The Buddhist Council of NSW will conduct a workshop to learn more about the referendum that is being held later this year and to help develop a Buddhist response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The workshop will be on Saturday 2 September 2023 at the Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library.
New South Wales
NSW: Buddhist Studies Seminar
The Life of Pawo Tsuglak Threngwa will be the topic of the next seminar of the Australian Association of Buddhist Studies at the University of Sydney on 6:00-7:30pm (AEST) on Thursday 24 August. This will be a hybrid session.
NSW: International Day of Peace Interfaith Prayer Service
To celebrate this day, you are cordially invited to join an Interfaith Prayer Service on Wednesday, 21 September 2023, at 11 am at Knox Cultural Centre, Knox Grammar School, 2 Borambil Street, Wahroonga 2076 (a stone’s throw distance from Warrawee Train Station).
NSW: New religious vilification protections a step forward for faith in NSW
In a step forward for the protection of religious freedom in NSW, Parliament has passed a religious vilification amendment to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act on 3 August making it an offence to “incite hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule” of a person or group of people on religious grounds.
Under the new law, which passed the NSW Legislative Assembly on 3 August, a punishable public act of vilification includes any form of communication to the public whether verbal or non-verbal.
People who do not have a religious belief or affiliation or do not engage in religious activity are also protected under the new law.
Human rights lawyers highlight flaws in NSW Government’s approach to Religious Vilification
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has highlighted serious flaws in the New South Wales Government’s Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Vilification) Bill 2023 (the Bill). The Bill seeks to include religious vilification as an offence under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. Under the Bill, it would become unlawful to publicly invite hatred towards or severely ridicule a person or group because of their religious belief, affiliation or activity.
NSW: Indigenous Elder to speak on the VOICE
Ms. Norma Ingram, Wiradjuri woman from Corowa, NSW will join the June meeting of the NSW Branch of Religions for Peace Australia and give one talk on the topic of the Voice to Parliament. Norma Ingram is the first Aboriginal person to graduate from Harvard University attaining a Master’s Degree in Education. The meet will take place at teh Vedanta Hall, Liverpool Road, Croydon, from 10:00 am on Monday June 26.
NSW: Buddhist Studies Seminar
The 2023 Master Sheng Yen Lecture in Chinese Buddhism will be given by Professor James Benn (McMaster University) on Tuesday 30 May, 6:00-7:30pm at New Law School Lecture Theatre (LT024), New Law Annexe F10A, University of Sydney. The lecture is presented by the University of Sydney School of Languages and Cultures.
Plans unveiled for Syriac Catholic church in Sydney’s south west
Sydney’s Syriac Catholics are set to build a home for its fast-growing community after receiving development approval for a church and pastoral centre in Sydney’s south-west.
NSW: Thousands attend consecration ceremony at Hindu temple near Sydney
Thousands of Hindus have travelled from across Australia and Asia to attend a traditional ceremony in NSW.
The celebrations were held to mark renovation work at Helensburgh’s Sri Venkateswara temple.
Improvements to the temple are made once every 12 to 20 years, and are completed by specialist workers from India.
Driftwood the Musical
Umbrella Foundation is delighted to present Driftwood The Musical , which tells the inspirational story of the renowned Austrian/Australian sculptor Karl Duldig and his artist-inventor wife, Slawa Horowitz-Duldig. We follow their lives in pre-war Vienna, the family’s narrow escape from Nazi Austria, Slawa’s ingenious invention of the foldable umbrella, and the incredible chain of events that took place after miraculously escaping the Holocaust and rebuilding their careers as artists in Melbourne.
Police called to remove a multi-faith group praying in Sydney National Australia Bank lobby
Police were called to remove a group of people peacefully praying in the lobby of the National Australia Bank’s headquarters in Sydney on Wednesday morning.
People from Muslim, Christian and Buddhist faiths prayed and meditated for an hour calling on the bank stop funding fossil fuel projects, starting by ruling out any further funding of Whitehaven Coal’s climate-wrecking coal expansion plans.
NSW: Zero tolerance regarding safety and security at religious institutions
A re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $10 million over four years to boost safety and security for faith communities.
