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GECC – Gippsland Interfaith completed their first year with a spectacular Interfaith activity in Morwell recently. Entitled a “Taste of Faith”, the  various faith traditions of Gippsland were invited to demonstrate how food plays an important part in their worship practice.

In a standing room only presentation at the Eastern Senior Citizens Centre in Vary St. Morwell, representatives of the Bahai', Tamil Hindu, Moslem, Sikh and Christian faiths gave explanation of how certain foods and their application to worship practices were an essential part of their faith.

Local member Russell Northe congratulated the GECC-Gippsland Interfaith for bringing together such a widespread and disparate group in peace and harmony.

Featured presentations were made by the Filopino Ladies group highlighting the Spanish Catholic influence in the Christian festival celebrations along with food that was prepared for these festivals in the Phillipines. The Lutheran Sudanese Choir from Traralgon sang as a prelude to talks given by Mr Vaughn Panapa of the Bahai's concern for the complete well-ness of all elements of the body, spiritual, mental and physical and how “balance” was an essential part of life and that included food intake.

Dr Abdul Qadeer Qayoom from the Ahmadiyyia Moslim Association of Victoria, gave a dissertation on the doctrine and practice of Halal food within Islam. Sikh, Jamel K Dhillion, demonstrated the process and prayer that was involved in preparing a sacred dish for Sikh worship.

One moving contribution was given by 6 men from the Tamil Hindu community of Melbourne led by Mr  Nallaratnam Sivarasa (“Siva”). On introducing Siva to the audience, Gippsland Interfaith Chairman Mr Lobley, related how Siva had lost over 200 members of his extended family when the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami had hit their beachside village in Sri Lanka.

The final presentation was made by the Christian Faith tradition, Margaret Mooney from Neerim South gave the meaning that the Last Supper has to all Christians and this was supported by Bishop Jim Rohner of the Moe congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The afternoon was concluded by some spirited singing from the Choir from that same congregation, under the direction of Michelle Pollard.

GECC Chairman Dr Graham Dettrick said such an event as this was a long held dream of his to see the various faith traditions come together in this way. Gippsland Interfaith Chairman Mr Murray Lobley said the event was one of the 3-fold objectives of the Gippsland Interfaith network, that is to educate the community in the various faith traditions. Activities featuring the other objectives of service and celebration will be held throughout Gippsland in 2013.