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Approximately 200 people gathered at the Flemington Community Centre on Sunday 24th November 2013 to participate at the Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference (VINC), hosted in 2013 by Moonee Valley Interfaith Network and Moonee Valley City Council.

The Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference is an annual event which aims to help build the capacity and sustainability of existing multifaith/interfaith networks, bring people up-to-date with current multifaith/interfaith matters, provide networking opportunities, and assist the hosting interfaith network/council to promote its work to the local community.

Upon arrival, participants were offered a number of cultural and faith activities to take part in, including an Eritrean Coffee Ceremony, trying on a Sikh Turbin, watching a Marbling Workshop and trying on some Henna Painting.

Cultural and faith activities: Trying on a Turbin, Marbling Workshop and Eritrean Coffee Ceremony

Upon commencement of the Conference participants were welcomed by Mr Murray Davies (Chairperson of the Faith Communities Council of Victoria) and Reverend Mark Dunn (President of the Moonee Valley Interfaith Network). Dignitaries present were Councillor Jan Chantry (Mayor of Moonee Valley City Council), Srinivasan Chidambaram (Victorian Multicultural Commissioner) and Uncle Bill Nicholson (Senior Wurundjeri Elder).

Victorian Multicultural Commissioner: Srinivasan Chidambaram (Srini)

The keynote address of the 2013 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference was 'Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Australian Constitution'. Reverend Mark Dunn introduced the keynote speakers, Uncle Bill Nicholson (Senior Wurundjeri Elder) and Reverend Alistair McCrae (Immediate past national President of the Uniting Church in Australia). Uncle Bill began proceedings with a welcome to country followed by an Indigenous dance performance.

Keynote Speakers & Perfomers:  Rev Mark Dunn, Rev Alistair McCrae and Uncle Bill Nicholson

Following the keynote address, participants were given a choice of five interfaith/multifaith related workshops to attend:

1. Media & Communications Training
2. Succcessful Multifaith/Interfaith Programs
3. Emergencies Ministry
4. Growing Young People's Spirituality
5. How to offend People of Faith... Without Knowing

Each workshop was repeated twice to allow participants to attend at least two.

Workshops: Media & Communications Training, Succcessful Multifaith/Interfaith Programs, Emergencies Ministry, Growing Young People's Spirituality, How to Offend People of Faith... Without Knowing.

A number of faith communities provided entertainment for the day, including the St. John's Samoan Youth Group and the Sikh Martial Arts Group. Delicious food was provided by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Catering.

Entertainerts: Sikh Martial Arts Group and St. John's Samoan Youth Group

Beautiful food provided by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Catering

All in all, the 2013 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference (VINC) was a great success. The closing ceremony involved the passing of the baton, an indigenous message stick of peace, from Moonee Valley Interfaith Network to Monash Interfaith Gathering who will host the 2014 VINC on Sunday 23rd November 2014 @ Mulgrave Community Centre, Mulgrave.

Participants in the 2013 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference

Participants in the 2013 Victorian Interfaith Networks Conference

By Sandy Kouroupidis
Multifaith Officer, Faith Communities Council of Victoria