Mayors Message Thursday 3 February 2022

The new year is well and truly underway. We have had a fantastic series of local events with yet more to come.

Summer Sundays music festival ended last week with outstanding weather, great attendances, and performances and a big thank you to all the local businesses that supported it. I think everyone is already looking forward to next year’s line-up.

By getting out and supporting local events we can all play our part in helping local businesses. One such example is Her Majesty’s Theatre who have a fantastic, jam packed program of entertainment coming up at both Her Maj and Civic Hall through February and March with many noted artists and I would encourage everyone to check it out.

The entertainment industry has been hit hard and this program gives everyone the perfect excuse to get out and support it. Her Majesty's Ballarat and the City of Ballarat’s Facebook pages will keep you informed as needed of any COVID news in relation to the program at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

From 1-7 February is World Interfaith Harmony Week and the Ballarat Interfaith Network has a purpose-designed and created Interfaith Flag which was raised on Tuesday.

The week will see thousands of events organised across the world promoting the values of the World Interfaith Harmony Week.

Our Ballarat Interfaith Network brings together faith leaders, like-minded citizens of diverse beliefs, and community leaders in an acknowledgement of the importance of standing for harmony, unity, and tolerance in our community.

The City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2025 identifies the building of a healthy, connected and inclusive community as a key goal and this week’s World Interfaith Harmony Week is the perfect representation of how we can achieve that.

Finally, the next round of Community Impact and Strategic Partnership Grants for 2021/2022 are now open and I would encourage all suitable applicants to apply, with more information available at ballarat.vic.gov.au.

Mayor

Cr Daniel Moloney