Sandpiper: Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst

Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst

Year in Review 2016

multicultural market builds

on Aspire’s unity message

MISSION & OUTREACH

he Aspire Cultural and Charitable Foundation

held a multicultural Christmas market on

December 11, providing food and fun on the lawns

of the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Local restaurant “The

Wine Bank” cooked wood-fired pizzas alongside

eight multicultural food vans and market stalls,

while face painting and a kids’ jumping castle

entertained the crowds. Pop-star priest Father Rob

Galea performed as did the Chinese Lion Dancers

and Karen dancers.

Following the market, the Marist Brass Annual

Carols were held in the Cathedral at 7:30pm. The

market follows on from Aspire’s successful Concert

on High, which was held at the Cathedral last

December.

Grants, collaboration

grow aspire foundation

spire Cultural and Charitable Foundation CEO Margaret O’Rourke has congratulated La

Trobe University historian Dr Jennifer Jones on her award of a $164,000 research grant to

probe the region’s religious diversity.

Ms O’Rourke says research outcomes derived from the grant will assist in the Aspire

Foundation’s efforts to build community cohesion through the development of Australia’s

first faith-based precinct, the Aspire Precinct, which will foster inter-faith collaboration. “The

precinct will provide an ongoing point of connection between the general community and

scholarly knowledge, particularly as it will constantly update its educational services and public

programs in line with cutting-edge historical research,” Ms O’Rourke said.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) awarded the grant to La Trobe University and partner

organisations the City of Greater Bendigo and the Aspire Cultural and Charitable Foundation.

The Aspire Foundation will provide support in areas such as research expertise, funding and

access to archival collections.

The research project aims to re-discover, interpret and share knowledge about the role and

value of faith during the Gold Rush, on the goldfields, up until today. “This project is the

first collaboration between the Aspire Foundation and La Trobe University. It represents

the beginning of a rich and promising connection between producers and users of expert

knowledge. It also extends Aspire’s association with the City of Greater Bendigo on the Aspire

Precinct Enterprise,” Ms O’Rourke said.