VICTORIAN HUMANIST

1961 - 2001
Fortieth Anniversary of the Humanist Society of Victoria

This year will be a time for Victorian Humanists to reflect on the past forty years and plan for the future. In this short period much has changed. Advancements have been made in personal freedom of choice in areas that were of concern to Humanists in the 1960s and 70s, though more freedoms need to be won. Since the 1980s new issues have emerged to engage Humanists. Two outstanding ones being environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity, and ethical controversies due to advances in science and technology. Sadly, achieving world peace remains as intractable as ever, as wealth disparities and population continue to rise, and increasing numbers of displaced people become refugees.

A matter of core concern to Humanists, the separation of church and state, will require our urgent attention. Particularly while current governments continue to hand money and responsibility for many welfare, education and social service activities to religious based organisations.

In celebrating our fortieth anniversary the HSV hope to launch several new project this year. Two priorities will be, setting up a Humanist Education Trust and preparing more Humanist material, suitable for schools and the general public.

Some highlights of 2000 were the very successful public meeting with Australian of the Year Gustav Nossal as guest speaker, the Australis2000 Congress in Sydney and the large numbers of Humanists attending the Reconciliation Walk on Sunday 3 December - see photograph in the current Australian Humanist.