Life after council topped off with completing Islamic studies
Former North District Council in-house lawyer John Verry is enjoying a very different life after local government.
Mr Verry has been studying at the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisations at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, and earlier this month became the first to complete the Graduate Certificate in Contemporary Islamic Studies.
After retiring from the council he moved to Malaysia, which motivated him to gain a better understanding of Islamic history, customs and beliefs, and the Islamic legal system.
“I wanted to expand my knowledge, as I realised, living in a majority Muslim country, I had very little understanding of Islamic history, customs and beliefs, especially as Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, and while there is a high media profile, many people have a distorted view of Islam,” he said.
Mr Verry originally studied theology, then guidance and counselling, then law.