From Bollywood dancing to storytelling to visiting places of worship, councils around Australia hosted a myriad of events during March to celebrate Harmony Day in their communities.
Harmony Day, which falls on 21 March each year, is an opportunity to bring together people of all backgrounds to learn about and celebrate the benefits of living in a diverse Australia.
This year, Local Government was once again a key supporter of the day, according to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, which administers the celebration through its Diverse Australia Program. A total of 265 council organised Harmony Day events were registered on the program’s website, representing all States and Territories.
Queensland’s Gold Coast City Council hosted a series of events under the theme ‘Storylines – one community; many stories’.
Activities included a fitness workout with a Latin twist, incorporating Latin music and dance moves; Bollywood and bellydancing; and an African cultural experience for children, featuring drumming, traditional songs and stories.
The City of Sydney also staged a series of events, a number of which focused on free cross cultural tours encompassing the diversity of people and places in the community.
Many took the opportunity to make their first visit to the Great Synagogue, which has stood on its present site since 1878, while some visited the more recently established Auburn Gallipoli Mosque to admire its traditional Ottoman style.
In Kingston, Tasmania, Kingborough Council celebrated Harmony Day with ‘Short Films and Giant Games’. A range of engaging short films celebrating diversity were screened, followed by some larger than life and very entertaining board games.
Meanwhile, the Migrant Support Service at Orange City Council in New South Wales staged ‘We’re All in this Together’ – a food, culture and entertainment spectacular, celebrating the diversity of the City. The afternoon began with an Aboriginal welcome to country, followed by Dinka singing and dancing, henna painting, African hair braiding, a hangi and a range of activities enjoyed by locals of all ages.
On the opposite side of the country in Western Australia, Kwinana Town Council organised a celebration of diversity, the ‘Multicultural Ding Dong Festival’. The festival featured a range of performers, as well as hands on activities for children.
In South Australia, Tea Tree Gully’s Surrey Downs Community Centre adopted a popular theme to celebrate Harmony Day – the linking of hands. Visitors to the community centre were invited to trace around and decorate their hands, which were then displayed linked around the interior of the building.
At the Tennant Creek Public Library, Harmony Day was marked with a morning tea, with the premises decorated for the occasion.
Hundreds of other Local Governments also demonstrated community leadership in organising events to support this important day, spreading the message that in our wonderfully diverse country, ‘Everyone Belongs’.
