AIM
Our aim is to promote peace and prosperity through an increased awareness of the various religions, faiths and philosophies in the Community.
Our purpose is to assist academic, religious, secular leaders, and other interested persons and organisations to explore multifaith origins, issues and directions in the community through concerts, dialogues, displays, lectures, projects, prayer services and seminars at the University of Newcastle and other venues.
HISTORY
The multifaith movement began in the Hunter Region on 29th October, 1989 when the Newcastle Baha'i Community held the first local Interfaith Service at the Newcastle City Hall.
Approximately 320 people from five faiths attended and a multifaith working party formed which later became the loosely organised Interfaith Council of the Hunter with Romesh Amar as President and Tom Jones as Secretary and Treasurer.
Progress was slow but annual interfaith services and sharing of beliefs seminars were held at the Newcastle University till 1996 when it was decided to form the Interfaith Association of Australia with branches in Hunter and Illawarra regions.
On November 11, 1996 their first National Interfaith Congress was held at Macquarie University with a magnificent multifaith mulitcultural concert and the Hon Justice Michael Kirby as the Keynote Speaker. Others speakers included the Hon Justice Marcus Einfeld, the Right Reverend Roger Herft, Prof Terry Lovat, Rev Pravrajika Mataji, Adrian Salter, Jagjit Singh, Prof Godfrey Tanner and Freda Whitlam.
It was a most auspicious beginning but before this national body could consolidate its gains its President, Romesh Amar, was called to India because of serious family illness. This crisis and other personal adversities reduced his involvement and growth and activities at a national level dwindled away.
But the Hunter Branch continued and provided logistic support to Interfaith services at the University and to the Newcastle 1997 Bicentenary Religion Sub-Committee which held the highly acclaimed three day Festival of Faith October 20-22, 1997.
The Festival of Faith featured concerts, dialogues, displays, lectures, projects, prayer services and seminars and was so successful that some members of the Sub-Committee and the Hunter Branch decided to combine forces and form the Newcastle Multifaith Association on Tuesday November 10, 1998.
It had a new and unique structure to cater for this increased range of activities and the growing importance of Newcastle as a University Town. They identified a clear need for a Town and Gown multifaith interface so yet another attempt was made to establish a Religion Centre at the University. But once again the lack of funds and a suitable site prevented this.
Meanwhile Globalisation gathered momentum and tribal, ethnic and religious conflicts within nations replaced the old conflicts between nations. It became harder to distinguish aggressor from victim in these conflicts because the sides drew international support from a resurgence of age-old religious and historical alliances.
Terrorism increased because of the perceived powerlessness of many groups and so did the necessity for our organisations to promote peace and prosperity through religious tolerance.
Periodic prayers for peace became an essential core activity so it was decided to dramatically increase the involvement of prominent people and try to form closer links with similar organisations such as 48 Hours to World Peace.
In response the Multifaith Association of Newcastle and the Hunter Region was formed at a public meeting at Newcastle City Hall on Thursday 7th November 2002 with a expanded, improved structure.
It was an instant success and the association is going from strength to strength.
NEWS AND EVENTS
PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN THE PARK
People are invited to a drop-in PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN THE PARK at Civic Park on the second Sunday every December from 8:30 to 10:00 am.
As the three major festivals of the Hebrews, Christians and Muslims (Hanukkah, Christmas and Eid-al-Fitr respectively) usually coincide around December/January every year, the Association invites people of all faiths (and of no faith) to two festive BYO's with a difference. All are all welcome to come and contribute their favourite peace prayer or reading. People can attend specially, or just drop in after or on the way to church, sport, shopping, walking, jogging, etc. They can also make a commitment to peace at a handprint for peace table. This table will be set up by Sharon Davson's 48 Hours to World Peace foundation which will also host the second event from 5:00 to 6:00pm at the Newcastle Foreshores on New Year's eve.
NEW YEAR'S PEACE PRAYERS
This regular December/January event is a family oriented, fun-filled prelude to the concert, fireworks and other activities on the foreshore.
In addition to peace prayers, poems, songs etc., children and adults can bring their written New Year's Peace resolutions which can be as simple as "I won't get angry at my little brother".
NOBBYS EQUINOX CELEBRATION
AND PRAYERS FOR PEACE
PRAYERS FOR PEACE AND A CELEBRATION OF THE EQUINOX is held at sunrise on March 22 every year. Please visit our Multifaith Equinox Celebration webpage for more information.
CONTACT
If you wish to contact us:
Multifaith Association of Newcastle and the Hunter Region
PO Box 32 Hamilton NSW 2303
Ph. 0249432444
PATRONS
A representative group of 19-20 prominent people from Newcastle and the Hunter Region (list being finalised)
FIGUREHEAD PRESIDENT - Professor Terry Lovat
VICE-PRESIDENT PLANNING- Bill Rak
VICE-PRESIDENT PUBLICITY- Erin Allan
VICE-PRESIDENT LIAISON- Gregg Heathcote
ADMINISTRATION SECRETARY- Tom Jones
SECRETARY - Laurice Scevak
TREASURER - Shazad Pervez
TWELVE CONVENORS OF SOCIAL AND ACTIVITY GROUPS
James Butler (48 Hours to World Peace)
Dr Bhupinder Goel
Peter Gyulay (Prayer Services Group)
Trish Jannu (Virtues Project Group)
Diana Rah (Women and the Family)
Andrew Sognnenberg (UN Group)
Lilian Walters
Morgan Wishney
9.VACANT
10.VACANT- Indigenous
11.VACANT- Concert
12.VACANT
HONORARY MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE
Sharon Davson
Gionni Di Gravio
OTHER REGULAR INVITEES
Lyn Rendle
Margaret Emerton
Catherine Snedden
Christine Atanassoff
Sherrie Henry
Pat Eyre
MEETINGS
A quorum for all meetings shall be 5 (five) persons who are acknowledged to be patrons or elected committee members.
1.The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association will be held on the first Thursday of March of every year after March 2003 without any general notification (the patrons and the elected committee members will receive 21 days notice from the Administration Secretary).
Therefore the next (and first) AGM will be held on Thursday March 5th 2004;
2.Regular Committee meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month (except January). They are currently at :-
Sharon Davson Barker's Studio
40 Marton St
SHORTLAND NSW 2307
(next to Shortland RSL Club opposite the Sikh Temple)
We are grateful to Sharon for her unstinting hospitality and any member of the Association and/or interested person and their input is welcomed at these meetings;
3.The time and venue of any special project coordination meetings will usually be decided at the regular Committee meetings as required;
4.Special General Meetings (SGMs) can be called by a minimum of 9 (nine) persons who are acknowledged to be members with a minimum of 14 days notice given by the Administratiion Secretary to all patrons and elected committee members.
Our aim is to promote peace and prosperity through an increased awareness of the various religions, faiths and philosophies in the Community.
Our purpose is to assist academic, religious, secular leaders, and other interested persons and organisations to explore multifaith origins, issues and directions in the community through concerts, dialogues, displays, lectures, projects, prayer services and seminars at the University of Newcastle and other venues.
HISTORY
The multifaith movement began in the Hunter Region on 29th October, 1989 when the Newcastle Baha'i Community held the first local Interfaith Service at the Newcastle City Hall.
Approximately 320 people from five faiths attended and a multifaith working party formed which later became the loosely organised Interfaith Council of the Hunter with Romesh Amar as President and Tom Jones as Secretary and Treasurer.
Progress was slow but annual interfaith services and sharing of beliefs seminars were held at the Newcastle University till 1996 when it was decided to form the Interfaith Association of Australia with branches in Hunter and Illawarra regions.
On November 11, 1996 their first National Interfaith Congress was held at Macquarie University with a magnificent multifaith mulitcultural concert and the Hon Justice Michael Kirby as the Keynote Speaker. Others speakers included the Hon Justice Marcus Einfeld, the Right Reverend Roger Herft, Prof Terry Lovat, Rev Pravrajika Mataji, Adrian Salter, Jagjit Singh, Prof Godfrey Tanner and Freda Whitlam.
It was a most auspicious beginning but before this national body could consolidate its gains its President, Romesh Amar, was called to India because of serious family illness. This crisis and other personal adversities reduced his involvement and growth and activities at a national level dwindled away.
But the Hunter Branch continued and provided logistic support to Interfaith services at the University and to the Newcastle 1997 Bicentenary Religion Sub-Committee which held the highly acclaimed three day Festival of Faith October 20-22, 1997.
The Festival of Faith featured concerts, dialogues, displays, lectures, projects, prayer services and seminars and was so successful that some members of the Sub-Committee and the Hunter Branch decided to combine forces and form the Newcastle Multifaith Association on Tuesday November 10, 1998.
It had a new and unique structure to cater for this increased range of activities and the growing importance of Newcastle as a University Town. They identified a clear need for a Town and Gown multifaith interface so yet another attempt was made to establish a Religion Centre at the University. But once again the lack of funds and a suitable site prevented this.
Meanwhile Globalisation gathered momentum and tribal, ethnic and religious conflicts within nations replaced the old conflicts between nations. It became harder to distinguish aggressor from victim in these conflicts because the sides drew international support from a resurgence of age-old religious and historical alliances.
Terrorism increased because of the perceived powerlessness of many groups and so did the necessity for our organisations to promote peace and prosperity through religious tolerance.
Periodic prayers for peace became an essential core activity so it was decided to dramatically increase the involvement of prominent people and try to form closer links with similar organisations such as 48 Hours to World Peace.
In response the Multifaith Association of Newcastle and the Hunter Region was formed at a public meeting at Newcastle City Hall on Thursday 7th November 2002 with a expanded, improved structure.
It was an instant success and the association is going from strength to strength.
NEWS AND EVENTS
PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN THE PARK
People are invited to a drop-in PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN THE PARK at Civic Park on the second Sunday every December from 8:30 to 10:00 am.
As the three major festivals of the Hebrews, Christians and Muslims (Hanukkah, Christmas and Eid-al-Fitr respectively) usually coincide around December/January every year, the Association invites people of all faiths (and of no faith) to two festive BYO's with a difference. All are all welcome to come and contribute their favourite peace prayer or reading. People can attend specially, or just drop in after or on the way to church, sport, shopping, walking, jogging, etc. They can also make a commitment to peace at a handprint for peace table. This table will be set up by Sharon Davson's 48 Hours to World Peace foundation which will also host the second event from 5:00 to 6:00pm at the Newcastle Foreshores on New Year's eve.
NEW YEAR'S PEACE PRAYERS
This regular December/January event is a family oriented, fun-filled prelude to the concert, fireworks and other activities on the foreshore.
In addition to peace prayers, poems, songs etc., children and adults can bring their written New Year's Peace resolutions which can be as simple as "I won't get angry at my little brother".
NOBBYS EQUINOX CELEBRATION
AND PRAYERS FOR PEACE
PRAYERS FOR PEACE AND A CELEBRATION OF THE EQUINOX is held at sunrise on March 22 every year. Please visit our Multifaith Equinox Celebration webpage for more information.
CONTACT
If you wish to contact us:
Multifaith Association of Newcastle and the Hunter Region
PO Box 32 Hamilton NSW 2303
Ph. 0249432444
PATRONS
A representative group of 19-20 prominent people from Newcastle and the Hunter Region (list being finalised)
FIGUREHEAD PRESIDENT - Professor Terry Lovat
VICE-PRESIDENT PLANNING- Bill Rak
VICE-PRESIDENT PUBLICITY- Erin Allan
VICE-PRESIDENT LIAISON- Gregg Heathcote
ADMINISTRATION SECRETARY- Tom Jones
SECRETARY - Laurice Scevak
TREASURER - Shazad Pervez
TWELVE CONVENORS OF SOCIAL AND ACTIVITY GROUPS
James Butler (48 Hours to World Peace)
Dr Bhupinder Goel
Peter Gyulay (Prayer Services Group)
Trish Jannu (Virtues Project Group)
Diana Rah (Women and the Family)
Andrew Sognnenberg (UN Group)
Lilian Walters
Morgan Wishney
9.VACANT
10.VACANT- Indigenous
11.VACANT- Concert
12.VACANT
HONORARY MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE
Sharon Davson
Gionni Di Gravio
OTHER REGULAR INVITEES
Lyn Rendle
Margaret Emerton
Catherine Snedden
Christine Atanassoff
Sherrie Henry
Pat Eyre
MEETINGS
A quorum for all meetings shall be 5 (five) persons who are acknowledged to be patrons or elected committee members.
1.The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association will be held on the first Thursday of March of every year after March 2003 without any general notification (the patrons and the elected committee members will receive 21 days notice from the Administration Secretary).
Therefore the next (and first) AGM will be held on Thursday March 5th 2004;
2.Regular Committee meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month (except January). They are currently at :-
Sharon Davson Barker's Studio
40 Marton St
SHORTLAND NSW 2307
(next to Shortland RSL Club opposite the Sikh Temple)
We are grateful to Sharon for her unstinting hospitality and any member of the Association and/or interested person and their input is welcomed at these meetings;
3.The time and venue of any special project coordination meetings will usually be decided at the regular Committee meetings as required;
4.Special General Meetings (SGMs) can be called by a minimum of 9 (nine) persons who are acknowledged to be members with a minimum of 14 days notice given by the Administratiion Secretary to all patrons and elected committee members.
