
By Janine Cohen.
The businesswoman leading a fight against “intolerance and hate” in Bendigo says the city’s anti-mosque demonstrations must be stopped before they spread across Australia.
The central Victorian city has been the flashpoint for a series of rowdy demonstrations against the construction of a local mosque.
“I very strongly believe that the anti-mosque protesting can be stopped in its tracks here in Bendigo,” Margot Spalding, a former Telstra Business Woman of the Year, told Australian Story. Following an anti-mosque protest in August, Ms Spalding called a meeting of religious, business and community leaders, and the Believe in Bendigo campaign was launched.
“The idea that people would come to Bendigo from outside and protest about a mosque being built here took a lot of people by surprise,” said Reverend John Roundhill, Dean of the Anglican Church in Bendigo.
“People were not expecting the degree of anger and hate that we witnessed that day.”

Ultra right-wing group the United Patriots Front (UPF) made Bendigo its location for a second protest in October.
There are reports of plans for more anti-mosque demonstrations in regional cities in Victoria and New South Wales.
UPF spokesperson Blair Cottrell told Australian Story the UPF “would go where we are needed”.
There are about 300 Muslims in Bendigo, many of whom are doctors, dentists, nurses, factory workers and university students.
They currently worship in a small crowded room at the local La Trobe University Campus.
Top Comments
A woman standing up for Muslims rights in australia, good for her. I wonder how many Muslims are standing up for women's rights in the Middle East?
A very inspiring Australian.
A very short-sighted Australian.
How so?
What on earth do you mean by that comment Annette? Have you watched the story? Perhaps it is you who are short-sighted or lacking in vision. And if you mean literally short-sighted, it's a pointless comment.
How so? Australia is a multicultural country, we have a long history of being accepting and this includes being accepting of others' religious beliefs. Just because this nation was settled by Christians, does not mean they are the only ones who should be allowed to practice their faith here.