do so. “Sports continue to feel the impact of COVID-19 however this funding will allow sports to plan with certainty and get ready for what I am sure will be an exciting and competitive Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Mr Wylie said.

“More than ever, Australians are turning to sport to lift spirits and I have no doubt our highperformance athletes will play a key role in our country’s recovery from this pandemic.” “I would like to acknowledge the Federal Government and thank Minister for Sport Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck for his support of Australia’s high-performance athletes and system.” AIS CEO, Peter Conde said in order to work towards the AIS goal of multiple medallists over multiple Games cycles, sports require certainty to compete at the highest levels. “This is the first Olympics for surfing and the first time in 12 years that the Olyroos have qualified for the Games, so this funding allows these sports to confidently prepare and get ready to show the world just what they

can do,” Mr Conde said. “We will also be hoping that through this support the Australian Rugby 7s deliver a repeat of the gold medal success our women's team experienced in Rio. “It is through investments like this, along with additional support the AIS provides through wellbeing, workforce support and technology and innovation, that we see high performance sport inspiring both future competitors and the wider Australian community." Commonwealth Games-only NSOs (Netball, Bowls and Squash) and Winter Sport NSOs (OWIA and Snow Australia) high performance grants have also been confirmed through to 2022 to provide certainty in their preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Indian Swimmers Worried About Continued Restrictions On Use Of Pools Their resumption of training still on hold due to government guidelines, elite Indian swimmers say the continued restrictions on use of pools will not only affect their performance in the next few years but is also taking a toll on their mental health. Swimmers in the country have not entered the pools since March 25, when the first coronavirus-forced lockdown was announced. The latest Ministry of Home Affairs' guidelines on the third phase of easing lockdown restrictions still prohibited the use of swimming pools till August 31. Srihari Nataraj, who achieved the 'B' qualification mark last year in the 100m backstroke event with a national record 54.69sec, said this forced break has pushed back the careers of swimmers by almost a year, the effects of which will be felt in the Tokyo Olympics and the next

Asian Games. "Had we been training, all of us would have made substantial progress. Now it's going to take us at least 3-4 months to make the same amount of progress, setting us back by almost an entire year," Nataraj told PTI. The 19-year-old needs to bring his timing down to 53.85secs to be sure of a Tokyo Olympics spot. "The things I would have achieved in March, I will achieve in December if I get back to training now. We are wasting a lot of time in our career. It will affect our performance in Tokyo Olympics, 2022 Asian Games," Nataraj added. Kushagra Rawat, who has achieved the 'B' qualification mark in the three events of 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle, said the lack of training opportunities was also affecting the Indian swimmers mentally. The Swimming Federation

44 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, August, 2020

of India (SFI) has been asking for permission for the Olympic hopefuls to resume training since May, but to no avail. Dronacharya award-winning coach Nihar Ameen also expressed disappointment at the government's decision to keep the swimming pools shut for the elite swimmers. "We keep getting promises that in the next unlock the pools will be opened. Swimming is one of the safest sports and if all the other sports including contact sports and gyms are open then why not swimming?" Ameen asked. Nataraj, Virdhawal Khade, Sajan Prakash, Rawat, Aryan Makhija and Advait Page are the six swimmers who have achieved the 'B' qualification mark in their respective events for the Olympics and are aiming for the 'A' standard. Out of them, Prakash and Makhija have been lucky enough

to resume training. While Prakash, who spent the entire lockdown at an academy in Phuket, started training when the pools opened in Thailand, Makhija flew to Alabama, USA, where he is enrolled at Auburn University, in mid July. However, Nataraj, Rawat and Khade do not have any plans to go outside for training. "The only option for me is what the federation is planning. Others going abroad are already enrolled in universities. I don't have that option," Nataraj said. "I'm relying on federation as I can't afford to train abroad. Apart from the cost there are also logistical issues," Rawat said. Khade also said he will not travel abroad to train in personal capacity. Earlier this week, the SFI said it was looking to organise a training camp for its Olympic hopefuls outside the country.

Under-19 tournaments." Ganguly said that the board is committed to ensure a level playing field for competitive participation of players in its age-group tournaments. "The BCCI has been taking steps to counter age fraud and are now introducing even stricter measures from the upcoming domestic season. Those who do not voluntarily disclose their misdemeanour will be punished heavily and will be banned for two years." The BCCI has a dedicated 24X7 helpline for anyone to report age fraud. "BCCI has a zerotolerance approach towards age fraud in cricket. Not only have we dedicated a 24/7 helpline to counter this menace, but the Board also has a system in place that thoroughly examines, and

cross-verifies documents submitted by its registered players," said BCCI secretary Jay Shah. "The Voluntary Disclosure Scheme will provide those who have committed the fraud a chance to come forward and admit their offence." Former India captain Dravid urged players to come forward and follow the board's directives. "Age fraud is a serious matter and is detrimental to the health of the sport. Many youngsters who are supposed to be playing in a particular age group fail to make it owing to age fraud," he said. "With the BCCI taking stern actions to curb this, it is only advisable for the players to come forward and abide by the directives issued by the Board."

IPL 2020 In UAE From September 19 To November 10, Chinese Sponsors Retained The Indian Premier League's Governing Council on Sunday decided to retain all its sponsors, including Chinese mobile company VIVO, and approved COVID-19 substitutions in the event to be held in UAE this year. The tournament will be played from September 19 to November 10 at three venues in the UAE -- Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi -- subject to government approval, which is expected in the next couple of days. "The 53-day tournament will witness 10-afternoon matches starting at 15:30 IST while the evening matches will start at 19:30 IST," stated a release from the BCCI. "Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is still being prepared but there would be any number of COVID replacements this year," a BCCI official told PTI. A lingering issue put to rest on Sunday was Chinese sponsorship of the IPL. It became a bone of contention after violent clashes between the Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh in June. India lost 20 soldiers in the showdown, causing outrage across the country after which the BCCI promised to review the deals. "All I can say is that all our sponsors are with us. Hopefully you can read between the lines," an IPL GC member told PTI on conditions of anonymity after Sunday's meeting. As IPL title sponsor, VIVO pays around Rs 440 crore per year, a five-year deal that ends in 2022. It would have been difficult for the Board to get new sponsors at a short notice given the current financially difficult climate. In another major decision, the IPL GC also approved the women's IPL, a development first reported by PTI after speaking to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Sunday.

"Women's T20 Challenge will also take place in the UAE and will comprise three teams with four matches to be played during the IPL Playoff week," stated the Board's press release. Forced out of India due to the rising coronavirus case count, the IPL will allow unlimited COVID-19 replacements considering the delicate health safety situation across the globe. India's case load has surpassed 18 lakh with over 38,000 deaths. "The final will be played on November 10 as it enters the Diwali week making it lucrative for the broadcasters," the IPL GC member said. It is expected that the squad strength in terms of playing members will be 24 for the eight franchises. "Also the BCCI has received presentations from a Dubai based group on creating a medical facility in the UAE. The BCCI is also in talks with the Tata Group for creating a bio-bubble," the official said. Major Decisions (Formal clearance by next week) 1. Tournament Duration (53 days) 2. Dates: September 19-November 10 3. Women's IPL approved 4. Squad Strength: 24 players 5. Any number of COVID-19 replacements 6. Tata Group and Dubai-based medical group to give presentation on creating bio-secure bubble. 7. SOP will be handed over to franchises in next 7 to 10 days.

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