The bicentenary of the birth of the founder of the Baha’i faith has been celebrated in song and memorial by adherents of the faith in the Golden Plains and Pyrenees region. Mírzá Ḥusayn-Alí Núrí was born in 1817 in Tehran, Persia, and became known as Baha'u'llah after declaring himself a manifestation of God. He is regarded as the founder of the Baha’i faith. Baha'is are the followers of Baha'u'llah whom they believe was sent from God to guide humanity towards its spiritual and material maturity. On Saturday October 14, Baha’is of Golden Plains joined with Hepburn Shire community to install a peace pole at the garden run by the Evera Foundation as part of Baha’u’llah’s bicentenary celebrations. Shirley Flynn and her husband Geoff of Hillcrest have been Baha’is for 38 years. Shirley Flynn immigrated to Australia from UK as a child. After working first in Melbourne then at the West Warrnambool Primary School as a teacher for five years, Shirley and her husband began raising West Highland White Terriers, running a kennel and cattery and managing a six-acre garden at Grassmere named Touch of Ridvan, meaning Touch of Paradise. After raising six children she found the time to pursue a musical career.  In 2005 she released her first album entitled Ya Baha’u’l-Abha, an album of sacred scripture. Her second album was called Cricklewood. Her latest, Oil and Water, will be released in November. All her songs are either directly Baha’i or are influenced by the faith’s teachings. For the bicentenary she has released a new track entitled 1817. She says it is a tribute to Baha’u’llah’s mother giving some insight into his life. This will be presented at the celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, to be held at 225 Jollys Hill Road, Ross Creek on Saturday, October 21.
