Jan 23 2011
ACT community and Muslim leader Ikebal Patel will take on the role of ACT 2011 Australia Day Ambassador.
At the launch of Canberra’s 2011 celebrations today, Mr Patel said he was honoured by the appointment and hoped to use the opportunity to spread the message of unity.
“We all as Australians, we all as Canberrans, we all share the same joys,” he said.
“We also similarly feel the pain for our fellow Australians in Queensland or in Victoria … We are such a mix of people but we feel the same sorrows.”
Mr Patel is the president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils and is widely involved in organisations such as Civil Liberties Australia and the White Ribbon Foundation.
He was awarded the Pride of Australia “Fair Go” Medal last year.
