The Al Madina Dawah Centre (AMDC) is an Islamic community centre in friendly Bankstown, Sydney. Whether you are in the region or simply wish to know more about AMDC, this article will take you through what the centre does, where it is found, the prayer times, and how the centre relates to Australians of all kinds.

Welcome to Al Madina Dawah Centre.

The feeling of community and care is experienced the moment you enter AMDC. The aim of the centre is straightforward: to share the knowledge about Islam, provide support to the families, and conduct the events that unite people. AMDC has a friendly environment for all people, whether you want to pray, attend a talk, or enjoy a community dinner.

The location of AMDC in Bankstown.

Al Madina Dawah Centre is located on 54 Kitchener Parade, Bankstown, NSW 2200. It is a very quick walk to the Bankstown train station and a number of bus stops. It is visible on the street, has easy parking spots, and the building is clearly marked in both Arabic and English.

Prayer Times Made Easy

AMDC provides the five daily prayers and Friday Jummah services. The following are the most common prayer times available at the centre (they vary by a few minutes each month, so have a look at a local application or the Facebook page of AMDC to be informed):

• Fajr: around 5:25 am
• Zuhr: 12:15 pm
• Asr: 3:30 pm
• Maghrib: soon after evening.
• Isha: 7:00 pm
• Jummah Khutbah: 12:15 pm Friday

There is a separate prayer area for women with its own wudu (ablution). The centre is largely wheelchair accessible; however, the stairs in the prayer hall might present some difficulties for wheelchair access.

What AMDC provides in addition to prayers.

Educational Lectures and Dawah Lessons.

AMDC hosts weekly talks on such subjects as the fundamentals of Islam, the life of the Prophet, and tips on living as a family. The sessions are conducted in English, which makes them easy to join for Aussies of all walks of life. Children’s classes are also held during weekends, where they learn to read the Quran and basic Arabic.

Community Dinners and Raisins.

After the Maghrib or Isha prayers, AMDC regularly invites the community to dinner for brothers and sisters as a free meal. These meals allowed everybody to eat and talk. They sometimes have a dairy booth selling cakes to support charitable activities in this country or other places in the world.

Outdoor Dawah Events

AMDC also conducts street dawah on Saturdays during warmer seasons, during which volunteers can distribute flyers to passersby and engage in conversations with them. It is an opportunity to respond to questions about Islam in a polite, amicable manner.

Friday School for Kids

The centre operates a Saturday school among the children between the ages of 5 and 12. This is where they are taught the Quran, the Hadith, and plain Islamic etiquette. These safe conditions are valued by parents, who come to learn in easy-to-follow and fun sessions.

Al Madina Dawah Centre Incorporated.

AMDC is a New South Wales-based not-for-profit company. Its Australian Business Number (ABN) is 38 967 325 114 and it was registered on 1 April 2021. The incorporation will mean that all the donations and charges are directly forwarded to the operation of the classes, the running of the centre, and the project of the communities.

Connect with AMDC Online

Would you like to stay informed on AMDC happenings and the switching of prayer time? Check out their social media:

• Facebook: Go and search the Al Madina Dawah Centre Bankstown to get updates and live stream.
• YouTube/Rumble: AMDC posts videos of most of the Friday talks and special lectures.
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• Instagram: instagram.com/madinadawah publishes quotes and photos of events and inspirational videos.

These Internet platforms assist the local and more distant individuals to remain in touch with the programs of AMDC.

What clients have to say: Reviews and Photos.

The residents of the area rate AMDC with five stars due to their welcoming environment and supportive employees. Many praise:

• Prayer halls are clean and well-maintained.
• Clarity of English announcements.
• Welcoming community events
• Assistance to new Muslims and non-Muslims who have questions.

In the photo gallery of the Facebook page maintained by the centre, there are smiling faces of people in community dinners, classroom learning, and motivational speeches. It is a true-to-life portrait of religion and friendship in Bankstown.

Ten Simple Etiquettes of a First-Timer.

• Be there 10 minutes before Jummah to get parking and settle.
• You may bring your own prayer mat, or you may use those provided by AMDC.
• Wear a modest dress, a headscarf, and loose clothing, not tight, long sleeves, and long pants, also dress in a loose manner.
• In case it is the first time there, the reception volunteers can guide you around and clarify your questions.

Summary and Recommendation.

Al Madina Dawah Centre in Bankstown is not a prayer centre. It is a community centre where all Australians, irrespective of their background, can learn, interact, and develop with one another. You might be interested in learning about Islam, have a prayerful moment, or you might just need to have a meal with a community of people, then AMDC is more than happy to accept you with both arms.

Are you willing to take a tour of AMDC? Visit this week, and attend Maghrib, dine, and greet the friendliness of the staff. Discover why many people in Bankstown consider Al Madina Dawah Centre to be their second home.

The scene in the busy streets of the CBD in Sydney in August 2019 was the location of one of the shocking, violent attacks in Australia. Mert Ney was a 20-year-old man who brutally murdered and ran around the city, wielding a knife, causing havoc and terror in Marayong in the west of Sydney. The case was referred to as the milk crate murder because of the courageous citizens who made him fall by using a milk crate and chairs. One woman was killed and another injured by this attack, and the city was traumatised.

Who Is Mert Ney?

Mert Ney was born in 1998 in the suburb of Marayong, in the western regions of Sydney, and the areas around Blacktown. He is of Cypriot Turkish descent, with reports claiming that he is of a Turkish Cypriot family. The former Blacktown Boys High School classmates recalled him as a silent loner who had limited friends.

During the week before the attack, Ney had been reported missing by his family, who said he had absconded from the hospital where he had gone to seek an evaluation on his mental state. His unnamed sister had previously discussed her brother and his sharp fall into madness in the days preceding the attack.

The Attack on 13 August 2019

That Tuesday afternoon, Ney made a sexual appointment with 24-year-old Michaela Dunn at an apartment in the CBD of Sydney. What was to follow was really grotesque. Michaela, a former university student who had travelled extensively, visited Ney several times, inquiring whether he was okay when he got there. Minutes later, he took a knife and stabbed her, leading to her being fatally wounded in the neck and throat.

Following the killing of Michaela Dunn, Ney used his phone to film disturbing videos in the apartment that he shared with friends on Facebook Messenger and Snapchat. In his videos, he said Allahu Akbar and wrote texts that stated I fucked psycho and I laughed, bro. The fear”.

The CBD Rampage and the Milk Crate Takedown.

Ney still had a knife and exited the apartment and went to York Street, where he stabbed 41-year-old Lin Bo in the back. He then leapt into vehicles, screaming profanities and threats, and causing complete havoc in the center of Sydney. The assault occurred in broad daylight in one of the busiest parts of Australia as office workers and shoppers fled to safety.

What followed was to be a legend in the history of Australian crime. Ordinary Aussies did not wait after a 150 metres chase in the CBD. Bold passers-by took up arms with whatever was to be found, chairs, milk-crate, and assailed Ney to the earth before Wynyard station. This marvellous act of bravery prevented him from causing harm to other individuals. 

Was It Terrorism?

Even though Ney said Allahu Akbar as he was assaulting people, and a USB stick was discovered on him with information concerning the Christchurch mosque shootings and other terrorist attacks, the investigators concluded that the attack was not related to terrorism. Commissioner Mick Fuller of the police has verified that Ney was a loner who had no connections with terrorist groups.

Justice Peter Johnson, who later sentenced Ney, discovered that he was not a religious fanatic and that he was mentally ill rather than a terrorist. Ney had previously had mental health issues, and the court heard that he had prepared 1,500 pages of medical reports.

The Trial and Sentence

Mert Ney pleaded guilty in October 2020 to the murder of Michaela Dunn and the intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm on Lin Bo. He was sentenced to 44 years of prison with a non-parole period of 33 years by Justice Peter Johnson on 14 May 2021.

According to Justice Johnson, the attack was a ruthless, inhumane, and frightening attack with no purpose. He told me that Ney had entered the city with one purpose: he wanted to kill a young woman, to commit violence and intimidate people. The judge declined the submission by the Crown that Ney be sentenced to the remaining period of his life in jail, citing his mental problems.

In October 2023, however, the Court of Criminal Appeal of NSW sentenced Ney to four years less than his initial sentence. Now he could be released as early as the 2050s.

Life Behind Bars at Goulburn Supermax.

Mert Ney is in jail in Goulburn Supermax, which is the most secure jail in New South Wales. His imprisonment has not been an idle one. In October 2021, he was convicted of assaulting a correction officer and sentenced to an extra 15 months.

In February 2022, he was again sentenced to 15 months as a result of scalding another inmate with boiling water and 12 months as a result of setting his cell ablaze.

Ney himself was the victim in December 2022, as he was allegedly stabbed by another prisoner in the exercise yard of the prison. He has a number of stab wounds and is in a serious, though stable condition, and was taken to Goulburn Base Hospital.

In the most recent outburst in 2024, Ney was reported to have assaulted a prison officer, leading to the hospitalisation of the officer. This behaviour of violence in prison demonstrates that his destructive behaviour has not stopped despite his imprisonment.

The Victims and the Victims’ Families.

The murder of Michaela Dunn was a tragedy for her family. Joanne Dunn, her mother, told the court how she learned about the murder of her daughter on the night of the murder, and said that she felt numb, and no parent should have to hear such words. She talked of missing the beautiful eyes of Michaela, her touch, their conversation and even the arguments they had together.

The sister of Michaela, Emily Dunn, gave a speech outside the court following sentencing, where she praised the community in terms of their support and demanded that violence against women stop. No matter what sentence was passed today, there was not going to be any Micky back, she said.

Lin Bo, the woman who was stabbed in the street, survived and has been healing from the ordeal, both the physical and psychological trauma she experienced that day.

Mert Ney’s Family Speaks Out

The unnamed sister of Ney also came out after the attack and spoke before the media, saying to the families of the victims that she was sorry. She explained that she hated her last name and termed the actions of her brother as despicable. She told her that the family had called the police, claiming he was lost since they believed he was not a danger to anybody.

You know, he had never hurt the cats in the same way that they normally hurt cats before killing anyone, so we thought, I said, trying to get it straight, and then to kill someone. This was especially true of what happened to Michaela Dunn, whom she apologised to, claiming that she was, like, defenceless.

Reflecting on the Case in the present day.

The case of Mert Ney is one of the most shocking criminal cases that occurred in Australia in recent years. It addresses critical concerns in the areas of mental health, community safety, and women’s violence. The attack demonstrated the most vile and the good sides of humanity – the pointlessness of the violence to the bravery of common Sydneysiders who appeared to save people. 

The case was adequately addressed in a documentary and podcast series titled Crime Insiders: Judgements, which explored the court and its hearings, as well as the reasons that led to that horrible day. The episode, also known as the Milk Crate Murder of Sydney, has made Australians realise that there are more issues behind the attack. 

To the victim of the case, the pain persists. The family of Michaela Dunn has to survive without a daughter and sister. Lin Bo has physical and emotional scars. And the thousands of eyewitnesses who witnessed the Sydney CBD attack that day will never forget what they witnessed.

The Legacy of August 13, 2019

The incident on the August day altered the way many Australians reflect on the concepts of safety in social areas. It also raised critical discourses related to mental health services, provision of support to people in crisis and how society can better safeguard vulnerable people, such as sex workers.

Mert Ney will not be able to be paroled until at least the 2050s, which means he is going to spend a significant part of his adult life in prison. His case is a reminder of how disastrous the actions of a single person can be to the lives of a large number of people.

Even when experiencing mental health problems yourself or when you know someone with mental health problems, assistance is available. Contact Lifeline 013 11 14 or Beyond Blue 01300 22 4636. To seek assistance on violence against women, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

The name of one of the most shocking domestic violence tragedies in Adelaide was linked to that of a former disability support worker at Morphett Vale called Clifford Neumann, who pleaded guilty to the murder of mother-of-five Victoria Ann Stewart. Clifford Neumann was subsequently sentenced to a long prison term, which sparked off discussion in the community on the issue of family violence and safety in South Australia.

Who Is Clifford Neumann?

The guilty plea made by Clifford Arthur Neumann, aged 41, was a household name in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. Born and brought up in South Australia, Neumann was employed as a disability support worker and in his home country, where he was well known in the community as one who participated in community activities. Neighbours said he was quiet and polite with no criminal history reported before last year.

The Morphett Vale Tragedy

At around 6:55 pm on 19 November 2023, police were called to a house on Wark Court in Morphett Vale following a disturbance after a neighbour had reported everything. The police discovered 39-year-old Victoria AnStewart’s lifeless body; she was murdered in her own house. Neumann and Stewart had known each other through a common religious group, where they had met when they were in the same group of Jehovah’s Witnesses almost 15 years ago.

Arrest and Guilty Plea

Neumann, who had lost contact with Stewart a few years prior, contacted her through Facebook just a few weeks prior to his arrest, hoping to resurrect a relationship. Prosecutors have shown that the days before the killing, Neumann became more and more jealous as he was convinced that Stewart had some connections with herfiancée. On 19 November, Clifford Neumann approached Stewart with a weapon and bluntly attacked him after premeditating the attack, purchasing clean-up bags, a duffel bag, and a weapon.

He even phoned ambulance services himself, admitting he had done a horrible thing. Neumann appeared before the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 27 May 2024 and admitted to the murder and did not receive a full committal hearing.

Background and Personal Struggles by Clifford Neumann.

In the sentencing hearings, defence counsels described how Neumann was raised in a strict religious environment, was bullied, and was diagnosed with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and autism spectrum disorder. The court was also informed of his alcohol addiction, cannabis and steroid use, as well as an addiction to weightlifting. Justice Laura Stein pointed out these aspects, but added that these aspects did not justify the brutal and frenzied attack by Neumann.

Sentencing and Royal Commission Momentum.

The convictions that are given to a murderer under the law of South Australia are life imprisonment. Nonetheless, Neumann took a guilty plea at a tender age, which made him eligible for a sentencing discount. Clifford Neumann was sentenced by the Supreme Court on 4 December 204, to 27 years in jail and no parole (serving 22 years and 11 months of that sentence retroactive to his arrest).

The death of Stewart was among four deaths involving domestic violence in a week, which aroused outrage among people and made the state government form a Royal Commission on Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence. In order to reform policies and preventive tactics, that inquiry is now led by former senator Natasha Stott Despoja.

Community Impact: The Morphett Vale Community.

The Morphett Vale neighbourhood was in shambles. Stewart lost her five children aged between 7 and 21 years overnight. During the sentencing, twelve members of his family faced Neumann, calling him a monster and explaining that the loved ones of Stewart were traumatised for life due to what he did. The demand for help by domestic violence survivors was noticed to increase, according to local support services, which highlighted the overall implications to the community.

Lessons and Australian Context.

The case of Clifford Neumann indicates that there are ongoing problems in the Australian response to domestic violence:

• Early Intervention: Neumann had warning signs, including obsessiveness, substance misuse and mental health problems, but they were ignored.
• Support Networks: Intensifying the community and faith-based support Networks may assist the people at risk prior to violence.
• Policy Reform: The Royal Commission of South Australia is an important move towards systemic change, and its recommendations are likely to have a role to play in legislation throughout the nation.

Summary and Recommendation.

The case of Clifford Neumann is a grim lesson of the tragic aftermath of untreated jealousy, mental health issues and domestic abuse. By giving back to the local domestic violence services, promoting mental health services, and keeping up-to-date, Australians can play a role in assisting the South Australian Royal Commission as it begins its work.

Help is provided to the victims of family violence: call 1800 RESPECT or Lifeline: 13 11 14 (confidential).