Acknowledgment to Country
Aunty Judith ‘Jacko’ Jackson. Aunty Jacko, a Gunggari (QLD) woman and elder, is popularly regarded as a glue binding the Aboriginal community in the City of Port Phillip. With wisdom gained from her own early struggles, she helps make a difference to the health of many community members in Melbourne’s inner southern suburbs. Aunty Jacko has received a number of awards for her outstanding community work, including being inducted in the 2016 Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll.
Foreword
Dr Katie Allen MP is Federal Member for Higgins, Liberal Party. A Higgins local for over 40 years, involved in the community and volunteering for many causes.
Together with husband Malcolm, proud parents of four children. A working mother, Katie understands how delivering of services is essential to her community. Experience as a doctor of paediatrics at the Royal Children’s hospital, Katie has a demonstrated career of serving with motivation to improve others’ quality of life.
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UNHCR’s annual Global Trends Report
We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record.
An unprecedented 70.8 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 25.9 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.
There are also millions of stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.
In a world where nearly 1 person is forcibly displaced every two seconds as a result of conflict or persecution, the work of UNHCR is more important than ever before. |
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Key Address
Makarrata, coming together after a struggle*: a Christian, Muslim and Jewish View.
Peace: Reverand Dr Coralie Ling, on behalf of Christian Community
Reverand Coralie, now retired as United Church Minister. Lifetime campaigner of equal rights for women. Australia’s first ordained female Methodist Minister of Religion. Active Representative on City of Port Phillip’s Older Persons Consultative Committee. Christian Uniting Church representative on Port Phillip Multifaith Network. Ongoing social justice campaigner and active environmentalist.
"Peace is at the heart of Christianity and we remember Jesus’ words “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” Peace is understood as the harmonious connection between the earth, its creatures, its peoples and the Divine. ‘Justice, peace and the integrity of creation’ has been one of the projects of the World Council of Churches since the 80’s and 90’s of last century.
The early Christians were pacifists and there continues to be a pacifist stream within Christianity but with the alliance of Christianity with the Roman state ‘just war theory’ was developed though in today’s climate it is questioned whether any war can be just.
With white settlement in Australia there was a failure to recognize the first aboriginal peoples as sovereign nations and with this failure no recognition of frontier wars that took place and a failure in history as truth telling.
The Uniting Church in Australia (my own church) and some other churches as well has begun to recognize the spirituality, culture and rights of aboriginal people. In 1985 we established an Aboriginal Congress which has a voice in its own and all church decision making. In 2009 the Uniting Church constitution was changed to give full recognition to the first peoples. The Uniting Church supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the need for a treaty with the first peoples. All of this is necessary if there is to be peace with justice and the land."
Assalamualaikum: Imam Mohsin Mohammed, on behalf of Islamic Community
Member of a St Kilda based Muslim Community. Islamic representative on Port Phillip Multifaith Network. Since 2016, a key instigator of Port Phillip’s annual Multifaith IFTAR events. Earlier this year organised a united gathering of local Aboriginal, Maori, Christian, Jewish and Islamic communities in public Jumar prayers.
Shalom: Avraham Schwarz, on behalf of Jewish Community
Abe is a frequently sighted member at community building events and a Jewish representative on Port Phillip Multifaith Network. An enthusiastic community campaigner, he has a long track record of being an early Crisis Line responder, to more public UN Peace Day events. Past collaborators are grassroots groups such as WIN and COMMON, Calm-in-the-City and Planetary Healing Artists.
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Panel Discussion with Audience Q&A
Bearing Witness - The Practice of Peaceful, Active, Engagement. Venerable Chi Kwang Sunim, Abbess of the Seon Centre Kinglake, Korean Zen Tradition
Sunim was born in Australia and has been a Korean Zen Buddhist Nunof 40 years, 20 years cultivating meditation and Buddhism in Korea. In Australia, Sunim is Founder and Resident Abbess of Kinglake Seon Centre, also traveling and teaching broadly. Sunim engages in various Buddhist circles and local environmental efforts, notably post-Black Saturday recovery efforts. She frequently returns to Korea for teaching and retreat.
Kindness and Peace - The Bodhicitta Vows. Venerable Cathy, Tibetan Buddhist Society Melbourne, Mahayana Tradition
Venerable Cathy was born in Australia and was a student of Sera Je Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden from 1984 to his passing in 2011. In 2008, Venerable Cathy was ordained as a Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist Nunand has travelled extensively in India. A practising health practitioner for many years and has completed both graduate and post graduate studies. Extensively studied the Path to Enlightenment and is now half way through a six year Masters in Nalanda Philosophy Program from Tibet House, New Delhi, India.
For those interested, click here for more on Bodhicitta Vows
Creating Peace in a Busy Life. Anita Carter, Abbot, Buddhist Discussion Centre Australia, non-sectarian Buddhist temple for laypersons.
Born in India, Anita is Abbot of a non-sectarian Buddhist temple for laypersons: the Buddhist Discussion Centre Australia (BDCA). Founded in Upwey, Victoria, in 1978, BDCA celebrated its 40th anniversary in September last year. In 2011, Anita was a joint recipient of the annually awarded Outstanding Woman in Buddhism Award. Chosen by an international committee of scholars and Buddhist monastics - presented and organised by the World Buddhist University.
"It is essential for us to maintain peace in turbulent times as the interface between our awakening minds and the turbulent worlds we live in.
Peace through understanding.
We live in turbulence, we come from turbulence, our lives are turbulent, so embrace it. Embrace the turbulence to have peace”.
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This occasion was hosted by the Buddhist Community of Victoria. Thankyou to the many volunteers, Speakers, Suppliers and Guests whose presence made the occasion what it was.
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Related Notices
Letter from Hon. Michael O'Brien MP
Indigenous Representation was facilitated by Boon Wurrung Foundation
The Boon Wurrung Foundation represents the traditional people and custodians of the lands from the Werribee River to Wilson Promontory and who are proud members of the Kulin People in Victoria. A not for profit organisation dedicated to restoring language, customs and history of the Boon Wurrung people.
Oprah Winfrey Network: India.Arie: Break the Shell (5 mins)
Event Catering was skilfully provided by long established social enterprise ASRC Catering:
ASRC Catering is a non-for-profit social enterprise of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, offering global food experiences, with a cause. Food reflects rich and diverse cultures of asylum seeker members, expressed in modern interpretations of classic flavours from Africa, Middle East and Asia.
More than a catering company, helping provide social and economic empowerment for people seeking asylum. Professional and dedicated catering team comprises ASRC asylum seeker members led by an experienced team of mentor chefs.
One OK Rock - Be the light (6 mins)
Port Phillip Multifaith Network Letter to Prime Minister Regarding Climate Change September 2019
Click to view 2pp PDF
TED Talk: Greta Thunberg: The disarming case to act right now on climate change (11 mins)
Glen Eira Interfaith Network
The Network was formed in early 2011 with representation from many faith groups. Currently in caretaker mode. Coming together 'is a beginning'. Keeping together 'for progress'. Working together 'by success'. Agreeable experience 'in harmony'. Increasing beneficiaries 'as symphony'. This email concludes our contact for this event. If you wish to continue the relationship, subscribe for monthly newsletter
Jane Siberry & KD Lang: Calling All Angels (5 mins)
Invitation to Intercultural "Succat Shalom" party | Thursday 17 October 2019 | 6pm+
Hold the Date for a special Multifaith and Indigenous commemoration of "Succat Shalom" in a city-based heritage-listed Orthodox synagogue. In Hebrew, Shalom = Peace. Succah is the booth that Jews live in for 7-8 days, like a cubby house with a roof made of palm branches, during the annual Festival of "Succot" (Feast of Tabernacles).
Biblically, it is referred to as a "Succat Shalom = Tabernacle of Peace. This PEACE Party continues the theme of UN Peace Day in a way. Further details not available until the week before.
Indicate Interest for more information: Abe Swartz of Catalyst Enterprises
Dechen Shak-Dagsay: Om Mani Padma Hum (10 mins)
FCCV | Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference | Sunday 17 November 2019 | 12noon-4.30pm
The Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference (VINC) is an annual grass-roots conference which aims to help build capacity and sustainability of existing multifaith/interfaith networks, bring people up-to-date with current multifaith/interfaith matters and provide networking opportunities. Springvale Town Hall. This event is proudly supported by the Faith Communities Council of Victoria, the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong, The City of Greater Dandenong, and the Victorian State Government - Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Click here to find out more or to register for event
Pentatonix: Come Along (4 mins) |
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