The, World Lebanese Cultural Union, is supporting the drive for Lebanese living abroad to register themselves and their children at Lebanese Embassies and Consulates.

In its explanatory guide the Union says, " Register your children at the Lebanese Embassy in the country of your residence: by allowing them to obtain the Lebanese nationality, you will be preserving the nationality of your ancestors.

Do not deprive your children of the benefits and legal rights that the Lebanese nationality confers to them in their country: rights of property and inheritance as well as political, social and cultural rights.

Do not deprive your country of origin of its young resources: giving your children the Lebanese nationality will not have any repercussions on your other citizenship".

To be registered will become more important in the future, as overseas nationals will be able to vote where they live in the Lebanese 2013 General Election.

The Guide and application form can be downloaded from the Union's website: www.wlcu.com

The Lebanese newspaper, An Nahar, reported on Saturday that it is estimated that 30,000 overseas nationals will be coming to Lebanon to vote in the June 2009 General Election.

If the Lebanese newspaper, Al Akhbar is to believed, no all visitors in June will be returning just to vote or for summer vacations. The article, appearing last Wednesday, addresses the affect of the worldwide economic downturn. One consequence is that many of those who went overseas to work and live need now to return to Lebanon. As the article says as some were forced to leave Lebanon for economic reasons others are forced to return for the same reasons.

The article can be read from the below links:

Arabic

English - Google

The son of President Réne Moawad and parliamentary candidate, Michel René Moawad, is in Australia to meet members of the Zgharta Zawie Diaspora and the Australian authorities. He is accompanied by Lawyer Sheikh Henrie Moawad; Lawyer Youssef Sarkis Bahaa Douiehi; Mokhtar Sayed Makary, representing Member of Parliament Jawad Simon Boulos; Jean Khdeir, Director of Communications.

On Saturday, 31st January a welcome reception was held in Sydney. Among those present were the President of the Zgharta Association, George Doueihi; Zgharta Ladies Committee President, Alia Halabi; President of St. Joseph Soccer Club, Peter Emile Bacha.

On Sunday, Mr and Mrs Moawad attended St Charbel's Church for Mass where Fr. Antoine Torbey officiated. Afterwards there was a luncheon held in their honour.

Michel's itinierary so far announced includes a lecture at the University of Sydney on Friday, 6th February 2009, called, "Lebanon's Future: Threats & Opportunties." The venue is the Eastern Avenue Lecture Theatre and the lecture starts at 6 pm. For further information the contact telephone number is: 0416981885.

To see photographs of Michel's Bey visit go to the Galleria

In February 2008, a delegation from Zgharta of the El Marada, party visited Sydney.

UPDATE 4 Feb 2009: Click on the links to hear Michel Moawad on SBS Radio being interviewed and at his press conference

Bishop Stephen Hector Youssef Doueihi, Bishop Emeritus of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, who was born in Zgharta in 1927, has written, The Maronite Pontifical. It was was published on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8th December 2008, by St. Maron Publications, of the Eparchy of St Maron of Brooklyn.

In an interview with the Eparchy's magazine, The Maronite Voice, the Bishop talks about researching the book and the subject matter. He explains that a, Pontifical, is the book reserved to the Bishop as a Pontiff and main celebrant of the Liturgy, containing prayers and rites. A bishop is required to follow strictly the prescribed rites and not deviate from them. Bishop Doueihi says that although the book is not necessarily for the lay person, being more of an academic tome, readers will find it helpful in understanding and following a service. He says that the Church's rites are not something magical or mysterial but within a person's own reach of understanding. The book is written in English so it will have a universal appeal throughout the worldwide Maronite Church.

The interview can be read from here

The Australian Census of 2006 reported that there were 74,850 Lebanese born residents in Australia, being nearly 40% of the total of Middle East born residents (193,633). Of those Lebanese, 72.8% resided in Sydney and 19.6% in Melbourne.

The areas normally considered where "Lebanese" live in Sydney are the suburbs of Bankstown, Lakemba and Punchbowl; likewise in Melbourne the suburbs of Broadmeadows, Coburg, Brunswick, Fawkner and Altina, are where many "Lebanese" live.

Those claiming Lebanese ancestry totaled 181,738, which includes those born in Lebanon or who are third, second, first generation born Australian. This figure is broken down as:

Both parents born in Lebanon: 134,319
Father only born in Lebanon: 17,671
Mother only born in Lebanon: 6,671
Both parents born in Australia: 16,201
Country of birth not stated for both: 6,876

The Census points out that country of birth data alone "cannot identify the ethnic background of first and second generation Australians." It further says that, "Many Australian-born people and those whose parents were born in Australia identify with specific Middle Eastern countries (e.g. 'Lebanese')." Arrivals of Lebanese peaked in 1977 (4,906 arrivals) with a smaller peak in 1987 (2,600 arrivals). Since 1992 arrivals has been relatively stable, fluctuating between 883 and 1,368 persons each year. The peak in 1977 followed the easing of entry restrictions by the Australian Government in allowing Lebanese already in Australia to sponsor family members at the time of Civil War. In 2006, the median age of Lebanese born residents in Australia was 43 years.

Another set of data for 2006 says that Arabic is spoken at home by 243,700 people compared with 177,600 recorded in the 1996 Census. (Source: Media Fact Sheet 70/2007)

To read the Australian Government summary, "Perspectives on Migrants, 2008", which the above data comes from, click here.

The 2006 Census stated that the total population of Australia was 19,855,288. In July 2008 the population was estimated to be 21,007,310. We know of no data for the population of Zghartawiens living in Australia.

The Census reported that when asked " What is your religion?" in 2006, 53.3% of Lebanon born people said, Christian, with 40.5% saying Islam.

The Maronite Church in Australia is officially known as the, Eparchy of Saint Maroun of Sydney, which was established in October 1973. The Eparchy has parishes in the States of: New South Wales (Churches: Our Lady of Lebanon, Harris Park; Our Lady of Lebanon, West Wollongong; Saint Rafqa, Leppington; St Charbel's, Punchball; St George's, Thornleigh; St John the Beloved, Mount Druitt; St Joseph, Croydon; St Maroun Cathedral, Redfern.) Queensland (Church: St Maroun, Greenslopes, Brisbane); South Australia (Churches: St Maroun's, Westbourne Park, Adelaide); Victoria (Church: Our Lady of Lebanon, Thornbury, Melbourne).

Happy Australia Day to all our readers and supporters.

Australia celebrates on Monday, 26th January 2009, its official national holiday, Australia Day. Although the origins of the day go back to the 18th Century and the British Empire, in the 21st Century it is now treated as a celebration of Australia's independence and multi cultural diversity.

Part of that rich mix of cultures are two Australian born brothers, with strong Zghartawien blood ties, who show once again the Phoenician spirit of enterprise. Nehme and Jouad Mawad, although still in their early 30's have created in Sydney two companies which have gained a reputation for excellence. They specialise in commercial - retail fitouts and bathroom - foyer renovations. Both brothers combine the best of both cultures, respecting the old traditions and their heritage while being part of a young and vibrant country with a strong work ethic.

Their father, Georges Nehme (Ghabash) Mawad, went to Australia in the 1960's and is a well known figure in local society. He was later joined by his youngest brother René and both still have strong ties with Zgharta.

Nehme's company is called, insideOUT design & construct

and Jouad's company is called, SKILLCO

We thank both brothers for supporting us by being one of our Sponsored Links.

To all our Australian readers we wish you, Happy Australia Day.