By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
GREATER Dandenong Interfaith Network’s president has backed a call for the network to make a presentation before the United Nations in New York.
But Helen Heath, involved with the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong since 2000, said the concept needed to include faith networks throughout Victoria and would be dependent on funding and bi-partisan support.
Casey mayor Geoff Ablett pledged last week to call on the State Government and Opposition to support a bid for the Casey Multi-faith and other networks, including the Dandenong Interfaith Network, to speak at the UN headquarters in Manhattan.
Cr Ablett plans to submit a notice of motion to Casey Council this week requesting it organise a meeting to discuss the viability of a group of multi-faith representatives travelling to UN headquarters, to present their mission objectives and explain their community involvement.
“We would need to flesh out the purpose and objectives of the visit and find out who will help us fund it,” Ms Heath said.
“But it would be great to talk to the UN about the development of interfaiths in Victoria and how the concept has grown.”
Ms Heath said she raised the idea at Friday’s meeting of the South East Region Tours Steering Group, which includes interfaith and multi-faith representatives from Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia, Monash, Kingston, Frankston, Knox and Mornington.
“It’s a great idea but there are over 40 interfaith and multi-faith groups in Victoria and a presentation to the UN should involve as many regional representatives as possible,” Ms Heath said.
“We need to build upon our cultural diversity, and it would be great to have a Victorian delegation go to the UN.”
Ms Heath also planned to discuss the idea with Greater Dandenong Council and the Faith Communities Council of Victoria. She said State Government bodies would also need to be approached, including the Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship.
Greater Dandenong councillor Roz Blades, who is a member of the Dandenong Interfaith Network, echoed Ms Heath’s view that any UN presentation would need to include faith networks from all over the state and have a clear set of objectives.
“It needs to be wider than one group, it needs to be one greater voice,” Cr Blades said. “A state-wide approach would be better.”
