The City of Boroondara, embracing the former municipalities of Hawthorn, Camberwell and Kew, has as its motto ‘City of Harmony’, a happy choice for its newly established interfaith network.

Representatives of many faiths gathered at the Hawthorn Town Hall in July to endorse terms of reference for the Council’s consideration and to establish working groups. Revd Peter Bentley of the Wellspring Centre in Ashburton and Dr Tim McCowan spoke of their work in interfaith, notably among young people and the Building Bridges project, which brings students together in small groups. These ‘incredibly encouraging experiences’ clearly showed that young people were thinking of the larger issues and were asking what role their faith played in making a difference to themselves and to others.

Dr Debbie Golvan, a Mount Scopus parent, described to the gathering her own daughter’s ‘high motivation’ in becoming involved in the Building Bridges program, how leadership was encouraged and how parents also learned ‘lots of good things, especially of the issues we have in common with those of other faiths’.

In its invitation to participants, Boroondara City Council expressed the value of its diverse community and its commitment to assist in promoting and contributing to the health, wellbeing and independence of its many and varied residents. Annette Sweet, Community Support officer for the City of Boroondara, will help resource the Network. The Network’s principal roles are to:

• create opportunities for understanding and learning about the City’s many faith communities
• share and disseminate information
• develop a Common Statement from the faith communities regarding its purposes
• enable an integrated consultation and/or response to social issues within the municipality
• actively encourage all interested residents involved in a faith community to join the Interfaith Network.

Three working groups were formed: to establish tours of places of worship, further develop adult interfaith dialogues and extend the Building Bridges program and interfaith dialogue into public schools. Margaret Ray from St David’s Uniting Church in Canterbury has kindly agreed to be the chairperson of the network.

Further information is available from Annette.Sweet@boroondara.vic.gov.au, phone 9278 4639.