Pamela’s breaking down barriers

By Kelly Yates
A PASSION for breaking down barriers in the community has led to Berwick’s Pamela Mamouney being recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
The 74-year-old has been a member of the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong, which aims to bring together all of the churches and faiths in the municipality, for nine years.
“It promotes peace, harmony and understanding,” she said. “There are more than 150 different faiths and churches in the City of Greater Dandenong.”
The Dandenong-based initiative achieved the 20-year mark last year, and according to Ms Mamouney, it’s known as the mother of all the interfaiths around Australia.
The City of Casey also adopted a similar movement, the Casey Multi-Faith Network, which Ms Mamouney helped to set up.
Tours of the places of worship throughout Casey are run for the public and school groups.
“The tours have been so successful,” she said. “We go to mosques, Buddhist temples, the Christian churches and synagogues in the City of Casey.”
Ms Mamouney said the movement had been great for breaking down barriers in the community.
Casey Multi-Faith Network holds faith presentation meetings at the council offices to give people an insight into the different religions in Casey.
Ms Mamouney has been the community service director at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Narre Warren North for about 15 years.
Ms Mamouney, who has been living in Berwick and Harkaway for 40 years, said she was surprised and proud at receiving an OAM.
“I’ll be accepting it on behalf of the people who supported and helped me,” she said.
She has also been involved with the Red Cross for more than 30 years.
“In the Berwick ward we’ve raised around $250,000,” she said. “It’s a great amount and the best of it all is that my five children and grandchildren are also involved with the Red Cross.”
Ms Mamouney’s son Michael is in charge of the Berwick intersection collection for the Red Cross and also doorknocks around Narre Warren and Hampton Park.