General News
12 February, 2023
No Amen to prayer
A LODDON Shire councillor is among a group of 21 wanting the State Government to formally ditch the option of saying the Lord’s Prayer to open local government meetings. Cr Wendy Murphy’s name was at the bottom of a letter sent to Premier Daniel...
A LODDON Shire councillor is among a group of 21 wanting the State Government to formally ditch the option of saying the Lord’s Prayer to open local government meetings.
Cr Wendy Murphy’s name was at the bottom of a letter sent to Premier Daniel Andrews and government ministers last week.
Cr Murphy, one of four councillors outside Melbourne and Greater Geelong listed in the letter, said she had received a phone call in mid-2021 and then an email before Christmas that year from the group Councillors for Secular meetings.
She had seconded a motion by now-Loddon Mayor Dan Straub the previous December that saw Loddon drop the opening Lord’s Prayer for an affirmation.
“The last email (from the group) asked if I wanted to be included in the letter. I didn’t respond,” she said.
When contacted, Cr Murphy said she told the group Loddon Shire had switched to the affirmation. The letter called on the Government to “issue a good practice guideline or direction or advice” on opening council meetings.
At the 2021 Census, 52 per cent of Loddon residents listed having a religion.