Summary

Begum Janeth Deen is a well-known name in the Queensland Muslim and multicultural communities. Born in Brisbane, she is a descendant of the old Indian Muslim migrant families who settled in Mt Gravatt where the oldest mosque (Holland Park Mosque) was built in Brisbane.

Begum Janeth Deen is a well-known name in the Queensland Muslim and multicultural communities. She is a descendant of the old Indian Muslim migrant families who settled in Mt Gravatt where the oldest mosque (Holland Park Mosque) was built in Brisbane. She was born in Brisbane; educated in St Mary's Catholic School and Holy Spirit Catholic School as well as Griffith University where she obtained a Graduate Diploma. She worked in administrative jobs as well as teaching business principles, typing, citizenship, education and history at Emmanuel College.

Janeth has been an active member of the Muslim community since her childhood, following the footsteps of her parents and other relatives who settled in the earlier time. As a young girl, she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Committee within the Holland Park Muslim community. It was an enthusiastic group of Muslim women led by Bebe Deen, President of that group which collected donations for the mosque, maintaining it, welcomed visitors, contributed to organising Islamic festivals and other cultural events as well as assisting in Muslim community education. She remembers that period as the 'golden days' with lots of joy and friendship. (Dzavid Haveric's interview with Janeth Deen 2017).

Janeth Deen is the founder of the Queensland Muslim Welfare Association Inc. (QMWAI) and the committee includes people of other faiths, as well as Muslims. The QMWAI became known as a group dedicated to helping people of all cultures and faiths. One of the greatest services of the association is its assistance for new migrants and refugees looking to establish a new home. The QMWAI, headed by President Janeth Deen, has built an award-winning reputation providing services to people from all walks of life. It is in accordance with one of the five pillars of Islam, zakat (charity) - an act of virtue - that all people are equal when charity must be distributed. (Professional Profile - LinkedIn).

Janeth is committed to helping needy people in poverty and mitigation. She also established the first Muslim welfare second-hand shop in Australia which distributes food, clothes and toys and other goods or items donated by Muslim residents in Logan. As a Trustee of the Muslim Charitable Foundation, Janeth collected donations to help the Nursery Road Special School in purchasing a walker for a number of their students. The Logan City Council presented an 'Australia Day Award' for this Outstanding Community Organisation. ('Crescent' Newsletter, 22 April 2012) She is President of the Queensland Muslim Historical Society Inc, cherishing Muslim cultural heritage in Brisbane and surrounding areas. She is also affiliated with a number of multicultural organisations, including the Forum for Christians, Muslims and Jews.

In 2018 Janeth Deen was awarded the Medal Order of Australia. She has also received other awards, including 'Multicultural Citizen of the Year' for her charity work. She was a winner of the Community Volunteer Award receiving her award from the Honorary Consul of India, Ms Archana Singh. In 2005, Janeth performed the Hajj, (Pilgrimage to Mecca), an exceptional spiritual experience which led her to, as she remarked, 'the most awakening times of my life'. (Dzavid Haveric's interview with Janeth Deen 2017).

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