After long wait, Director announcement!!!

Spring of Love, Issue 1018, Date Sun 21 December 2008 - 12 Kiahk 1725, Page 14 and 15.
(Weekly magazine published by the Coptic Orthodox Church - Sydney, under the guidance of HG Bishop Daniel).

All the respect for the priesthood of Rev. Fr Yousef Fanous.

However, his reign as the Director of the College was controversial, to say the least.

• His appointment one month after his arrival to Australia from Sudan, without any previous local experience, did not do him or the College any good.

• The College has seen three HOCs under his directorship!
  

• He has also presided over three Board of Directors (unheard of in the corporate world)!

He finally announced his resignation during the P&F AGM on Monday 1 December 2008. During the rescue meeting chaired by HG Bishop Daniel on Friday 5 December 2008 the Board stated accepting his resignation as a Director and Chairman of the Board.

Despite the above, HG Bishop Daniel was reluctant to accept and announce the resignation. In fact, some emotional do gooders were motivated to petition for his stay!!!! Therefore, if it is of any comfort to them, HG's Letter of Appreciation expressed their emotions the best it could given the circumstances.

At last and after long wait, common sense has prevailed and it was finally announced in the Spring of Love on Sunday 21 December 2008.

The entire saga left politicians look failed undergraduates!!!

On the other hand, on the opposite page in the same issue, there was Decree No. 32-07-08 of the appointment of V. Rev. Fr. Augustinos Nada as Director of the College. We pray to the Lord to bless Fr. Augustinos with abundance of wisdom to pick up the pieces for the sake of the kids.

We call upon everyone to unite in giving him the support and the helping hand he needs in restoring confidence. A new chapter in the College life during which we hope to see more transparency and communication.

Rescue meeting with HG Bishop Daniel on 5/12/2008

Open letter to HG Bishop Daniel

Arabic translation

Sydney, Sunday 30th November 2008


To HG Bishop Daniel
Bishop of Sydney and its Affiliated Regions.

On behalf of more than 120 parents of students at St Mark’s Coptic College at Wattle Grove, we are keen on the reputation of our Diocese and that is of the College Board to avoid the possibility of legal questioning, kindly request the following to the benefit of our kids;

1) The immediate resignation of the current Director (Fr Yousef Fanous), for his managerial inability evidenced over the past four years.

2) It came to our knowledge that St Mary’s & St Mina’s College at Bexley is currently under the direction of HE Metropolitan Bishoy. Similarly, we are keen on sparing Your Grace’s precious time to the spiritual and pastoral care of the Diocese. Therefore, we kindly request from Your Grace a similar treatment to St Mark’s College.

3) The immediate cessation of the central financial management of the Coptic Schools (COBE).

4) Upon clause (2), we kindly request the immediate reinstatement of Fr Antonios Kaldas (the former Director) as the Director of the College due to his previous successful track record before the current Director.

5) Upon clause (2), we kindly request the immediate reinstatement of Mr John Rekouniotis (the former Head of College) due to his previous successful track record at the College for five years.

6) Transfer of the College bank accounts from CBA to another bank ie ANZ.

We kindly inform Your Grace that a copy of this letter has been sent to HH Pope Shenouda III and HE Metropolitan Bishoy the Secretary of the Holy Synod for their previous knowledge and their close follow up of our dilemma with the College affairs.

NB. We kindly inform Your Grace of our full support to the members of the current College Board of Directors for our confidence of their support to the College.


Signed by (on behalf of more than 120 parents);

George Ramsey - Ramez Ramzy
Hany Gayed - Sam Mansour
Mamdouh Girgis - Edmond Magar
Mervat William - Sonia Magar


cc
HH Pope Shenouda III
HE Metropolitan Bishoy