"This Navroz has been a lot more special for The Zoroastrian Association of Victoria (ZAV) owing to the much-needed, pledged sum of AUD 100,000 (Rs 54.46 lakh) towards building a community center and dadgah in Melbourne or ‘A place of our own.’ This brings with it a renewed sense of hope and a step towards fulfilling a long-held aspiration for the future of the Zoroastrian community in Victoria. Many thanks to the Mistry family,” noted a report by Taronish Patel, ZAV’s honorary general secretary and editor of their quarterly newsletter Rathaeshtar.
In response to Parsiana’s queries, Patel further clarified that Shiraz Mistry was the chairman of the Fourth World Zoroastrian Youth Congress (held in 2007-08). His parents, Shirin and Jimmy Mistry along with Khushroo Patel were the main managing committee members of the Congress supported by a group of volunteers. "The Mistry family had formed a trust to facilitate the Congress organized by them in Victoria. Upon completion of the event, the Trust was left with some surplus funds that the Mistrys have been caretakers of for all these years. Being members of ZAV, they wanted to pledge these funds to ZAV for ‘A place of our own.’”
The Navroz celebration on March 22, 2025 attended by nearly 120 members and invitees at the Collingwood town hall in Melbourne commenced with a welcome to Conrad Tribble, the US consul general in Melbourne and a warm felicitation for the Mistry family. An aesthetically decorated Haft Seen table evoked the spirit of spring.
Top: traditionally attired ladies at the Navroz celebrations in Melbourne;
2nd row, from l: Sharokh Bharucha, Jal Mehta, Kavina Patel, Conrad Tribble,
Taronish Patel and Nekzad Cama; above: Haft Seen table
The highlight of the evening was a skit and fashion show by the young children and couples of the Melbourne Zoroastrian community. Having practiced extensively they were further encouraged with the multiple rounds of applause and appreciation from the audience. The sumptuous lagan nu bhonu buffet spread included popular favorites like mini chicken farcha bites and patra ni machhi prepared by Pazban Caterers. As the evening was drawing to a close, the excitement mounted with the much-anticipated gara raffle results.
ZAV’s membership that had dropped to 95 post the pandemic in 2022 has once again risen to "about 170 members (including individual and family membership),” stated Patel. The current committee, with affiliation to ZAV varying between one and three years, is led by president Jal Mehta.
With his background in marketing and sales management as also banking, Mehta is a member of Financial Services Institute of Australasia. Vice president Sharokh Bharucha who has been residing in Melbourne for the last 10 years worked for the Bank of New Zealand. A chartered accountant, Patel provides professional advisory services in the domains of audit and risk consulting. As Assistant Harbour Master at Ports Victoria, treasurer Nekzad Cama navigates the dynamic intersection of maritime operations and strategic financial management. Membership secretary Kavina Patel works at one of Australia’s largest multinational retail stores as a store services and compliance officer. Events chairperson Nisha Mistry manages the front end team at a global membership-based wholesale corporation. Seniors chairperson Delshad Khadiwala was active with her husband in operating their marine surveying firm for over 35 years.
Having revived Rathaeshtar since 2023, the 11-page March 2025 issue described as "The International Women’s Day Edition,” carries an interview with Parzor founder Dr Shernaz Cama, "a remarkable trailblazer who has been driving progress and accelerating change for many years,” as noted the editor. The newsletter further includes "Community News” where 10-year-old Ervad Darius Dumasia relates his 23-day experience at Bombay’s Vachhagandhy Agiary to qualify as a navar. He started by referring to the nahn on the first day with prayers and nirang followed by the priest in charge pouring "a bucket of kuwa nu paani (well water) on me. After this ritual no one was allowed to touch me for nine days and I had to wear a white pair of gloves…” "Community Reads” features a poem in support of dakhmenashini by Nawaz Marker. One of the couplets states, "O dakhma high, so strong, so still,/ You guard the rite, the ancient will…” In "What’s Cooking” Zarine Tantra shares a recipe for lagan nu custard; and "Picture Gallery” showcases the Sunday School activities and Navroz celebrations.