By Nicole Williams
WHEN the first Places of Worship Tour set off 20 years ago, the members of the Interfaith Network had no idea how successful they would be.
As the 20th anniversary of that first tour on 18 December 1991 approaches, the Interfaith Network remembers the early days.
Agnes Kean, Interfaith Network member and representative from the Baha’I community, has been part of the network since it started in 1989 and remembers discussing the first tour, which focused on religious architecture.
“Everything was new because there had never been tours of places of worship in any municipality,” she said.
“That first tour was such a great experience because everyone was so welcoming and we all thought ‘this is really good, this is the start of something good’.”
“It’s just a little spark – everything has to start somewhere and it is where it goes from there that is incredible sometimes.”
About six months later the second tour took off which was open to the public and took a more spiritual slant.
“It started with the architecture side of things from a student doing her research and then other elements came into it,” Mrs Kean said.
“It was okay to look at the buildings but it didn’t tell you the stories, so to be able to go and meet the faith leader and some of the people there on that day, is just adds that dimension.”
“We never wanted it to be a tourist attraction because it’s not that, you’re actually going to people’s places of worship.”
Mrs Kean remembers leading an early tour to a Hindu temple on a cold and wet winter’s day.
“Inside it was all cement so it was really cold under foot and you had to take your shoes off with respect.
“I went to get the person who was going to show us around but he couldn’t make it so I was there with the tour but I didn’t know all that much about the Hindu temple.”
A young priest was available to show the group around but he had only been at the temple for three weeks and spoke very little English.
“Between the two of us we got around everything but it was an eye-opener about the type of thing that can happen.”
Over 20 years the itinerary has changed, tours have shortened and a guide of respectful practices has been introduced.
“Everything has to start somewhere but you can see the changes from then to now,” Mrs Kean said.
“Even the itinerary – it was sparse then but now it has all the respectful practices and what to do and whether you need a scarf or to take your shoes off – all of that kind of thing.”
Place of Worship tours now operate monthly and faith leaders have a separate tour because the public tours are always full.
Tours of Places of Worship co-ordinator Helen Heath said the tours had been very good for the network and the tours have been increasingly popular.
To book a tour contact Ms Heath on 9546 8441 or 0407 571 432 or email at tours@interfaithnetwork. org.au.
