Rotary of WA appoints first Muslim president - inMyCommunity - Perth, Western Australia

as was posted here ... Rotary of WA appoints first Muslim president - inMyCommunity - Perth, Western Australia

HUNTINGDALE man Salim Youssef is the first Muslim president of a Rotary club in WA, appointed by the Kenwick club this month.

Mr Youssef says he is keen to break down stereotypes people may have of Rotary and will work to get more Muslims and people of various ethnic backgrounds involved in Rotary projects.

“Rotary is not a religious organisation and in Rotary no matter what you believe or your political view, we help,” Mr Youssef said.

The Kenwick club plans to host a family day fundraiser and be more involved with the City of Gosnells’ multicultural festival.

Mr Youssef served as the director of community services before taking up the position as president of the club.

The pastry business owner first joined Rotary five years ago, after fleeing war-torn Lebanon with his family in 1991 to live in Sydney and then Perth from 1998.

He is now married with three daughters and said he was willing to give a lot to help his community.

“I would also love to encourage the ethnic communities to merge in with the Australian community on a day to day level,” he said.

Mr Youssef has experienced severe hardship and was jailed for a year in Syria during the war before fleeing to Australia.

He said if he had security here then he must give back to the community.

Mr Youssef’s dedication to those around him runs so deep he intends to run again for a position on the City of Gosnells council when councillor terms expire next year.

COG statistics

check out this site for statistics on the City of Gosnells here

The City of Gosnells is located in Perth's south-eastern suburbs, about 17 kilometres from the Perth CBD. The City of Gosnells is bounded by the Shire of Kalamunda in the north-east and east, the City of Armadale in the south, and the City of Canning in the west and north-west.

The City of Gosnells includes the suburbs and localities of Beckenham, Canning Vale (part), Gosnells, Huntingdale, Kenwick, Langford, Maddington, Martin, Orange Grove, Southern River and Thornlie.

Gosnells is named after Charles Gosnells, an early land holder in the area, and director of John Gosnell and Co. perfumery and cosmetic manufacturers.

City Of Gosnells:

Land Area: 12,725 hectares

Density: 7.09 people per hectare (2006)

The City of Gosnells is a growing residential area, with substantial rural areas in the east and south, and some commercial and industrial areas, particularly along the Albany Highway. The majority of the population live in suburbs west of the Albany Highway. The City encompasses a total land area of about 128 square kilometres, with substantial areas of state forest.

The original inhabitants of the Gosnells area were the Beeloo Aboriginal people. European settlement dates from 1829, when farming commenced along the Canning River. A number of small settlements were established, with land used mainly for agricultural purposes, particularly farming and orcharding. Population was minimal until the early 1900s when land was subdivided. Land continued to be used largely for market gardens, orchards and poultry farms. Significant development did not occur until the post-war years. The population grew from 7,400 in 1954 to about 11,000 in 1966, and then to 21,000 in 1970. From the 1950s to the 1980s rapid growth took place along the Albany Highway, the Canning River and the Southern River (the suburbs of Beckenham, Gosnells, Kenwick, Langford, Maddington and Thornlie). The suburb of Huntingdale was developed from the 1970s. The population of the City continued to increase from the early 1990s, rising from 69,500 in 1991 to over 90,000 in 2006. Much of this growth has been from new residential development in the suburb of Canning Vale, and more recently, in Southern River. Population growth is expected to continue.

Major features of the City include the Canning River, Swan TAFE (Thornlie Campus), Centro Maddington (shopping centre), Home Town Cannington (commercial centre), Don Russell Performing Arts Centre, City of Gosnells Museum – Wilkinson Homestead, Gosnells Golf Club, Gosnells Regional Open Space, Langford Park Sporting Complex, Tom Bateman Sporting Complex and Sutherlands Park. The City is served by the Albany Highway, the Roe Highway, the Tonkin Highway and the Armadale and Thornlie railway lines.