Assyrian Aid Society - Australia Issue 5, 2010 TT RR EE EE OO Cycling event Melbourne - Sydney May 2009 Full story on page 15 FF 10th Year Anniversary Celebration LL II FF EE Help Us To Help Them www.assyrianaidsociety.org Our Mission To use all possible legal means to generate and ac- quire funds in terms of cash and assets to be used for The Tree Of Life the benefit of Assyrians in Bet-Nahrain. These contri- butions will ensure and sus- tain their self-sufficiency through creation and devel- opment of businesses, edu- cational institutions, health, THE ASSYRIAN AID SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA agricultural industries and social infrastructure. Assyrian Aid society committee members 2009-2010 Inside this issue: President Column 3 Financial Reports 4 Activity Repot 6 Assyrian Aid Society - Iraq Completed projects in 13 June Jako Shoushan Tower Nora Michael George Adam Sarhad Hanna Iraq to date and list of (President) (Treasurer) (Secretary) Hozaya cash donators Monthly Direct Debit 14 contributors & money boxes donations Melbourne -Sydney Cy- 15 cling Fundraising Event 10th Year Anniversary 17 Celebration Elbrah Chawshin Edmond Kelaita Issa Kelaita Albert Shlemon Amir Lazar Assyrian Sports & 19 AAS— AU Volunteers: Romeo Hanna, Janet Kenna, Mary Chawshin, Addad Rafeale, Annabelle Cultural Club Chawshin, David Chibo, Sirwan Gorgis, Mukhlis Khamo , Ashur Yako Mr. Yonadam Yousep 20 Welcome to our fifth annual edition of Tree of Life. We would like to extend our gratitude to all Kanna the contributors who donate funds to the Society on monthly basis and to all individuals and As- syrian organisations for their donations. We also sincerely thank Assyrian businesses listed in this edition for their contribution supporting Tree of Life Assyrian Radio Programs 22 CORRESPONDENCE Frequently Asked 23 PO Box W144, Fairfield west, NSW 2165 Questions Office address; Fairfield Community Centre Assyrian Business 24 3/25 Barbara Street, Fairfield Directory PHONE: (02) 8764 0819 FAX: (02) 8764 0819 Fairfield High School - 27 E-MAIL: [email protected] Letter from Principal WEBSITE: www.assyrianaidsociety.org Direct Debit Request 29 Assyrian Aid Society – Australia encourages readers of Tree of Life to participate by forwarding Form any feedback. We would like to further encourage all Assyrian businesses to contribute in sup- porting the Annual Tree of Life publication. Assyrian Businesses - 31 Advertisements Page 3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN By Mrs. June Jako This is the fifth issue of the Tree Of We are aiming to raise the level of awareness of the As- Life, and it gives me great pleasure to syrian community living in Australia, of the needs of their greet and thank all the contributors, brothers and sisters in the homeland and to take a part in supporters and friends of the Assyrian providing them with support and assistance so they can Aid Society for their magnificent and stay in the homeland and not flee their forefathers land. crucial support. We hope for this ongoing network of support and contri- Without this support and assistance butions to grow so that we can continue to assist our glori- the Assyrian Aid Society would not ous people in our homeland. have been able to continue its essen- tial and valuable work to provide I am proud and honoured to be part of AAS-Au and to financial aid and other forms of sup- work in such a great organization, hand in hand with a port to our people in their homeland wonderful team. and the land of our ancestors Beth- Nahrain. Prevailing situations and causes be- yond control highlighted the need to raise all possible assistance for our Assyrian people in our beloved land Beth-Nahrain; hence the consequent establishment of the Assyrian Aid Society in Iraq and other parts of the world including here in Australia. The Assyrian Aid Society (AAS) has gallantly and enthusiastically stepped forward to cover for the essential daily life needs of the Assyrians in Iraq, providing for infrastructure such as housing, irrigation canals and schooling. Mrs. June Jako pictured third from the Left at a Fundraising event held The Assyrian Aid Society additionally at Assyrian & Sports Cultural Club May 2009 provides pharmaceutical and medical supplies for pharmacies in the majori- ty of Assyrian towns villages as well as supplying essential household goods to all our people in need. The Assyrian Aid society also helped in establishing training and rehabilita- tion centres for youth to impact on them relevant life skills. The Assyrian Aid Society is seeking to become an international organiza- tion and to become accepted as a United Nation Consultative. Assyrian New Year Festival (Kha bet Nissan) held at the Assyrian Sports & Cultural Club pictured to the right Mrs. June Jako with Miss Elbra Chawshin. Page 4 FINANCIAL SECTION nesses and institutions. A special Mosul funds appeal generated Direct Debit Scheme $2,470 from Assyrian individuals including $500 received from St The AAS of Australia has implemented many methods of rais- Gewarges Charitable Association. ing funds in order to improve the lives of Assyrians living in our homeland. These methods have been in many ways suc- Additionally money boxes collected from Assyrian individuals cessful but the most consistent and secure method to date has and owners of businesses for the financial year end 2009 to- been the direct debit scheme, adopted by the AAS of Australia talled $4,178 including money box collections from the follow- in March 2000. ing businesses; A&A Continental Foods, Shayna Café & Mesopotamia's Groceries. The benefits to the contributor are numerous: In July 2008, a function was held by Zowaa Corporation in hon- Convenient and time-efficient, as the contributor nomi- our of Romel Esho & George Hasado at the Assyrian Sports and nates a bank account and specifies an amount that is au- Cultural Club in Fairfield Heights. At the function, and as special tomatically debited every month; guests, the Assyrian Aid Society committee members had been giv- en the opportunity to raise funds from the individuals at the party Contributor has the ability at any time to request an in- with great success. crease/decrease/cessation of the direct debit; No fees are charged to the contributor’s bank account; In October 2008, approximately 770 Assyrian families were fleeing Mosul to safer regions as a result of terrorist attacks. Assyrian Aid The AAS provides the contributor with an annual state- Society – Iraq had the task of providing food, shelter and clothing ment of the amounts donated by the contributor; and to those displaced families. A Special Mosul Appeal was held by AAS-Au, with the help of the Assyrian media, and AAS-Au received $2,470 in donations from Assyrian individuals and organisations AAS provides updates to the contributor on complete AAS - Iraq projects. In April 2009, the Kha Bet Nissan festival was held at Fairfield City show ground in Sydney, organized by the Assyrian Australian In order for the AAS to collect direct debit funds, the contrib- National Federation. AAS-Au took part in the event which ena- utor follows certain simple steps: bled us to sell various products such as Assyrian books plaques, CD’s, posters with frames and jewellery. Additionally AAS-Au re- complete a one-off direct debit form; ceived cash donations from the Assyrian community at the Kha Bet Ensure sufficient funds are available for the monthly direct Nissan festival. debits; and In May 2009, AAS-Au took part in the Kha Bet Nissan festival held Notify the AAS of Australia immediately of any changes to at the Assyrians Sports and Cultural Club in Fairfield Heights and bank details. organised by Assyrian Sports & Cultural Club Ltd. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In May 2009, AAS-Au held a special cycling event place from Mel- The present total numbers of direct debit contributors, at bourne to Sydney held by Assyrian Aid society committee member year ending 30th June 2009 for AAS-Au is as follows (please Youash Tower joined by his brother Joseph Tower. The Ride note: numbers are variable from month to month): took 9 days in total. A welcoming party was held at the Assyrian Sports and Cultural Club. The cycling event raised $26,326 in to- Total 116 tal; this includes sponsorships, donations and sales of raffle tickets. The present total funds received on a monthly basis at year AAS-Au would like to give special thanks to its major sponsor for ending 30th June 2009 for AAS-AU is as follows (please note: the event the Assyrian Sports & Cultural Club for their enor- amounts are variable from month to month): mous donation of $3,000 and for their unlimited support through- out the entire event. Total (monthly) $2145.00 Projects completed in 2008 – 2009 AAS-Au Fund raising for year ended June 2009 October 2008: AAS-Au was able to send an amount of Fund Raising Methods Au$14,534.89 to AAS-Iraq for the Mosul appeal, assisting . The July 2008 - June 2009 reporting on the graph displayed families fleeing from Mosul to safer regions. below shows the various methods of fund raising by AAS-Au. One of the primary methods includes monthly direct debit February 2009: AAS-Au was able to send an amount of which has been taking place on a continuous basis year after Au$10,000 to AAS-Iraq to assist with part of the Educa- year, collecting funds from Assyrian individuals & businesses tion expenses for the academic year from 2008-2009. via electronic banking. The graph also shows that AAS-Au received substantial May 2009: AAS-Au was able to send an amount of amounts in donations. These donations were received from Au$30,000 to assist with part of the Education and Dormi- Assyrian and non Assyrian individuals and from Assyrian busi- tory expenses Page 5 Financial Reporting ASSYRIAN AID SOCIETY - AUSTRALIA FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED All funds raised and received by AAS-Au, including funds al- located to projects in our homeland as well as expenses in- 30TH JUNE 2009 curred during each financial year, are audited by a certified 2009 TOTAL accountant in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards.