"We are all enjoying and will continue to enjoy this marvellous place of worship for posterity,” remarked Ruzbeh Desai, president of the Australian Zoroastrian Association (AZA), when addressing a gathering of nearly 250 at the AZA House at the silver jubilee celebration of their Darb-e-Meher in Sydney.
Referring to the celebratory event on August 17, 2019 as a day of homage, reminiscing and rejoicing, Desai thanked all the past members including the departed members of the AZA community "for their vision, zeal, donations and tireless fund-raising to make this dream of having a place of our own a reality, especially our first generation settlers who had the vision to establish an entity of our own in our adopted country. Without active members there can be no Darb-e-Meher, so thank you all. The Zoroastrians in Australia are a minuscule community but a close-knit one.”
At the celebration of the milestone event, the guests included the Consul General of India Manish Gupta and his wife Nimeesha. In a short speech the Consul General congratulated AZA on their achievements, especially the hardworking members of the Association. Acknowledging the contributions of the small Parsi community to the progress of India, he urged the AZA members to retain their ties with their motherland.
Clockwise from above l: Kersi Meher-Homji, Kitty Masalawala, Tim Desai, Arnaz Bana,
Ruzbeh Desai and Noshir Irani cut the cake baked by Prochie Dorabjee;
prayers by mobeds and Sunday School children; Ruzbeh Desai with plaque presented by AZA trustees
On behalf of the seven AZA trustees, Nauzer Bana addressed the audience. Further, as a token of gratitude to the community, the trustees presented a plaque that was accepted by Desai and his committee members.
Desai paid special tributes to the beloved matriarch, the late Akhtar Ostowari, her husband Nawzer and son Cyrus. He also thanked other major donors, the Arbab Rustom and Madam Morvarid Guiv Trust and the Zartoshty Brothers Trust for their magnanimous donations.
"Special mention must be made of our stalwart and past president Noshir Irani who successfully won the court case by representing us in the Land and Environment Court and got the permission from the Council to start building the Darb-e-Meher against all upheavals from our neighbors,” added Desai. "Many of you may not be aware that we had to face immense opposition from the local Council and neighbors who were against building a place of worship at Annangrove in Sydney, but now all that is past history. The proof of the pudding lies in its eating.” He also thanked the AZA trustees, management committee (MC) members, past and present, especially the MC of 1993-94. The 1994 committee members who worked tirelessly towards the building of the AZA House were then felicitated. The celebration cake was jointly cut by these committee members and everyone raised a toast to the dream that fructified 25 years ago.
"It would be remiss of me if I did not acknowledge the successful run of our Sunday School and our Working Bees (those who maintain the upkeep of the AZA House property),” noted Desai. The contributions of the clergy, Ervads (Dr) Peshotan Katrak, Tim Desai and other priests who give so freely of their time and pray for our community at navjotes, annual jashans and other religious ceremonies, were lauded too. The silver jubilee function commenced with prayers by the priests and Sunday School children.
A quiz contest, based on the history and milestones of AZA, was organized by the youth. It helped to rekindle memories of landmark accomplishments. The celebration was a night to remember as the young and old got up to dance, enjoy the camaraderie and delicious food. The day ended with the announcement of prizes for the quiz, the best dressed male, female and couple and the raffle draw.
Every member was presented a silver jubilee souvenir. The souvenir brought out 25 years ago by Arnaz Bana and this writer had started with, "Raise your glasses, ring the bells, our dream of the 1970s has seen the light of day today.” The grand inauguration of the first Darb-e-Meher in the southern hemisphere on July 24 1994 was attended by dignitaries like the Speaker of the House in New South Wales, the chairman of Ethnic Affairs and journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), The Indian Down Under and Hill Shire Times.
A post-opening souvenir featured the clippings of articles printed on the front page of Australia’s top newspaper, SMH, and a three-page write-up in Parsiana of September 1994 to herald the memorable opening of the Darb-e-Meher. It included photos of the milestone event including that of 11-year-old Ervad Beghzad Bana praying, the then youngest trainee priest in Australia. A senior member of the community told the SMH reporter, "We want our children to mingle in the Aussie culture but we also want them to know our traditions. This new place will help to strengthen our religion and reinforce the feeling of togetherness.” This bonding and togetherness is very much here today and will hopefully remain so for decades to come. Kersi Meher-Homji