Mosque Renovation Background

1. The Mosque at UNE is owned and run by the University of New England, and the University meets and pays all expenses such as electricity, water and maintenance.
2. The University being the owner of the Mosque is the only body that can make alteration and renovation to the Mosque and that can obtain appropriate approval for such renovations.
3. On October 2001 the International Muslim Students Association (IMSA) asked Mr. Mostafa Ghandar, Founding & Life Honorary Member of the Association, to head a committee to pursue possible renovation and improvements to the Mosque.
4. Mr. Ghandar made presentation to the Facilities Management Service (FMS) at UNE, and undertook that he will make personal donation to the University for the purpose of the renovation. FMS has kindly provided plans and initial costing for the required renovation. (See details of Renovation Project)
5. The Muslim community and IMSA executives were fully informed of the project and its progress, as it was discussed in several meetings during 2001, and as stated in IMSA president’s report above. Also past president of IMSA at the time was present in discussions with FMS, and even provided photos for ablution area as a model. The details of the project were circulated to all members of the Muslim community on several occasions.
6. The project had a boost when Mr. Ghandar made presentation to Professor Ingrid Moses the Vice-Chancellor of UNE, and made his own personal donation to the University for the Mosque Renovation (see acknowledgement of the VC and receipt ) which brought the project into the realm of reality.
7. Professor Ingrid Moses was most generous and pledged to cover the cost of the second stage of the Renovation, and kindly agreed to keep the donations from the community in the VC Discretionary Fund till sufficient money to be raised to commence the 1^st Stage, which gives the project huge advantages:
   i. Almost eliminates administrative costs of fund raising, which usually could reach 15 to 20 percent of sum raised.
   11. Guarantees Tax Deductible status, which encourages donations from businesses and individuals.
   iii. Gives the whole project credibility and accountability yet without any cost to the project itself.
   iv. The Project sets new standards and is a shining example of beneficial cooperation between the University and its community.
8. The project received wide acceptance and support among Muslims and the community at large (see media reports and letter of thanks from the Muslim community, p1 and p2 ); also other members of the community made substantial donations to UNE for the project.
9. The project is now firmly in place, please see letter of the Vice-Chancellor , and donations can be made directly to the University using the donation form (click here), which you can download and print. Donations can be made in cash to the University cashier or by cheques drawn to “UNE, VC Discretionary Fund, Mosque Renovation”.
10. The project in this format provides numerous advantages to all concerned: the university as an educational body is tax exempt, and a deductible gift recipient, and it uses its administration to manage and control the fund raising for the project and then carry it out, which eliminates any need for  further organizations or committees.
11. The Mosque Renovation Project as such is a very significant event in the History of Islam in this region, where the Muslim community is helping in renovating and expanding the Mosque, and at the same time helping the university.
12. The project also sets a new precedent in Australian higher education funding, where a whole community, or a large segment of it, actively funds a University facility that relates to  its specific interest, something that is very much needed in these times of lesser funding available for higher education. In effect the Project can be a model for funding other facilities or specific scholarships in the university.
13. Our role as Muslims is simply to make donations and encourage others to do the same. This is the opportunity for every one to do an extremely good deed and support a mosque in this part of the world.
14. Given the recent objection and stopping of a mosque building  in Manly at Sydney by those who hate Islam and fear the enlightenment of Islam, we Muslims should not obstruct the renovation of our Mosque by creating divisions about the name of the mosque or its modality, and even go to the extent to make committees, petitions to hurdle the renovation.
15. We should not follow those who propagating division among the community over such a positive project. The issue is very simple make donation and encourage others to do the same.