President's Page

Namaste aur Ram Ram to Members and their Families
The year 2003 is rapidly moving and the Society had a series of events organised both by the Management Committee and other members of our Society. It is pleasing to note that we have had seven functions in two months.

We invite all members of our Society to make use of the mandir/dining hall facilities. It is here for your use.

Our thoughts go to the people of Labasa, Fiji who have been affected by Cyclone Ami. In conjunction with Boondall Lions Club and Fiji Community Association of Queensland, our Society is helping to contribute to the needy. If you have any donation of any type, please contact any of the Committee Members.

With the assistance of some members, we are painting and renovating the house at 373 Bracken Ridge Road during weekends and once completed, it will be rented out. We are also preparing the rezoning application submission with the appropriate documentation, community consultation, preparing the concept plans for the new mandir/dining hall project. Once all documentation is ready, we will lodge this with the Brisbane City Council. With the blessing and help of our members, we shall complete our new mandir/dinning hall project as soon as possible.

Dhanya Vaad aur Jai Shree Sita Ram

Shuresh Sharma
(president)

Fiji Indian Students Association (FISA) will be celebrating Holi at New Farm Park on Sunday 23 March 2003 at 10.00am. The Society urges all members to attend and support our Indian culture, encourage the students and have lots of fun at the same time. FREE FOOD and ALL WELCOME

His Holiness Yati Chakravarty Aawahan Peethadhishwar Acharya Maha Mandleshwar Shiri 108 Swami Shivendra Puriji will conduct this Katha. Swami Shivendra Puriji was born in Varanasi. He attained his formal education in India, including: Masters in Sanskrit (Banares Hindu University); Masters in Hindi (Meerut University); LLB (Delhi University); Shastry (Vedant) (Sanskrit University); Sahityaratana (Hindi) Allahabad; PhD (Vikramshila Vidyapeeth) Bihar.

In 1959 Swamiji took discipleship under his late Gurudev Shri Swami Onkaranand Puriji Maharaj. Swami Onkaranand Ashram at Ulhas Nagar; Sri S S Sanskrit Degree College, in U.P.; Shri Shiv Lok Sadhana Ashram, Kanpur; Shri Shivarchan Ashram in Nasik and Shivaytan Ashram in Haridwar are now run under the guidance of Swamiji.

Swamiji is a devoted sanyasi and has undertaken to promote Hinduism - its culture and spiritual teachings.

The devotees of His Holiness, Swami Shivendra Puriji Maharaj in conjunction with the Hindu Society of Qld Inc. cordially invite you and your family to an enlightening week of discourses on Srimad Bhagvat to be conducted by His Holiness.

The Srimad Bhagvat Katha will be held at the Gayatri Mandir, 178 Lyndhurst Road, Boondall from 22 to 29 March 2003 commencing at 6.30pm daily. Dinner will be served after the conclusion of daily discourse.

For further information contact:

• Ms Anita Sharma - Phone: 3879 7323. For personal meeting with Swamiji and for information
• Uday and Sarita Pal - Phone: 3851 0831
• Narend Nath - Phone: 3395 1486
• Jatish Puran & Sharda Bajpai , Radio Brisvaani 1701 - Phone 3279 1701

This festival will be celebrated from Wednesday, 2nd April to Friday 11th April 2003. The evening program will commence from 6.30pm and conclude at 9pm at Gayatri Mandir. Dinner will be provided every night. We invite all members, their families and friends, Ramayan Mandalis and 'Sanatan Dharamees' to join us in the celebration of this very important religious function. Those who wish to perform pooja or donate food items, please contact the Committee Members.

Pt. Anirudh Pandey of Ba, Fiji has been sponsored and will perform Ram Naumi Pooja & 'Parivachan' for 10 days. This has been possible due to the blessing of Pt. Raj Kumar Mishra. The committee endorses that Pt. Raj Kumar Mishra will remain the official Priest of Gayatri Temple.

Bhagwat Katha Prawachaan by Pt. Anirudh Pandey of Ba, Fiji - 4 to 11 May 2003
Members please take note that Pt. Anirudh Pandey, a well-known Panditji of Ba, Fiji will conduct Bhagwat Katha at our Gayatri Mandir from Sunday 4 to Sunday 11 May 2003. The katha will commence daily from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. All members, their families and friends are invited. Food, the maha prasad will be also provided daily.

• Every Tuesday from 7-9pm - Ramayan & Bhajan
• 15/3/03 - Annual Antakshri Competition : Hendra Secondary College
• 22/3 to 29/3 - Bhagwat Katha (daily from 6.30pm)
• 2/4 to 11/4 - Shree Ram Naumi Celebration - daily from 6.00pm
• 16/4/03 -Hanuman Jayanti Celebration - from 9.00 am. All invited. Lunch will be provided.
• 4-11 May 2003 - Bhagwat Katha (daily from 6.30pm)
• 7/6/03: Grand Musical Nite: Hendra Secondary College
• 27/7/03 - Annual General Meeting
• 17/8/03: 108 Hawan Kundi Shri Gayatri Mahayagna : Hendra Secondary College
• 13/8 to 20/8/2003- Shree Krishna Janam Ashtami Celebration
• 11/10/03 - Deepawali Celebration (Actual Day - 25 October 2003)

(from 1/1/03 - 28/2/03)
The Committee welcomes the following new members to the Society. We hope your association with us will be a happy and productive one.

So far we have 93 Life Members and another 5 more members joined during the period 1/1/01 to 28/2/03. The committee acknowledges their kind gesture and welcomes them onboard.

(From 1/1/03 to 28/2/03)
The Society thankfully acknowledges the following donations

In cash

NK Sharma - $10
Chandra Deo - $10
Hari Chand - $10
Vijay Mahbubani - $20
Gupt Daan - $60
Kamal Tahal -$10
M Singh Randala - $20
Satish Lal - $25
Pt Ganesh Pandey - $50
Gupt Daan - $100
Arun Shandil - $10

Kamal Tahal - $10
Gupt Daan - $250
Shanti Niketan Mandali - $137.45
Sangeet Chand - $1,000
Rajen - $27.80
Dalip & Sanjini Thomas - $101
Shashi Chowhan -$1,500
Umesh & Usha Chandra - $3,000
Ashok Prasad - $10
Rajendra Padhee - $10
Frank Ramsey - $11

In Kind

DONORS OF BHAJAN NITE - 22 February 2003
Raffle Prizes

First - Dinner for 2 Adults donated by Bombay Dhaba Indian Restaurant, West End Central , Shop 5, 220 Melbourne Street, West End, Phone Sunny Lalwani 3846 6662/0402 339 362 and Manju - Phone 0403 539 150

Second - 2 Hindi DVD donated by Santoshi India House: NORTH- 12 Dixon Street, Strathpine, Ph 3881 3046 & SOUTH: New Premises - Corner of Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road & Freda Street, Upper Mt Gravatt. Phone 3422 0088

Third - 5 Pizza Vouchers donated by Domino's Pizza

Fourth - 5 Water Bottles donated by Brisbane Water - A business Unit of Brisbane City Council

Groceries
MC's Island & Indian Foods
268 Kingston Road
Slacks Creek, Phone 3804 3818 : 20 Kg Long Grain Rice and & 20 Kg Sharps

Kumaris Spice N Things
52 Jeffcott Street
Wavell Heights, Phone 3266 9268: 10 Kg Flour, 3 Kg Blue Peas , 2 Kg Toor Dhall & 2 Kg Yellow Split Peas

Was celebrated on 1st March 2003 at the Temple. Pt Raj Kumar Mishra officiated the 'Pooja' and it was well attended by our community. We thank the Dutta family for sponsoring this function.

Members of our Society visited this site on our 11th Anniversary celebration day to inspect and bless the land. Later at the Gayatri Mandir Hall, all members present were outlined the project costs and the development plans.

Development Plan
Short Term Plan - 1 to 6 Months

Building Maintenance

• Let out Building Only (Expected income - $800-$1,000 per month)
• Finalise Concept Plan
• Obtain Council Rezoning Approval
• Organise fundraising programs

Medium Term Plan - 6 to 18 months

• Approval of Construction Plans
• Construction Finance approval
• Commence Construction of Mandir/ Dining Hall / Parking Facilities

Long Term Plan - 18 to 36 Months

• Construction of Priest's residence
• Engage a fulltime Priest

• Settlement date: 30th December 2002
• Asking Price: $325,000
• Purchase Price: $310,000
• ANZ Loan: $200,000
• Deposit (Building Account): $15,000
• Balance (Term Deposit): $95,000
• Stamp Duty: $9,325
• Transfer Costs: $606.22
• Bank Charges: $2,482.50

• Lender: ANZ Bank
• Amount: $200,000
• Loan Type: Business (Variable Rate)
• Term: 15 Years
• Interest Rate: 6.75%
• Monthly Repayment: $1835.10 per month

Now that we have purchased a land for the new Mandir Project, we require your continued help to achieve our goals. We have planned five projects this year to raise funds. These are:

• 22/2/03: Bhajan Nite - Hendra Secondary College
• 15/3/03 - Annual Antakshri Competition : Hendra Secondary College
• 7/6/03: Grand Musical Nite : Hendra Secondary College
• 17/8/03: (Sunday, 10am) 108 Hawan Kundi Shri Gayatri Mahayagna: Hendra Secondary College
• Grand Raffle Draw to be drawn on Deepawali Celebration - 11 October 2003 - RNA Showgrounds
  

The tickets to these programs are available from any of the Management Committee members of the Society. The Society puts up one of the best programs in Brisbane with quality food.

Please come along and enjoy the evening with family and friends. There will be plenty of time to socialise before the actual program. Your continued support is much appreciated.

A great grand musical nite is planned at Hendra Secondary College with the assistance of several Indian musical bands. This musical nite will include the battle of bands and talent quests. This will prove to be an enjoyable evening so please keep this date free.

!!! SHREE GANESHAYA NAMAH!!!
Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha!
Nirvighnam Kurume Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada!!

JAY GAYATRI MATA
By the grace of Almighty Vedmata Gayatri Devi , we are in the planning to arrange an auspicious "108 Hawan Kundi Gayatri Mahayagna"

We plan to grace this auspicious YAGNA on Sunday 17 August 2003. Acharya Shri Vasant Bhai Shukla from New Zealand will perform the yagna. Local pundits from Brisbane will assist him. This program will be held at Hendra Secondary College.

All are welcome. Those interested to participate as "YAJMAAN" may contact Ashok Kumar (Travelworld, Kallangur) Phone 3204 6411 Mobile 0411 698 972

Om Bhoor Bhuvaha Swaha tat Savitur Vareniyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat Swaha Edam Gayatri Edam Namam. Jai Mataji

Do you want the newsletter e-mailed to you and if so, then please forward your e-mail address to the Society. We are always looking at new ways in informing our members on what is happening and sharing our knowledge.