"We had a vision to showcase our community to Victoria and encourage the public to discover who we are, what we stand for and what place we take in history,” stated Kazween Boiko, president of the Zoroastrian Association of Victoria (ZAV), in Melbourne, Australia, referring to the gala event organized on August 28, 2016 at the Kingston City Hall in Moorabbin.
A mini exhibition showcased religious and cultural artefacts, traditional clothing, books, posters and models. The informative documentary, Zoroastrianism — An Enduring Legacy, impressed the shadow minister for multicultural affairs Inga Peulich who considered it "the best presentation” she had seen at any community function that she attended, according to a report by Carl Buhariwala. Other dignitaries to grace the function were Vasan Srinivasan, Australian multicultural council member, mayor Tamsin Bearsley of the city of Kingston and Graham Watt, Victorian Legislative Assembly member for Burwood.
The event included a benediction by priests, performances by Shiamak Davar’s Dance Academy as also by the Australian Persian Arts Centre. Those in attendance enjoyed the seven-course lagan nu patru organized by the resident community chef Sarosh Khariwala with the assistance of the Parsiana Kitchen group from Perth.
Clockwise from top: at the mini exhibition; benediction by priests; committee members of the
Zoroastrian Association of Victoria with Kazween Boiko (front row, far right)
"This event was very important to bring our community together. Everyone has realized and felt a new spark within and now our focus is on developing a place of our own — a place where we unite not only for prayer but most importantly where our youth, our future generation can come together and keep both our culture and religion affirmed,” Boiko conveyed to Parsiana.
As stated on the ZAV website that is currently being updated, they have a membership count of 151 single/families constituting 310 individuals. Boiko who is in her fourth year as president has been residing in Melbourne for the last 15 years and works as a real estate agent. She is closely involved with Victorian multicultural projects and is joint treasurer of the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria. In response to Parsiana’s request she sent us an introduction to her committee members: Vice president Khurshed Mirza serves as a senior executive in the logistics automation industry, secretary Maharukh Billimoria has been on the ZAV committee for over 14 years, treasurer Cyrus Tengra, general secretary Betty Khosravi Yazdi, a homemaker, committee member Kaivan Antia, a risk and compliance officer in a finance company. A qualified navar-maratab, Antia is actively associated with community programs with muktad and monthly prayers regularly held at his house for the past three years.