By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
CASEY’S Multi-faith Network may get the chance to address the United Nations in New York.
The Mayor of Casey will call upon the state government and state opposition to support a bid for the group to speak at the famous UN headquarters in Manhattan.
In a notice of motion that he plans to submit next week, Geoff Ablett, the newly appointed mayor of Casey, will call for the council to meet with the state government and opposition to discuss the viability of the Casey Multi-faith Network travelling to UN headquarters in New York to present its mission objectives and explain its community involvement.
The development comes after Cr Ablett spoke of the virtues of the Casey Multi-faith at a special dinner last month to celebrate his appointment as mayor, calling for the group to meet with delegates at the UN.
“I’d like the multi-faith to put a presentation together for the UN,” Cr Ablett said this week.
“I will recommend that council write to both state government and state opposition to co-ordinate a meeting regarding the concept.”
Cr Ablett, a Casey Multi-faith delegate along with Deputy Mayor Amanda Stapledon, said the network’s message of tolerance and harmony had to be heard on a global scale.
“Everyone turns on the TV and sees conflict between various faiths overseas, whether it’s English or on the West Bank and one of the first things I did was to organise Multifaith delegates on the council,” he said.
“Casey is the biggest municipality in the state, with 50-odd families moving in a week from different faith groups.
“We need to tolerate and understand people’s differences.”
Jim Reiher, president of the Casey Multi-faith Network, said he was humbled by Cr Ablett’s UN suggestion and agreed that the network’s message was one that the whole world needed to hear.
“It would be the opportunity of a lifetime,” Mr Reiher said.
“We would need the help of political channels and Australia’s seat on the Security Council could also be an advantage.”
But Mr Reiher said a pitch to the United Nations detailing the multi-faith concept should involve other interfaith networks from Victoria, which now has more than 40 multi-faith and interfaith groups, particularly the Greater Dandenong Interfaith Network which is celebrating its 25th anniversary next year.
“The Dandenong interfaith is the oldest in Australia and an extraordinarily positive group,” he said.
“We need to get the other interfaiths involved, it shouldn’t be any other way.”
Cr Ablett said he will contact other multi-faith and interfaith networks in the region to gauge their interest regarding a potential UN presentation, including groups from Dandenong, Cardinia and Frankston.
At a special council meeting on 28 October, the City of Casey formally recognised the Casey Multi-faith Network for delivering its multi-faith statement in council meetings.
To find out more about religious and faith organisations in Casey, contact City of Casey Customer Service on 9705 5200 or visit www.casey.vic.gov.au to view the multi-faith statement.
