A local woman from the city of Bendigo has launched a peaceful counter-protest to a fierce campaign raging against the development of a mosque in the city.
Last Wednesday, city councillors voted 7-2 to approve building the city's first mosque, amid heckling from protestors.
By Friday, black balloons started appearing across Bendigo, including outside the homes of city councillors, to protest the city’s decision to allow the construction of first mosque.
In response, Elise Snashall-Woodhams, 25, rallied a small army of people to put up hundreds of multi-coloured balloons across town, to send a message that "everyone is welcome in Bendigo".
Ms Snashall-Woodhams told SBS she posted a call out on social media, because she wanted to show that not everyone was against the plans. She encouraged all people who supported inclusiveness to hang their own rainbow balloons around town to "push the tide of black and negativity and replace it with colourful and positivity".
Hundreds more colourful balloons were handed out in Bendigo on Saturday morning, with many faith and community leaders uniting in support of the mosque.
Balloons bearing tags that say "racism has no place in Bendigo" came in in a move organised by the Uniting Church.
Many local leaders, including Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards, Rev. Cynthia Page of Eaglehawk Uniting Church, and Rev. Bryn Jones of Kangaroo Flat handed out the bright balloons on the corner of Hargreaves and Williamson streets.
“We are proud of our history of multiculturalism in Bendigo and want to use this event and the symbolism of the colourful balloons to express our support to our Muslim neighbours.” said Rev. Cynthia Page of Eaglehawk Uniting Church.
In a further show of support, an online Change.org petition has attracted almost 1000 signatures and dozens of messages of support for the mosque and for diversity in Bendigo. The petition was set up by Bendigo's Damian Wells, who says the recent anti-Islamic messages in the media did not represent the town he knew and loved.
He said the petition aimed to "show the world that Bendigo supports multiculturalism".
The signatories are much higher than the 400 letters of objection which were originally sent to the council to the $3 million mosque development, which will be funded by the Australian Islamic Mission.
Snashall-Woodhams says she believes much of the opposition comes down to people’s fear of the unknown.
“It’s just breaking down those barriers and showing that every person is just a person. Everyone should be free to practice their culture, whether that’s in a church, a synagogue or in a mosque,” she said.
Snashall-Woodhams says she hopes the colourful balloons don’t further inflate the tempers of anti-mosque campaigners.
“I think people are concerned about how they can show their support without coming under the wrath of these people so we just thought this would be a nice first step,” she said.
There are just over 200 Muslims in Bendigo who currently congregate for worship in rooms at La Trobe University.
Mosque applicant Munshi Nawaz says they are relieved the mosque had been approved.
He said the decision was expected to face a legal challenge from protesters but reiterated the anti-Islamic group did not represent the whole of Bendigo.
"The response I have had from the community is so nice and understanding," he said.
"The people who are opposed to the mosque are a very minor section ... and don't represent the views of most Bendigo people."
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