“Together, Towards...”

The first World Zoroastrian Congress (WZC) to be held in the southern hemisphere, the three-day meet from June 1-3, 2018 in Perth, Australia will have for its theme: "Together, Towards Tomorrow.” "We shall endeavor to make this Congress a fun time, entertaining and with interesting lively discussions… A fresh approach to your Congress is planned. There will be time for local sight-seeing, meeting other Zoroastrians from the worldwide diaspora,” notes a communiqué from Firoz Pestonji (pictured) on behalf of BAWAZ (Business Association of Western Australian Zoroastrians) and the proposed Federation of Australian Zoroastrians that will soon be registered.
The 11WZC "will be a Congress with a difference wherein we will have more participation from the public and a bit of fun for all ages,” declares the website www.11WZCperth.com.au that has been operational since December 25, 2015, the same day that Australia was awarded the Congress at a meeting of the Global Working Group in Udvada. "The website will be revamped and is getting ready with a totally new look and more information. The present site was just to introduce people to the Congress,” adds Pestonji, reverting to Parsiana’s queries within 15 minutes!
The circular logo showing the Australian states in the middle and accommodating a farohar with a kangaroo on the left side and a swan on the right was designed by Pestonji with their in-house web designer. "Both are true blue Aussie symbols,” declares Pestonji. Business people, professionals and entrepreneurs have been assured a meeting with their "counterparts in Australia to expand their contacts and influence too.”
The tourist attractions have been explained in detail on the website in the section "Things to do in Perth: Explore Kings Park and Botanic garden/ See some of the world’s biggest.../ Find cultural enlightenment/Experience the dining boom/ Discover the vibrant port city of Fremantle/ Watch an Indian Ocean sunset/ Relax on Rottnest Island/ Take a day trip/ Swim, kayak and cruise with the dolphins.” Before they finalize their program, the organizing team invites, "If you have some interesting thoughts/ideas for what you would like to see at the next Congress, do let us know…”
The team working towards the success of 11WZC includes Pestonji as the president of BAWAZ and Dinyaar Marfatia as BAWAZ vice president; with Kazween Boika, president Zoroastrian Association of Victoria, Melbourne; Mahiyaar Wellington, ex president of the Australian Zoroastrian Association, Sydney; Shahpoor Kalantary, president of Zoroastrian Association of Western Australia, Perth; Aban Kekobad, local coordinator of Zoroastrian Gold Coast and Brisbane. They will be supported by an enthusiastic team including Darayes Divecha, Dinaz Divecha, Farzana Khambatta, Hoshang Deboo, Homyar Randeria, Mahrukh Pestonji, Col Ronnie Mistry (retd) and Tanaz Ghadiali.
In his message carried in the AZA newsletter of May 2016, Pestonji writes that the 11WZC "is an excellent opportunity for all Australian Zoroastrians to show the world at large our mettle: it will be a great opportunity to showcase our rich local culture, our crafts, capability, our strength, our unity and brotherhood. The eyes of all Zoroastrians will be on us and by working together we can deliver a successful Congress… We would like to start taking on expressions of interest from volunteers to start spearheading small projects and take up positions and tasks for the upcoming Congress.”
He further wrote, "As this is the first Congress to be held in the Asia Pacific region we would also welcome and urge for all the support and assistance from our fellow Zoroastrians from New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong and other local areas to join us…”