serving the faith communities of the Goulburn Valley
Admin 
Road to Refuge is a volunteer, not-for-profit organisation that that runs community education events, workshops and other platforms about asylum seekers and refugees in Australia, alongside an interactive web program. Road to Refuge will be visiting schools in the Goulburn Valley during late July, and at the conclusion of the visit, there will be a free screening of the documentary, Mary Meets Mohammad - a story about a refugee in Tasmanian Detention Centre.
... Read more... 
NAIDOC Week for 2015 was celebrated with enthusiasm and energy in Shepparton and surrounds. On Monday, there was a breakfast and launch of Naidoc Week with a flag raising, attended by many community leaders. There was a tour of the Mooroopna Flats on Monday afternoon, the Dungala Kaiela Oration on Wednesday, followed by the Algabonyha Roundtable on Thursday. On Friday, Shepparton Library conducted a screening of "Our Vote Counts", a documentary featuring local Yorta Yorta women.
... Read more...
NAIDOC Week was launched in the Goulburn Valley on Monday 6 July with a smoking ceremony and breakfast at Rumbalara in Mooroopna. The week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The theme for this year's celebrations is We All Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate. On Monday afternoon, Uncle Leon Saunders led a guided walking tour of The Flats, a place of historical significance to the local Aboriginal community.
... Read more...
Prior to European settlement, up to 700 languages were spoken across Australia, with 38 in Victoria. Today it is estimated 120 Aboriginal languages are being spoken and more than half of those are considered endangered. Not all of these languages and stories are widely known – but they form an important literary heritage and a platform for reviving language and strengthening culture. Nyernila, Listen Continuously, preserves the creation stories of many Aboriginal tribes of Victoria, including Yorta Yorta.
... Read more...
The 2015 Euroa Environmental Series conducted a meet on The Environment, Climate Change and the Paris Talks at the Old Flour Mill Gallery on Saturday 4th July 11am. For the Euroa Environment Series this was session number 5 - the road to Paris. There was much discussion of the local response to climate change and how this leads to influence the road to Paris.
... Read more...
On Tuesday 23 June, The Broken Bay Institute, in partnership with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference presented its 11th National eConference - 'Religion: Catalyst for Violence or Peace? Probing the Abrahamic Traditions for Answers'. The eConfernece was attended by local participants viewing - and contributing online with questions - at the Monsignor Peter Jeffery Parish Centre, St Brendans Church, Shepparton.
... Read more...
Aglow International hosted NAIDOC 2015 at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, 1st July. Indigenous Men, women and families across the region were invited to a gathering for the 3rd NAIDOC luncheon at Kyabram Bocce Club. There was a welcome to country and guest speaker Dayana Woodbury from Tamworth community (Gamiloi nation).
Refugee Week 2015 was celebrated in Shepparton with many events. There was a launch event in Maude Street Mall, a display of traditional costumes from different cultures, a free movie night, Conversational English classes and intercultural story telling. The theme was With Courage Let Us Combine, and this was highlighted by the many organisations who combined to present Refugee Week in Shepparton.
... Read more...
The Shepparton Branch Library will hold a screening and discussion of the locally produced DVD Our Vote Counts at the Shepparton Library, Marungi St, Shepparton on Friday 10 July at 6:30PM
... Read more...
FECCA, the Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia has made a submission to the Australian Government consultation on Australian Citizenship. The unnecessary proposed changes to the citizenship test, pledge and eligibility criteria which are included in the Government’s citizenship discussion paper. Changes to the Citizenship Test are challenging and largely unfair to those who are language-deprived for many reasons and seek Australian Citizenship.
The Shepparton Interfaith Network regards the FECCA submission as a balanced, thoughtful contribution. In particular, the Shepparton Interfaith Network welcomes the FECCA proposal that a pre-citizenship course on Australian values and democracy be part of the process.
... Read more...
The Greater Shepparton Women's Charter Alliance Advisory Committee, in conjunction with GOTAFE, the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, and Shepparton Interfaith Network, is holding a FREE screening of 'Love and Marriage in Kabul' at the Harder Auditorium on Tuesday 14th of July, 2015, at 6:30pm
... Read more...
The Australian Prime Minister can be a rhetorical wrecking ball, but in no case has his lack of subtlety been more damaging than his remarks about Muslims. The media doesn’t deserve to be let off the hook, either. Journalists have to cover this story, but at times parts of the media have inflamed fear and mistrust. In turn, many Muslims have come to mistrust and fear the media.
... Read more...
The Islamic Communities of Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley have commenced a month long period of fasting. The Shepparton Interfaith Network greets the Muslims of our community with Ramadam Kareem - may the month of Ramadan be full of goodness and Blessings. In this article, we bring a guide to Ramadan for non-Muslims in order that there be understanding and respect.
... Read more...
The Mooroopna Water Tower and the big gum tree in Monash Park, Shepparton, were lit up in purple, in observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2015. Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust. Elder abuse also extends to abuse of Power of Attorney.
... Read more...
His Holiness the Dalai Lama accepted a longlife prayer offering from the Tibetan community in Australia on Sunday at the Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia where the Tibetan leader arrived on a ten day visit last week.
... Read more...
Fasting hours during this year's Holy month of Ramadan, set to begin from June 18 or 19 based on moon reports in different parts of the world, will be the longest in Denmark and shortest in Argentina, according to the latest maps recording fasting hours across the world.
... Read more...
The Shepparton Interfaith Network, in partnership with Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District and the Goulburn Valley Regional Library Corporation jointly present Refugee Story Telling event for Refugee Week, 2015, which runs from 14 - 20 June 2015.
... Read more...
World Elder Abuse Day 2015 will be observed in Shepparton on Monday, 15 June 2015. The Mooroopna Water Tower and the big gum tree in Monash Park will be lit purple to highlight Seniors Rights and the importance of awareness of elder abuse.
... Read more...
The #Hands4Nepal fundraiser, which is a community collaboration between Sikhs Engaging in Welfare Activities together with the Al Kasem Youth Organisation, Punjabi Youth Club, members of the Nepalese community and others, will bring the community together to enjoy world music, multicultural food, performances, children’s activities and provide the community with a chance to purchase a hand to write a message to those affected by the earthquake and raise much needed emergency relief funding.
National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each year. This day gives people the chance to come together and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. Stolen Generations refer to Aboriginal Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. On 26 May 2015, a large crowd gathered at Monash Park, Shepparton, to commemorate Sorry Day.
... Read more...