A Jordanian flag-raising ceremony was held at Central Gardens in Merrylands on the afternoon of Saturday, June 10th. Numerous dignitaries were in attendance, including the Jordanian Ambassador, Dr. Ali Kraishan, the Mayor of Cumberland Council, Lisa Lake, as well as several local government members and councillors who attended to pay their respects to the Jordanian community. State MP for Prospect, Hugh McDermott, was also present.

The evening primarily focused on speeches by the aforementioned dignitaries, followed by the flag-raising ceremony. After a brief introduction, Ambassador Kraishan was the first to speak. In his speech, the Ambassador warmly spoke about the strong relationship between Australia and Jordan and expressed gratitude to all government representatives who attended the ceremony. He emphasized that the purpose of the ceremony was to commemorate Jordan’s Independence Day, which recently took place on May 25th. Ambassador Kraishan also highlighted Jordan’s qualities as a nation, including its care and respect for refugees.

Concluding his speech, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude to all dignitaries and attendees and reiterated his loyalty to the Kingdom of Jordan. Mayor Lake was then invited to deliver her speech. She expressed gratitude to Jordan and its people, acknowledging their kindness towards the four million refugees residing in the country. Mayor Lake praised Ambassador Kraishan for promoting Jordanian culture in the local community.

The final speaker was State MP McDermott. He emphasized in his speech that “Jordan serves as an example to the world. Amidst the conflict and troubles in the Middle East, Jordan stands as a beacon of relative stability.” MP McDermott also lightheartedly discussed the recent Royal wedding in Jordan between Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan, and Rajwa Al Saif, expressing his admiration for the bride’s dress. He concluded by expressing his appreciation for the Jordanian community and his desire to see it grow, wishing everyone an enjoyable long weekend.

Following the speeches, the dignitaries and crowd gathered near the flagpoles located behind the podium. The Jordanian national anthem played first as the flag was raised slowly, followed by the Australian anthem as the national flag was also raised gradually. After paying their respects, guests remained on the scene for photo sessions, coffee, and dates.