Bonnyrigg park to become Assyrian shrine

17 Nov 09 @ 04:10pm by Carleen Frost

An artist's impression of the 4.5m high statue proposed by the Assyrian Universal Alliance.

A BONNYRIGG park could become an Assyrian shrine - complete with a giant statue - in a proposal being considered by Fairfield Council.

The Assyrian Universal Alliance wants to erect a 4.5m high sculpture of a “martyr’s hand” holding the Earth at the corner of Elizabeth Drive and Smithfield Rd.

The group also wants to rename the park the Garden of Nineveh, after the ancient holy capital of Assyria.

It is the second application submitted for an Assyrian memorial in Fairfield this year.

A small monument, honouring the joint efforts of Assyrian and Australian soldiers, was unveiled in Fairfield Park last month.

Assyrian Universal Alliance spokesman Hermiz Shahen said this monument would honour the civillian victims of war rather than those who served.

He said people from all over the world would visit Bonnyrigg to lay flowers and light candles at the base of the sculpture.

“It’s going to be a very big statue,” Mr Shahen said.

“Everybody will hear about it and they will come from overseas to visit the monument.”

The plans have been supported by six different Assyrian groups: The Assyrian Australian National Federation, the Assyrian Australian Association, the Assyrian Charity and Educational Community, Assyrian National Centre, Babylon Cultural Association and the Assyrian Universal Alliance.

Three Fairfield councillors - deputy mayor Anwar Khoshaba, Sam Yousif and Albert Mooshi - have already declared they have “very close” relationships with the Assyrian Universal Alliance.

http://fairfield-advance.whereilive.com.au/news/story/bonnyrigg-park-to-become-assyrian-shrine/