A public meeting yesterday was told it was time to start serious campaigning against the establishment of a $70 million, 1200 student Islamic school on the outskirts of Mareeba.
More than 140 residents resolved to call on the Mareeba Shire Council and the State Government to disallow the construction of the proposed Standard Bearers Academy on its 96 acre Tinaroo Creek Road property.
Although proponents of the SBA have described the school as “multi-denominational” members of the audience expressed concerns that the dominant theme of the curriculum would be Islamic views.
A committee was formed to spearhead the upcoming battle, which after the meeting, named the new body Estop Islamic School Mareeba (EISM).
Since the first public information meeting held by the Standard Bearers Academy two weeks ago a Townsville grandmother created a Facebook page, ‘STOP the $70m Islamic BOYS Boarding School’ that has gone viral.
Meeting convenor Kim Vuga said more than 4000 comments on the Facebook page “…are a clear indication of what a lot of Far North people are thinking.”
“We held a meeting in Cairns yesterday and 65 people turned up, which was great because we only expected about 20,” Mrs Vuga said.
“Most people I have communicated with do not want this school because of its potential to influence young people in the north with the Muslim agenda.
“There are 340 mosques and prayer halls in Australia but the Muslim faith represents only about 2 per cent of the population.
“Already we have Halal food being served in the Aitkenvale State School tuckshop and head scarfs are also for sale.”
“What is next? Free prayer mats?”
The meeting elected Mareeba retiree Alan Webb as chairman, Irene Timpone as secretary and Brian Ottewill will be the Treasurer. Kim Vuga will continue as social media spokeswoman and researcher.
A former member of the Mareeba Muslim community Mr George Adil told the meeting local Muslims do not support the school and knew nothing about it until an article recently appeared in a newspaper.
“They want nothing to do with it,” Mr Adil said.
Chairman-elect Mr Alan Webb said another public meeting would be called before Christmas to discuss strategy and fundraising.
“I am disappointed none of our council or political representatives came to learn of resident’s concerns,” Mr Webb said. ends
At the meeting were Mick Sexton, Mareeba; Alan Webb, Chairman; Kim Vuga, Convenor and Sam Musumeci, Mareeba
Parents from Mareeba and surrounding , should be set against it because the money could better go to use with existing state schools . You cant tell me Mareeba schools could not do with several million dollars extra.
Not at all surprised that your local councilors didn’t attend the meeting. We are finding that in many cases they are either totally ignorant of the danger islam poses to our communities, or there is a more sinister reason, as we found in Bendigo. Take a long hard look at our Councilors Mareeba. If they don’t defend your community, what use are they?
I applause you guys for standing up and be heard.
What people forget is that islam will only employ muslims, to keep everything halal, so how will this profits your area?
Please do not be afraid to stand tall and against islam
How islam operates
We are witnessing this first hand here I Australia, and people are so caught up in ‘political correctness’ that they do not want to see the writing on the wall.
Islam operates through intimidation. It gains power over people by making them afraid. Once it dominates by fear, it makes demands. These invariably involve a society giving up the ability to defend itself, in return for being allowed to live peacefully. These demands are usually made incrementally, especially at first, and are framed as reasonably as possible. Recent examples were Islamic demands that they not be profiled at airports, or searched by dogs, despite the fact that most threats to aircraft have come from Islamic groups. Having capitulated to this demand, governments are then even more vulnerable to terror attacks on planes. This makes them more likely to agree to the next demand, such as the silencing of free speech, further weakening the society’s defences. As this cycle continues, the Kaffirs become ever weaker while Islam becomes stronger and stronger. The eventual aim, according to a number of the more extreme Islamic groups, is the establishment of Sharia Law, which institutionalizes the Kaffirs as second class citizens, or “dhimmis.”