About 150 delegates from Bible Societies around the world spent a relaxing afternoon at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo on Tuesday, enjoying the local wildlife and stunning harbour views in sunny weather.

Joshua Poon, Marco Herrera, Genoveva Herrera, Victor Kalisher and Makoto Watabe at Taronga Zoo Tess Holgate

Alfred Kimonge, Justus Rubarema, Adrian White, Bernt Olsen and Ehab Tanas enjoy the view from the zoo. Tess Holgate

Bible Society staff member Mark Barry was especially excited to be at the zoo Tess Holgate

They were taking an enjoyable break from the United Bible Societies Roundtable Exchange conference taking place this week in Manly, on Sydney’s north shore.

Smaragda Glossa and Michail Chatzigiannis at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. Tess Holgate

Justus Rubarema, Bernt Olsen, Rebeka Khajehpour, Nahid Sepehri and Matthew Khajehpour looking at the koalas. Tess Holgate

Pablo Gutierrez and Shirley Irrazabal outside the Tasmanian Devil enclosure. Tess Holgate

The Roundtable Exchange is the largest annual United Bible Societies event, where the UBS community decides which projects they will support in the coming year.

Camille Safar talks to Eternity’s Anne Lim on the zoo trip Tess Holgate

Not surprisingly, the highlight for many was seeing the calm, elegant giraffes striding across their enclosure with the panoramic backdrop of Sydney’s skyline and harbour. The koalas, kangaroos and gorillas were also crowd favourites.

Nashat Filmon is happy to have his photo taken with the giraffe. Tess Holgate

A giraffe strolls beside Sydney harbour Tess Holgate

Afterwards, the delegates from more than 100 countries were treated to a spectacular sunset as they boarded a harbour dinner cruise, which was hosted by Bible Society Australia as part of its Bicentenary celebrations. Instead of singing Happy Birthday, the delegates sang the first verse of Amazing Grace.

Tracey Conlon, Max Conlon and Paul Eckert ready to board the harbour cruise. Tess Holgate

Nahid Sepehri and husband Mansour Khajehpour Tess Holgate

The conference wraps up on Friday 7 July.

Email This Story

Why not send this to a friend?

Share