from Lakemba to Surry Hills

Yesterday was too good to stay chained to the computer. Perfect blue sky and two things of interest on the
calendar - an open day at the Lakemba Mosque and the Surry Hills Festival.

I also wanted to show my book to show some of the people in Lakemba that I photographed.
If I didn't physically take it there, I doubt they'd ever know they were in the book. I could only find one
family so I decided to show other random people the book anyway - and photograph them having a flick
through.

Two worlds collide...

Part 1: Lakemba Mosque Open Day

Fairy floss and a jumping castle for the kids, tours of the mosque and all questions answered by
the "Ask Me" guides for the adults. Everyone was happy.


Harunur's hat


 




Islam opens its doors








ask me anything










the 'ask me' crew








little red riding hood










little red riding hood and her bro








Shahbaz, Koran cramming










Kadejat, from Ethiopia








Kadejat adjusts her sister's hijab








Shayma and Kadejat







Part 2: 52 Suburbs, the book, in Lakemba


I met Allen, Roba and their daughter Sabah 18 months ago when I took their photograph inside their
cake shop. They were delighted that their photo made it into the book - and could I please come back
and take some shots of their biscuits and cakes for their front window some time soon.


Allen and his family in print







Sabah, 18 months older



After leaving them I wandered down the main street and showed the book to random people. 



Lakemba literature :: 1








Lakemba literature :: 2








Lakemba literature :: 3








Lakemba literature :: 4








Lakemba literature :: 5







It would be great if the book made it into the local shops one day.



you never know







Part 3: Surry Hills Festival


From the land of veils to skimpy frocks and free flowing beer, Surry Hills. I can't give a fair account of the
festival as we arrived late and my daughter's patience was running out rapidly. Just time enough to snap
some people with the book before giving in to the tugging of my arm and retreating home.



Suburb No 17, Surry Hills :: 1








Suburb No 17, Surry Hills :: 2









Suburb No 17, Surry Hills :: 3






Suburb No 17, Surry Hills :: 4








Suburb No 17, Surry Hills :: 5







The book will be out in just three weeks time. So anyone who's pre-ordered should find it on their
doorstep pretty soon.



coming soon to a suburb near you







Back to processing images for the exhibition - made so much easier by the fact the clouds are starting to
roll in again and that perfect camera-friendly blue sky of yesterday is no more. Hope you enjoyed it 
while it lasted.

suburb no.2: Lakemba

Lakemba - somewhere out west with a large Muslim community and a mosque. Realising this was 
the full extent of my paltry knowledge about the suburb I did a quick google search yesterday 
before I set off:
• Originally known as Potato Hill thanks to its spud farms, L. is a suburb 15 km southwest 
of the city centre, in the local government area of Canterbury
• Named after a local mayor’s property, which was in turn named after a Fijian island 
• General opinion is that L. is a Lebanese Muslim suburb when in fact it’s much more ethnically 
diverse with a large population of Vietnamese, Chinese, African, Indian and Pakistani 
• Religion wise, it has an almost even split between Christianity and Islam
• Made headlines during the 2005 Cronulla riots when religious and racial tensions came to a head.

‘Research’ completed I headed off, arriving at Lakemba around 40 minutes later...

when worlds collide

shopping for a frock



multi-colourful

sweet love



piles of happiness

'for my prophet'

hope

Had I found beauty in Lakemba? In the people I'd met, most definitely.


from far far away

And in the details of the red-brick Sydney I remember from my childhood when my nan would take 
me to Roselands, just around the corner from Lakemba, and buy me a bag of sweet multi-coloured 
popcorn and a couple of musk sticks.


sun worshippers



different religions



good fortune