AN EVENING IN EGYPT
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Gre nfell Record and Bland Advertiser
14/08/2009 10:00:00 AM
The Grenfell CWA Evening Branch hosted an ‘Evening in Egypt’ at the
Railway Hotel on Wednesday July 8, where forty six members and guests
were present.
Egypt is the country of study for CWA this year and everyone enjoyed
a feast of Egyptian food prepared by Carol Logan, commencing with
Messe (starters) of Baba Ghanoosh, (Aubergine dip), roasted chick
peas, fresh vegetable strips and Pita bread. The mains consisted
of Ta’amiah/Kofta/Falafel (Broadbean and chicken rissoles), Lahma
Dani Matbukha (Onion and Lamb casserole Egyptian style), Dawood
Nasha Salsa Hara (Meatballs with spicy sauce) and accompaniments –
Aiysh (Egyptian Bread), Kusherie (Pasta Bolognaise), Fattosh (crunchy
salad and Turli (steamed mixed vegies). This was followed by Dessert –
Um’ali (pastry pudding), Fig and date cake and melon fruit salad with
honey and mint. To top of the wonderful meal minter tea and full milk
chicory coffee was served.
Carol sought out recipes whilst she and her husband Allan toured
Egypt earlier this year.
Guest speakers for the evening were Margaret Lynch who was born
in Egypt and Jan Jones. Margaret spoke on her early life in Egypt
and the family’s migration to Australia and presented a PowerPoint
presentation of early Egypt and her family enroute to Australia.
Margaret whose father is Coptic Egyptian was the eldest of four
children and his father owned and operated a jewellery store in
Cairo. Coptic Egyptians are not of Arabic descent they belong to the
Christian faith – a minority group in Egypt.
The ancestors of the Coptic Egyptians are responsible for the ancient
Egypt we all know about – the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the tombs, and
the great civilisation that has intrigued people for centuries. That
civilisation came to an end over 3000 years ago and for some 750
years after that various foreign dynasties ruled until, in 332BC the
Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great added Egypt to his Empire. He
established the city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast and
left the rule of Egypt under the dynasty of the Ptolemy’s.
The last of whom was the famous Cleopatra. 300 years after Alexander,
Cleopatra’s armies defeated by the Romans who then maintained rule
for several hundred years.
Margaret spoke about the decline of the Roman Empire and the takeover
by the Arabs, followed by the Ottoman Turks and whilst they did not
mix with the populace, they were also Muslim and Islam continued to
grow until it became entrenched as the main national religion.
Ottoman rule of Egypt lasted until the early 20th century and was
followed by a brief period of British Rule before Egypt finally became
independent in the middle of last century.
Although born in Egypt, Margaret’s mother, the youngest of five was
not Egyptian, but Armenian. Her father arrived in Egypt in the early
1900’s seeking to set up business and her mother and grandmother came
as refugees, escaping persecution of the Armenians in their homeland,
Turkey, which was traditionally Armenian, but had been conquered by
the Ottoman Turks. Margaret’s mother’s family lived in Alexandria,
where she met and married Margaret’s father who had moved to the area
for work in tourism with a Greek family shipping company. When Margaret
was born she was named in honour of her father’s boss, Mr Margueritis.
Margaret gave a very detailed review of her early life in Egypt and
told how when she was only 4 years old and her sister Annie 10 months,
her family and maternal grandmother left Egypt on board a ship from
Port Said, on a journey that took 21 days migrated to Australia;
firstly docking in Perth and then Sydney, arriving on January 1st 1965.
Margaret spoke on her early life in Sydney, her family, schooling,
teachers college, touring oversees and finally her taking the first
job that came up, a position as an English/History teacher at the
Henry Lawson High School.
The day Margaret was due to depart Sydney there was a train strike,
so it was coach all the way. She arrived in Grenfell in searing heat on
January 26 1985 and was dropped off outside the Grenfell Library. Her
sister worked in the travel industry and had rung around Grenfell
for accommodation and finally booked a room at the Railway Hotel,
then run by Peter and Shirley Mawhinney. Margaret said "Having no
idea where anything was, I jumped in a cab waiting outside the library
and asked the driver to take me to the Railway Hotel. Without so much
as a blink of the eye, he let down his park brake and rolled the car
down-hill to the Railway Hotel. The charge was 40 cents. I gave him
$2 and told him to keep the change.
Well 25 years later, standing in the Railway Hotel talking to you and
my 18 year old son is now working for Peter and Shirley Mawhinney at
Grenfell Commodities."
Jan spoke on her recent trip with Adele Stead and her daughter to
Egypt and presented a PowerPoint memorabilia of photographs showing
all the famous tourist attractions that they visited.
All present voted that it was a top night of fun, food and
fellowship. On behalf of those present, Nicola Mitton presented an
appreciation gift to Jan and Margaret.
The next meeting of the CWA Evening Branch will be held on Tuesday
August 18 At Bolero’s Restaurant at the Grenfell Bowling Club.
All members are counted as attending unless an apology is phoned
or emailed to Deidre Carroll on 6343 1574 or [email protected] by
Monday evening August 17.