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On Sunday November 19th 2023, approximately 265 people gathered at the Coburg Town Hall, for the 2023 Victorian Interfaith Festival. The event was hosted by City of Merri-bek and Merri-bek Interfaith Network, in association with the Faith Communities Council of Victoria.

Venue of 2023 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference: Coburg Town Hall (Main Hall)

The day commenced with various faith and community stands on display, a delicious lunch provided by the Muslim Women's Council of Victoria, and an opportunity for people to meet and network.

Community & Faith Stands: Victoria Police (left); Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Ministries (right)

Community & Faith Stands: Treaty for Victoria (left); Salvation Army (right)

Community & Faith Stands: Orthodox Iconography (left); Western Public Health (right)

Community & Faith Stands: Islamic Art & Calligraphy

Community & Faith Stands: Baha'i Stand (left); Australian Defence Force (right)

Muslim Women's Council of Victoria and helpers (left) - Treaty for Victoria workshop participants (right)

Speakers and participants at 2023 Victorian Interfaith Networks Festival

Coburg Town Hall -  Gathering in Main Hall

Official proceedings began with a 'Welcome to Country' given by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Andrew Gardiner. This was followed by dignitary speeches from Cathy Henderson (CEO of Merri-bek City Council) and Mohamed Mohideen (Victorian Multicultural Commission). For more information, see videos below. Upon the conclusion of dignitary speeches, Uncle Andrew Gardiner returned to the podium to discuss his Spiritual Journey as an Aboriginal Muslim Australian.

Uncle Andrew Gardiner (left) gives a Welcome to Country - Jenne Perlstein (right) Mistress of Ceremony

Cathy Henderson (left), CEO of Merri-bek City Council  - Mohamed Mohideen (right), Victorian Multicultural Commission

Attendants were then offered one of three workshops to participate in:

(i) Treaty for Victoria – A Multicultural Discussion: Victoria has become the first Australian jurisdiction to begin negotiating treaties with First Nations groups. What exactly is a Treaty? What will the process look like? And what do multicultural leaders have to say?

(ii) Wurundjeri Workshop: Learn about Wurundjeri Culture, Wurundjeri Women and participate in a Wurundjeri Dance. This workshop is offered by Djirri Djirri, the only Wurundjeri female dance group, and the Traditional Custodians of Narrm (Melbourne) and surrounds.

(iii) Major Minor Community Choir: Led by Phil Hudson, this inclusive community choir based in multicultural Fawkner enjoys performing a diversity of languages and styles including English pop songs both old and new, Spanish language songs, Christian Latin hymns, plus much more.

Wurundjeri Workshop with Djirri Djirri (left) - Treaty for Victoria Workshop (right)

The festival included two great performances from the Dandenong Alevi Cultural Centre and the Major Minor Community Choir.

Dandenong Alevi Cultural Centre - Semah Dance Group. With organiser Dilara Coskun (left) & musician Baran Kockaya (right)

Major Minor Community Choir sing an Indigenous and Sufi Song. With Director Phil Hudson (right)

In the closing ceremony, the immediate past chair of the Faith Communities Council of Victoria, Reverend Bhakta Dasa, thanked the City of Merri-bek and Merri-bek Interfaith Network for hosting this year's event and invited the organising committee to the stage for a photo. Before closing proceedings, Reverend Bhakta Dasa thanked the Master of Ceremonies, Jenne Perlstein, for a wonderful job.

The 2023 hosts, City of Merri-bek & Merri-bek Interfaith Network, pass the message stick back to the Faith Communities Council of Victoria.

Further Information on the 2023 Victorian Interfaith Festival

• Promotional Flyer
• Program Booklet
• Feedback Forms (Summary)
• Groups Represented (Summary)

Videos: