Austrian trip will be more cost to city ratepayers
I READ with interest the City of Ballarat is set to send two councillors and a senior council officer to Austria to the World League Historical Cities conference.
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Why can't the council just send one councillor to this event? Surely it doesn't need three people attendance.
I guess nothing ever changes within the council; just more cost to the ratepayer.
- Geoff Rundell, Balllarat
Ballarat Choral Society’s great gift of music to us
IN HIS 2008 book, Everything is Connected: The Power of Music, the central theme put forward by Daniel Barenboim is thus: "The power of music lies in its ability to speak to all aspects of the human being - the animal, the emotional, the intellectual, and the spiritual. Music teaches us, in short, that everything is connected".
How fortunate then, we people of Ballarat, are so well served by our family of musicians, who continue to assist us to confront the harsh reality of the 21st century world by connecting us to a safe refuge of joyousness, optimism, aspiration and, above all, beautiful music.
As the early recorded history of this choir shows, the Ballarat Choral Society has been bringing spiritual renewal, in the form of exquisite choral music, to the people of Ballarat since the early 20th century.
In continuance with this tradition, BCS’s Sunday afternoon concert, "For Weddings and Funerals", which filled the Cathedral of Christ the King, perfectly exemplified the great gift which this choir confers upon our community.
The concert was a joyous and inspirational celebration of the human voice, choral music, the Christian faith of so many of us, and the conspicuous musicianship of the musical director, Helen Duggan.
Helen's husband, Evan, accompanied the singers on the organ sensitively and un-intrusively, but furthermore contributed solos of remarkable music he had composed himself for use in the couple's own wedding ceremony.
The contributions by the superb soloists, Alison Ho, Lyndell Allen, Kyle Hackwill, and Tim Mathews Staindl; either solo, ensemble, or in concert with the full choir, shone brightly, and complemented what was a spiritually up-lifting and heart-warming performance by the choir.
In summing up this wonderful concert, I am sure it is entirely appropriate for me to use the words of the final offering on the program: "And let the people say: Amen".
Amen.
- Mike Brettargh, Sebastopol
Ballarat Mosque open day an outstanding success
THE mosque open day on Saturday, April 16, by the Islamic Society of Ballarat was an outstanding success.
Well over 300 people were estimated to have attended this most inspiring event.
Among those in attendance were Catherine King MP, Des Hudson, Mayor of Ballarat and other city councillors, David Cowan, secretary of Melton Interfaith Network, Elham Jamali, chairperson of Ballarat Interfaith Network, and other committee members, friends from Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council (BRMC) and visiting members of the Islamic Society of Melbourne.
Gratitude and admiration go to those in Ballarat's Islamic community for the generosity of their catering; the food was plentiful and much enjoyed by all.
Their hospitality and effort put into informing all visitors about the deep regard they have for their religion, which includes extending a hand of welcome to all neighbours.
May the spirit of goodwill generated by this marvellous event, and the friendships begun, continue to benefit the community of Ballarat for years to come.
- Margaret Lenan Ellis, Invermay
