Peaceful journey connects faiths on-foot

BALLARAT Interfaith Network’s annual Walk for Peace travelled through the city on Sunday afternoon.

Starting with a smoking ceremony at Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative’s Education Centre on Main Road, participants journeyed by the Canadian Creek and Yarrowee River before heading up Grant Street to Federation University’s SMB Campus.

BIN chair Margaret Lenan Ellis said the group made an “eye opening” stop at WRISC Family Violence Support on Dana Street, finding out more about their work with women and children escaping unsafe homes, before finishing the journey with an afternoon tea at the Christ Church Cathedral.

“We were pleased to be able to present the message that religion, and a spiritual grounding in life, is necessary and beneficial to people,” she said.

“For those of us from the Indigenous community, Malayalee, Baha’i, Islamic, and various Christian faiths that were able to attend, it was very fruitful and fulfilling.

“There was a clear feeling of comradery and friendship, and everybody stayed for refreshments to continue the conversations started.”

There were addresses at the cathedral from Anglican Dean Father Michael Davies and Muslim community member Azra Alani.

“Quite often, the world at large criticises religion or accuses it of being the cause of strife and conflict, which of course it can be when used for the wrong reasons,” Ms Lenan Ellis said.

“But Azra hit the nail on the head where Islam is concerned, saying there are messages of peace that come from the Quran that are very clear.

“If people abuse or misuse, whether it’s fellow believers or non-believers, this is not god’s way at all.”