The opening of Canberra's newest meeting place will take place at 10 am February 12 at Mahamudra House 104 Wattle Street (corner Brigalow Street) in Lyneham in the presence of Minister Karen Macdonald MLA and Gary Humphries the leader of the opposition in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. They will both give speeches in support of the renovation project.

Matilda House of the Ngunnawal aboriginal tribe will hand the building over from its traditional owners to its new custodians shortly after 10am. The building will be officially opened by Buddhist Masters Hannah and Lama Ole Nydahl on behalf of their organisation Buddhism Diamond Way Australia .

The building was originally built as a Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall in 1961 and was bought by Buddhism Diamond Way Australia  an Australian not for profit organisation on the 22nd of March 2001 at an A.C.T government auction. There is unprecedented community interest within Canberra's inner north and the wider community because the building has been extensively renovated by a team of local and interstate volunteers with corporate sponsorship over the last year. The building is in the public eye because it is situated opposite Tilleys Devine Cafe at the busy intersection of Wattle and Brigalow Sts adjacent to the Lyneham shopping centre.

When the building opens it will be available for hire and community use. A loose conglomerate of diverse community groups will be using the space for Buddhist meditation, Yoga and martial arts amongst other activities. Mahamudra house is non-religious and non-denominational. Buddhism Diamond Way Canberra will conduct free meditations open to everybody every Monday evening at 8pm to develop greater awareness in everyday life.

In the Year of the Volunteer (2001) the Australian community of Buddhist practitioners with international support has brought the run-down derelict building to life and an excited crowd is expected to attend the opening. The press is welcome to attend.

Buddhism Diamond Way Australia on the web: http://www.diamondway.org.au

Mahamudra House GPO Box 925 CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA

Phone +61-2-6257 7982 Phone 61-2-6249 7090