The Auburn Gallipoli Mosque dominates the skyline in the western suburb of Auburn. The project was initiated and largely funded by the Turkish community and construction took 13 years between 1986 and 1999. The Gallipoli name of the mosque reflects the shared legacy of the Australian society and the Turkish community behind the construction of it. The name "Gallipoli" is derived from the Greek "Kallipolis" meaning "Beautiful City". Australia has many people with Middle Eastern heritage, both Muslim and Christian, with the majority from Lebanon. According to the 2006 Census, 1.7% of the population in Australia has a religious affiliation with Islam, compared to 63.9% Christian, 18.7% no religion and 2.1% Buddhist. I thought this was an apprpriate photo for both the Skywatch theme today and my Harmony Day theme that I have featured this week. Harmony Day, which is celebrated tomorrow and every year on the 21st of March, celebrates cultural diversity and the cohesive and inclusive nature of Australia.
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