See multifaith network in action

Members of the Casey Multifaith network at a previous event. From left, Pam Mamouney, Andrew Williams, N. Sivarasa, Casey councillor Geoff Ablett, Stephanie Saunders, Jim Reiher and Cranbourne MP Jude Perera.

By LACHLAN MOORHEAD

THE Casey Multifaith Network is set to unveil a unique documentary and its new website at a special launch next week.
The network has spent most of this year putting together the 12-minute and two-minute promotional videos, to be aired on Wednesday 14 October at the Casey Council chambers, and which were largely funded by a $10,000 grant first commissioned by the previous State Government.
The funding also went towards the website and promotional brochures.
The short films were overseen by film-maker Richard Leigh, while the website was designed by Samdy Kouroupidis.
Next week’s launch follows the network’s AGM last month, where Jim Reiher passed on the president’s baton to Stephanie Saunders after two years at the helm.
Mr Reiher, who has now taken over as vice-president of the network, said the group had wanted to make a DVD and a website for a “long time”.
“We just want to have a more technologically accessible way of promoting and advertising what we’re doing,” he said.
“We want to try and seek more membership through showing people the interesting things we do and promoting the philosophy of what we do.
“We want to grow our network.”
After watching the films, Mr Reiher said he was confident they would help inform new audiences.
“We feel they’ll do the job exactly as we hoped,” he said.
“There are snippets of interviews with a variety of people, then footage of our bus tours where we have visited different religious institutions.
“It’s about the network and its history … we talk about some of the initial resistance at the start and how people came to realise it was really good.”
Next week’s film launch will include a host of entertainment, including the National Anthem sung by a group of Ahmadiyya Muslim children, a Hindu dance, and a performance by guitarist and multifaith member Andrew Williams.
The launch will be held on Wednesday 14 October, from 7pm to 9pm, at the Casey Council Chambers, and for more information contact 9707 2077.
Check out the Casey Multifaith Network’s new website at www.caseymultifaith.org.au