Australia: Peace Choir Competition

Dr. Thomas G. Walsh, UPF Secretary General
Sydney, Australia
August 15, 2006

Australia was formed as a nation in 1901, the world’s sixth largest country, with a population of 20 million people and a similar number of kangaroos, wombats and koala bears. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a coral structure, runs from north to south for 2500 km and has the most diverse animal and plant ecosystems on earth.   

Mother Moon, Hyun Jin and Jun Sook arrived in Sydney midmorning on a beautiful “winter day” Monday, August 14 welcomed by Dr. and Mrs. Yong Cheol Song (former Continental Directors of IIFWP-Oceania), Ambassador for Peace Hon. David Clarke of the Parliament of New South Wales, Robyn Ledesma, Rev. Rick McInerheney, Karen Judd Smith, and other blessed central families and Ambassadors for Peace. 

After arriving at the InterContinental and the initial greetings and meetings, the party took a mid-day boat ride around Sydney Harbor. God gave them a spectacular day, sunny bright and full of fresh air and beautiful views, such a rare and precious moment for them to be together as a family in such a beautiful setting.

The main event was convened at Sydney’s “Angel Place” Recital Hall, an elegant hall with excellent ambience and acoustics. A “Peace Choir Competition” featured nine professional choirs representing various communities in Sydney such as Tongans, Samoans, Indonesian Catholics, Melkites, Thais, Sikhs, Bosnians, Lebanese and Africans. These choirs performed for the first hour. Each was dressed beautifully in traditional clothing.

Dignitaries in attendance included Hon. David Clarke and Hon. Anthony Roberts, Parliament of New South Wales; Sir Thomas and Lady Carla Davis, former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands; Rabbi Dr. Brikha Nasoraia, head of the community of Mandaean Gnostics; Imam Jasmin Bekric of the Bosnian Muslim community; Mr. Aziz Akbar; and many others.

Hyun Jin Moon’s reading of the Founder’s Address was powerful, dynamic, flawless in the delivery, representing True Father, True Parents and True Family so confidently, warmly and beautifully, bringing the word to life, and preparing the way for Mother Moon’s presentation of the word of God for this age after the coming of heaven.

Hon. David Clarke gave congratulatory remarks praising Mother Moon, Hyun Jin and the message of peace, reconciliation and true family ideals.

The Tongan choir won the first prize and closed the program with a rousing version of “Kumbaya” that brought everyone to their feet. The evening closed with a VIP Reception for about 100 Ambassadors for Peace.