Events: multi-faith commemorative service 9 March 2005

Photos by Michael Silver.

University of Melbourne students and staff, diplomats and consuls, and representatives of the major faiths remembered the victims of the tsunami at a multi-faith service hosted by the University on the South Lawn on 9 March 2005.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Peter McPhee said that the University recognised that the tsunami tragedy has touched many students and staff. He said that all the to 60 students whose home addresses are in tsunami affected areas were safe, although some had lost family homes.

Professor McPhee thanked all the participants, including the Chancellor Mr Ian Renard and the Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis, for their support for the multi-faith service.

Wurrundjeri elder Joy Murphy Wandin gave the ‘welcome to country’ and the Melbourne Community Gamelan Group provided the music for the service.

Students representing countries affected by the tsunami – Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Maldives, Malaysia, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Kenya – each placed a rose beside a lit candle on the stage. All other countries, including Australia, which lost citizens were represented by Melbourne University Overseas Students’ Society president Mr Yongjian Hung and Interim Student Representative Committee president, Mr Paul Donegan.

Prayers were offered by representatives of the Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha’i and Jewish faiths.

And the lively lunch-time chatter of students enjoying the sun on the South Lawn dropped to a background murmur as University Chaplain, Rev Andrew Brook, called for one minute’s silence for the victims of the tsunami.

Sun-soakers and passersby then joined participants to sprinkle rose petals in the moat, which had been especially filled for the service.