multicultural victoria issue 24.… · spanish, swahili and turkish. the exhibition, kimono:...

mvmuLTIcuLTuraL VIcTOrIa

issue 24 • autumn 2008

Premier’s Gala Dinner Interfaith Grant Announcement

Quest AwardsCultural Precincts Photo Competition

Pako Festa

special editionCelebrate our Cultural Diversity Week 2008

a publication of the Victorian multicultural commission

Multicultural Victoria magazine

Vmc cHaiRpeRson George Lekakis

editoRs Megan Breen/Robyn Merrett

desiGn Celsius Design

puBlisHed BY The Victorian Multicultural Commission, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. May 2008.

issn 13219340

pRinted BY Metro Printing, Roberts Road, Airport West, VIC 3042, on Monza Satin recyclable stock using environmentally friendly inks.

disclaimeR Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this document was accurate at the time of publication, the State of Victoria, through the Victorian Multicultural Commission, accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions, mistakes or misstatements contained in this document. The State of Victoria expressly disclaims any responsibility for any total or partial reliance on this document or for anything undertaken or omitted to be undertaken in consequence of reliance on this document. The State of Victoria excludes liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person resulting in any way from the use of, or reliance upon, this document

Copies of this magazine can be obtained from the Victorian Multicultural Commission:

telepHone (03) 9208 3154 Facsimile (03) 9208 3179email [email protected]

View the magazine online at: www.multicultural.vic.gov.au

mvMULTICULTURAL VICTORIA

A publication of the Victorian Multicultural Commission

contents

4. Golden age of kimonos – a rare display at the Immigration Museum

4 A walk in the park – discover the parks of Victoria with a bilingual guide

4 How we celebrated – a look at Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week

4 Channel 31 awards – congratulations to the Sri Lankan Morning Show

5 Emerge Festival – get ready for a dynamic arts festival

5 Call for community stories at museum – how to share your story

5 Voice of the youth – meet an attendee at the 2020 Youth Summit

5 Knock it off, Mate – a new ad campaign against domestic violence

6 Take 5 with Liz Beattie – Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs

news

cultural diversity week

10. The Gala Dinner – a spectacular night celebrating our communities

12 AFL supports multiculturalism – kicking goals for cultural diversity

13 Level playing field – the inaugural Cultural Diversity Cup

14 Quest Awards – students show their cultural creativity

16 Harmony on the river – the fifth annual Black Harmony Gathering

18 Interfaith Multifaith grants – first six recipients announced

18 All eyes on the Accord – The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear hospital signs the Community Accord

19 Dancing days – exploring different nationalities at Mill Park Heights PS

19 Seniors celebrate – Wangaratta seniors enjoy a day of fun

photo competition 'Lonsdale st, Language and Art' by Ben Johnston.

vmc update

8. Capturing culture on film – a look at the winning entries

8 Community consultation – focus on some issues affecting older people

9 New Zealand reception – Premier John Brumby meets the New Zealand community

9 Welcome to Victoria Kits – a helping hand for newly arrived students

8

5on display Rare kimonos at the Immigration Museum.

10Gala dinnerMore than 1400 guests enjoyed magnificent performances at the Premier’s Gala Dinner.

contents continued

20. Chinese Museum open day – a look at Chinese heritage in Victoria

21 Sydenham Hillside School – a report from the students on how they celebrated

22 Forum forges new paths – ways to support cultural diversity

23 Grand day out – joy and happiness at the Grand Purim Festival

23 Richness of cultures – the City of Stonnington showcases its diversity

24 Drumming up awareness – Greek dancing at Annecto

25 Harmony on stage – the Song Room hits all the right notes

26 Dressing up for diversity – Hampton Park Primary celebrate

27 Day out with Dad – Sudanese fathers and their kids strengthen their bonds

28 Historic milestones – the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot communities recognise their migration to Australia

29 A Chinese history – Chinese migration in Whittlesea

30 Remembering the Holocaust – a memorial day at the Jewish Holocaust Centre

31 Thai high – celebrating Thailand’s culture at Federation Square

32 Pako Festa – 26 years of Victoria’s biggest street party


23indian dance A spectacular display of Bharatha Natyam, the classical dance of India.

33 pako Festa Victoria's biggest multicultural street party.

35 Wise choices – a free DVD to help choose the best child care

35 Student support – a new package to help refugee students

36 Have your say on biodiversity – an opportunity to contribute

36 How does your garden grow – meet a finalist in the Sustainability Awards

government initiatives

35 child care choices Safe options for child care services.

our community

chairperson’s welcomeWelcome to the special Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week edition of Multicultural Victoria. Once again the Week was a huge success, with more than 200 events taking place across Victoria.

It was exciting to visit many of these events and just as thrilling to hear all about the ones I didn’t manage to get to. The extent of the celebrations is testament to Victorian’s engagement with cultures from all over the world and their commitment to helping shape Victoria as a harmonious and richly diverse society.

Turn to page 10 to read all about the events that took place during Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week. It is encouraging to see so many community groups and schools write in with their stories of how they celebrate cultural diversity and the pictures illustrate the great time people have at these events.

A standout event was the inaugural Cultural Diversity Cup, a blistering battle on the soccer field between young players of many different backgrounds. After a very tough fight the Ethio-Australian Sports Federation team beat the Karen Community Soccer team in a penalty shoot-out. The day was a great success and the Victorian Multicultural Commission looks forward to supporting it again next year.

Another event of note on the calendar was the announcement of the first six recipients of the Interfaith Multifaith grant

program. It is the first time the Victorian Government has had a dedicated grants program with the purpose of establishing strong networks between different faith groups and we look forward to the positive outcomes that will follow.

The Cultural Diversity Quest Awards were also presented during Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week and we congratulate the winners from around the state. The display of creativity was astounding and an indication that learning about cultural diversity from a young age is a positive step in developing a harmonious society.

As Mahatma Ghandi once said, “No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.” Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week is indeed a celebration, it is an inclusive and all encompassing display of what makes Victoria so great and I am proud to be involved in all it stands for, I hope you are, too.

Enjoy the read!

George lekakisCHAIRPERSON

RiGHt George Lekakis and Pauline McGrath, Principal of North Fitzroy Primary School. Below The players and fans turned out for the inaugural Cultural Diversity Cup.

4 Autumn 2008

newsour pick of who, where and what’s on

conGRatulations to the Sri Lanka Morning Show for winning a prestigious Antenna Award at community television’s night of nights. The Morning Show took out the award for the ‘Best Program that Supports New and Emerging Communities’. The awards night was held at BMW Edge at Federation Square on Thursday 24 April 2008 and was attended by community broadcasters from across Australia. For a full list winners visit www.c31.org.au.

A walk in the parkNewly arrived refugees and communities in Melbourne now have the opportunity to enjoy and learn more about their local parks and the environment with the help of Bilingual Parks Guides.

Eleven newly graduated guides have successfully completed the Bilingual Parks Guides Course (BPTC) and local communities can now enjoy guided tours in Arabic, Assyrian, Croatian, French, Greek, Hararian, Kibenbe, Macedonian, Shona, Spanish, Swahili and Turkish.

The exhibition, Kimono: Osaka’s Golden Age showcases the sumptuous culture of the traditional kimono – its style, design, meaning and forms, as well as instructions on how to wear one.Direct from the Osaka Museum of History, Kimono highlights a golden age of prosperity experienced in Osaka 150 years ago – a time when wealth was expressed through luxurious and splendid fashions. Part of the Immigration Museum’s 10th birthday program, this stunning collection also celebrates 30 years of the Melbourne-Osaka sister-city relationship, and is supported by the City of Melbourne. The exhibition runs from 15 May until 14 September.

Golden age of Kimonos

FoR moRe inFoRmation contact Parks Victoria on 131963 or Merri Creek Management Committee on 03 9380 8199 or visit the Parks Victoria website at parkweb.vic.gov.au aBoVe Newly graduated bilingual guides are ready to take people through Victoria’s state parks.

How we celeBRated Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week was run between 17-23 March 2008 and once again proved a huge hit with tens of thousands of Victorians.

Festivals, dances, food fairs, music, workshops and much, much more saw Victoria celebrate its rich cultural, linguistic and religious diversity with flair.

Turn to page 10 for a complete run down on this year’s events.

news

mv MuLTICuLTuRAL VICTORIA 5

KnocK it oFF, mate Sportsmen, comedians, politicians, religious leaders, authors and elders are all putting their voices to a commercial aimed at stamping out domestic violence. Given that family violence is an issue that affects all communities, Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre (SMRC) produced the commercial, named Knock It Off, Mate, featuring men from many ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Comedian Akmal Saleh said, “I’ve put my name and face to this campaign because

I believe that hearing from other men, like me, that family violence is not on, will help this message get through. I‘m often making jokes but violence is no laughing matter.”

The commercial, funded by VicHealth, will run until the end of June 2008. Focus groups will be conducted with men across the Victorian community in July.

inFoRmation visit www.spectrumvic.org.au

leFt Stephanie Lagos, Akmal Saleh, uncle Jack Charles and Abdinur Weli at the launch of the Knock It Off, Mate ad campaign

call FoR communitY stoRies at museum Applications are now open for submissions by community groups to develop an exhibition at the Immigration Museum for 2010. Community exhibitions offer the opportunity to tell your story through text, images and objects. Working with museum staff, your group will be advised on how to develop the exhibition to its best advantage. Applications close

on 31 July 2008.

FoR moRe inFoRmation contact the Immigration on Museum on 03 9927 2727 or go to museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum

From Africa to the Far East, from the emerging to the established, from the traditional to the contemporary, music, dance, film, visual arts, cultural foods, crafts and ceremonies – there is something for everyone at the Emerge Festival

Attracting capacity audiences in past years, Emerge Festival commemorates the united Nations World Refugee Day and Refugee Week in Australia. This year there are a host of activities to get involved in and the free main event on June 15 at the Fitzroy Town Hall is one not to be missed.

Film nights, free concerts and much more make up this exciting festival. For more info about any of these events please contact Multicultural Arts Victoria on 03 9417 6777 or email [email protected]

RiGHt Ronny Kareni from Tabura West Papuan Cultural Group

Emerge FestivalThis dynamic arts festival will celebrate Victoria’s many diverse refugee and emerging cultures in a series of exciting events from June 10 to July 20.

Voice oF tHe YoutHDemetrio Zema, a member of the Multifaith Multicultural Youth Network was recently awarded the honour of attending the Youth 2020 Summit in Canberra ACT. One hundred youths were chosen from among hundreds of applicants to gather for a weekend to discuss ideas to put forward to the Federal Government at the 2020 Summit, which was held in April 2008.

Demetrio, (pictured above at far right) a law and international politics student at

La Trobe university said the summit was an amazing experience and his group came up with some great ideas.

“The two ideas I worked on were the National Migrant/Refugee Settlement Strategy and the “Track2” drug incentive scheme for greater access to developing countries.”

He looks forward to seeing his ideas discussed further and participating in an active role in changing both attitudes and policies regarding multiculturalism.

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6 Autumn 2008

take 5

Liz Beattie My role is to assist the Premier and the Minister Assisting the Premier in their work promoting multicultural harmony and maintaining Victoria’s position as the most harmonious multicultural state in the world.

the favourite part of My job is meeting the many different communities that make up Victoria. Our diversity, rich cultural history and ongoing development is why we lead the country as the most multicultural state and I value the input and experience that each community provides.

My first job was as a check out operator (isn’t it everybody’s!)

three things i can’t live without are my husband, my dogs and sunshine.

i’ve really enjoyed reading any book I can get my hands on.

My favourite pastiMe is reading and cooking. I am learning Arabic at the moment and I am really enjoying the challenge and the experience.

My favourite type of food is anything cooked by my husband who is a wonderful cook - particularly his Sticky Thai Chicken.

i aM inspired by people who are ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.

My Most rewarding MoMent was giving my first speech in Arabic, which was understood by the Arabic audience.

one of My favourite events on victoria’s calendar is Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week. This Week is full of exciting events that highlight our linguistic, religious and cultural diversity and I enjoy getting out and about to see how different communities celebrate.

Liz Beattie was first elected to State Parliament in 1999, as

the Member for Tullamarine, and following a redistribution

was re-elected in 2002 and 2006 as the Member for

Yuroke. In August 2007, she was appointed Parliamentary

Secretary Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs.

with Liz Beattie MP, Member for Yuroke and Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs

news


Proudly celebrating our multicultural readership.Each week, two-thirds of Victorians who were born overseas read the Herald Sun. Only one-fi fth read The Age.**Source: AustraliaSCAN, 2008. Filter: VIC. Based on one insertion M-F, Sat & Sun.

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multicultural.indd 1 3/4/08 12:12:24 PMProcess CyanProcess MagentaProcess YellowProcess Black

vmc updateprojects • awards • receptions • consultations

Members of the Ministerial Advisory Council of Senior Victorians (MACSV) joined VMC Commissioners recently to discuss plans to consult communities on ageing issues. The Hon Lisa Neville, Minister for Senior Victorians has asked the MACSV to consult widely across

Victoria and to report to her on the issues affecting older people.

The discussion highlighted MACSV’s commitment to ensure all interested Victorians have an opportunity to contribute. Commissioners and the MACSV agreed to work together

to ensure diverse communities can participate in the consultation.

Plans for the consultation sessions are being finalised. Details will be communicated widely to community groups and organisations when they are known.

Community consultation

Melbourne’s bustling cultural precincts were recently captured on film by enthusiastic entrants in the Cultural Precincts Photo Competition.

The rules of the competition were simple: visit Lonsdale St, Lygon St and/or Little Bourke St and take a photo that illustrates its cultural significance.

Lonsdale St, the heart of the Greek community in Melbourne was caught in all its blue and white glory, with people filling the outdoor cafes and pastries provocatively placed in shop windows. The winner of this precinct was Ben Johnston, with the runner up Frank Varasso.

Lygon St, home of the latte, pasta, pizza and Italian culture at its finest also inspired many fine photographs. Ben Johnston also took out first place in this precinct for his appealing shot of a pizza cook in a busy restaurant. The runner up was Eugene Lombard for his depiction of typical traffic on Lygon St.

The bright lights and busy atmosphere of Chinatown’s Little Bourke St was a popular choice for many entrants. Jonathan Ng won with his shot of a costume used in the New Year parade and Stacey Lawrence took out the second prize with a vivid picture of traditional roast ducks hanging in a window.

The photo competition is linked to the Cultural Precincts Enhancement Fund, an $8 million investment to boost the viability and vibrancy of these three long standing areas. clocKwise FRom top leFt 'Monk' by Jonathon Ng – Winner. 'Language and Art’ by Ben Johnston – Winner. 'Cuisine' by Ben Johnston – Winner.

Capturing culture on film

FRom leFt: VMC Commissioners Linda Petkovic, Elleni Bereded-Samuel, usha Sharma, Vivienne Nguyen, Samar Mougharbel and Yasser Soliman with VMC Chairperson George Lekakis (centre) and members of the MACSV.

vmc update


vmc update

The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby welcomed the New Zealand community at a special reception on Waitangi Day.

New Zealand reception

Every year on 6 February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. The Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand’s founding document and takes its name from the place in the Bay of Islands where it was first signed.

The Treaty is a broad statement of principles, an agreement, in Maori and English, on which the British and Maori made a political compact to found a nation state and build a government in New Zealand.

To acknowledge Waitangi Day, the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby welcomed Shona Bleakley, Consul General of New Zealand and members of the New Zealand community to a reception at Treasury Place, Melbourne.

Mr Brumby said Australia and New Zealand are natural allies with a strong trans-Tasman sense of family.

“Migration, trade and defence ties, keen competition on the sporting field, and strong people-to-people links have

helped shape a close and co-operative relationship,” Mr Brumby said.

Guests were entertained by the magnificent singing of both Australia and New Zealand’s National Anthems by Eddie Muliaumaseali’i. The kapa haka group, Sounds of Poi Piripi also put on an impressive display of the haka and poi.

top Mr Meketaraana Keepa, President of Te Roopu Ataawhai, Shona Bleakely, Consul-General of New Zealand, Premier of Victoria John Brumby. aBoVe Sounds of Poi Piripi perform the haka.

Welcome to Victoria KitsNewly arrived young people now have access to a kit helping connect them to their new community.

For most of us, starting at a new school or moving house can be an exciting although somewhat difficult experience. Imagine moving to a new country when you’re unfamiliar with the language, customs or way of life. This is an experience that thousands of newly arrived refugee children and young people go through each year when moving to Victorian and entering the education system.

The Victorian Multicultural Commission, in partnership with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, has developed the Welcome to Victoria Kit as a way of assisting newly arrived and refugee young people entering the Victorian education system.

An official letter of welcome and a certificate from Premier John Brumby accompanies the Kit and is translated into 30 languages.

The Kit provides students and their families with valuable information that we often take for granted, such as how to access emergency services. There is also important information about public transport and fares, child safety and Victorian interpreter services.

cultural diversity weekmusic • theatre • dance • visual arts

Every year the Premier’s Gala Dinner is a highlight in the Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week program. Its immense popularity comes down to the fact it is an opportunity for communities from every background in Victoria to come together and share their rich cultural diversity.

This year, government, community and business leaders attended the dinner with more than 1400 guests. The event was hosted by the Premier of Victoria John Brumby, with special guests including Governor of Victoria Professor David De Kretser, Minister

Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs James Merlino, Leader of the Opposition Ted Baillieu, Lord Mayor John So and Annette Xibbera, Elder of the Wurundjeri people.

The evening’s entertainment began with music from Flint, a Celtic duo who ushered guests into the main room with the flute and guitar. They were followed by the Bhangra Punjabi folk dance group Folk Waves, who took the audience through a whirling display of dance moves. The National Anthem was sung by three students from Coomoora

Turkish dancers, Senegambrian musicians, Latin beats and Celtic folk songs were just some of the spectacular array of performers that guests enjoyed at this year’s Premier’s Gala Dinner.

The Gala Dinner Secondary College before the Koori Youth Will Shake Spears performed a brilliant array of Indigenous dance accompanied by didgeridoo. The dancing continued with the Turkish group Ekol School of Art, followed by the Ukrainian dance ensemble, Verchovnya and the Filipino group Peaser Kultura Pilipino.

In his speech, Mr Brumby paid tribute to the many communities that make up Victoria and thanked them for their contributions

“This dinner is about celebrating our cultural diversity. It’s about acknowledging the lasting contribution our multicultural community has made to Victoria. New people have brought new skills and new ideas to Victoria – and turned our State into a thriving multicultural democracy.

“We would not live in one of the most harmonious, yet diverse societies, if it were not for your involvement in preserving and sharing your cultural heritage,” Mr Brumby said.

It’s about acknowledging the lasting contribution our multicultural

community has made to Victoria.‘‘

‘‘



Mr Merlino also gave a speech and highlighted the 25 year history of the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

“This year marks a quarter century of dedication and hard work by our very own Victorian Multicultural Commission. Under various departmental guises, through name changes and reincarnations, the VMC’s accomplishments have been and continue to be considerable,” Mr Merlino said.

As the entertainment continued, Fabio Robles and his dance partner performed a sizzling tango and when Senegambrian sensation Jali Buyba Kuyateh and Diyaa Looloo took to the stage the members of the audience were on the dance floor showing of some moves of their own.

But it was Kenny Lopez and the Havana Connection who brought the evening to a close with their superb

Cuban tunes and left the audience eagerly anticipating next year’s Gala Dinner.

clocKwise FRom pReVious paGe: Jali Buyba Kuyateh; Premier John Brumby; Aimee Colas from Kenny Lopez and the Havana Connection; Verchovnya ukrainian dance group; Fabio Robles and dance partner; Koori Youth Will Shake Spears; Ekol School of Art; Lord Mayor John So; Leader of the Opposition Ted Baillieu; Minister James Merlino, George Lekakis, Stephan Romanieu and George Papadopolous.

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12 Autumn 2008

The AFL reaffirmed its commitment to supporting cultural diversity by hosting a special multicultural dinner at the MCG on the eve of the International Day for the elimination of Racism on 21 March.

As the Carlton and Richmond players ran on to the field to kick start the 2008 AFL season, guests were welcomed to the MCG by David Matthews, AFL General Manager International and National Development.

In partnership with the Department for Planning and Community Development, the AFL has established the Multicultural Football Program, with the primary objective to assist migrant and refugee communities to access football.

Mr Matthews said,”We want football to be a vehicle that encourages community strengthening and inclusion within the wider Australian community.”

AFL supports multiculturalismAs Richmond and Carlton faced each other off in the first game of the AFL season on 20 March, cultural diversity was kicking its own goals.

Fun in tHe squaRe The.Victoria.Police,.volunteers.from.the.Western.Bulldogs.and.City.West.Water.got.out.and.about.at.Federation.Square.on.21.March,.International.Day.for.the.Elimination.of.Racism,.to.raise.money.for.the.Royal.Children’s.Hospital.Good.Friday.Appeal.

clocKwise FRom top: David Matthews, AFL, addresses the guests; Carlton and Essendon players battle it out; Nesrine Mojaled, Saara Sabbagh and Clorinda Iannucci; Sam Elmaghraby, David Matthews, Don Smarelli, Hakan Akyol (VMC) and Hass Dellal from the Australian Multiculutral Foundation with guests.

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Cultural harmony scored a goal when young soccer players from across the globe came together to play for the inaugural Cultural Diversity Cup on 2 March. After a tough match, the Ethio-Australian Sports Federation Team were victorious against the Karen Community Soccer Team in a penalty shoot-out to take the Cup.

The Channel 31 team also had an emphatic 7-1 win over long-standing rivals SBS in a special feature match, refereed by Vasili Kanidiadis, from Channel 31’s hit program, Vasili’s Garden.

Melbourne Victory players Kaz Patafta and Evan Berger also came to the Altona East Soccer Ground to meet the players and offer support.

Solomon Wondimu, part of the winning Ethio-Australian Sports Federation team, said the team was proud to be involved in the day.

“The atmosphere was very friendly. The tournament was a great way to encourage young people to get involved in their new community and contribute some of our own culture too,” Mr Wondimu said.

City West Water’s General Manager for Service Sustainability, Geoff Gardiner, presented the winners with the Cup.

“While the Ethio-Australian team takes home the first ever Cultural Diversity Cup, all the players involved today showed tremendous enthusiasm and good will on and off the pitch,” Mr Gardiner said.

The Cultural Diversity Cup was sponsored by the Victorian Multicultural Commission and City West Water and supported by Victoria Police, Football Federation Victoria, TAC and MFB.

Soccer players fought it out for the inaugural Cultural Diversity Cup in March.

Level playing field

top FRom leFt: Ethio-Australian Sports Federation takes on Karen Community Soccer Team; Melbourne Victory players with fans; Victoria Police man the sausage sizzle; players and supporters had a great day out and Channel 31 fights hard against the SBS team.


14 Autumn 2008

Ten outstanding schools from around the state were presented with awards at Parliament House on Thursday 20 March for their innovative winning entries in the 2008 Cultural Diversity Quest Awards.

This year, the quest had more entries than ever before, with more than 170 students and teachers from 45 schools across the state entering as part of Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week.

Prizes worth $8000 were given out to school groups for their art, design, photography and performance submissions and five exceptional teachers were honoured in the Individual Teacher Contribution category.

Winning entries will be displayed at the Immigration Museum later this year.

The inaugural School Community and Partnership Award went to Robinvale Secondary College for their performance roadshow, which included traditional Tongan and Koorie dances and brass-band music.

Students show their creativity when it comes to cultural diversity.

Quest Awards

By tessa der Riettop Bridget and Jack from Lynbrook Primary School in front of their winning entry. top leFt Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike and Paul Constantinou from Quest Serviced Apartments with students and teachers from Lyndale Primary School. leFt Students from Hampton Park Primary School.

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Winners of the 2008 Cultural Diversity Quest

Quest Awards cateGoRY winneRs

Early Years – malvern Primary School – resurrection Primary School – Lynbrook Primary School – Holy rosary Primary School

middle Years – Lyndale Primary School – carrum Downs Secondary college – Sacred Heart Primary School – Hampton Park Primary School

School and – robinvale Secondary college community Partnership award

Immigration – Quarry Hill Primary School museum award

Teacher awards – caroline Verity, Lynbrook Primary School – Tan See Tuang, Bendigo South East Secondary college – Jackie Ooi, Noble Park English Language School – margaret Nicolaou, Braybrook college – Laitini matautia, carrum Downs Secondary college

aBoVe Paul Constantinou, George Lekakis and Minister for Education, Bronwyn Pike celebrate the Cultural Diversity Weeks Quest Awards with students and teachers from the winning schools. Below leFt Students from Carrum Downs Secondary College. Bottom Annabel and James from Malvern Primary School.


16 Autumn 2008

As the temperature soared, the audience scattered themselves throughout the shade of the trees that border the Yarra river to enjoy their picnics and the great music played by some of the top professional Aboriginal and African Artists in Melbourne.

Aboriginal leader and Elder, Auntie Joy Murphy braved the scorching heat to bring a welcoming to her land and African elder Dr Berhan Ahmed replied with great compassion and expressed her pleasure to be in Australia and present for the apology to Aboriginal people from the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Cr Jenny Farrar also welcomed the event as one of the annual highlights in the City of Yarra calendar.

This year marked the fifth year of The Black Harmony Gathering 2008, held on Sunday 16 March in the heart of Aboriginal land on the banks of the Yarra.

Harmony on the river

top MC Kylie Belling welcomes the crowd with a member of Koori Youth Will Shake Spears, Allen Brown Junior. top leFt Appiah Annan plays the drums. aBoVe uncle Herb makes music from a gumleaf.



Celebrating 20 years as a dance group, the Koori Youth Will Shake Spears opened the concert with traditional aboriginal dance that paved the way for a concert with elite performers including Kutcha Edwards, Jali Buba Kuyateh, Muhanamwe, The West Papuan Cultural Choir, Sweet Cheeks, Yung Warriors, Selwyn Burns, and Musiki Mangaro.

MCs Kylie Belling, Candy Bowers and the fabulous Uncle Herb also kept the audience entertained, with Uncle Herb's gumleaf workshop a special highlight.

To ensure that the crowd was well looked after, the Friends of Baucau served fabulous iced chocolates from the

kiosk, while Lentil As Anything grilled up veggie burgers. Down by the river the Warrior Sprit Collective raised funds at the Koori barbeque with emu and kangaroo sausages and icy cold drinks.

Their was also plenty of fun for the kids with Koori face painting, Maori poi poi making and the fabulous Wendesen roaming with his Ethiopian circus skills.

The Black Harmony Gathering is a free community event that encourages the sharing of ideas between cultures and showcases our rich and diverse local talent.

We look forward to seeing everyone again in Cultural Diversity Week next year!

Music was played by some of the top professional Aboriginal and

African artists in Melbourne‘‘

‘‘

FRom leFt Koori Youth Will Shake Spears celebrates 20 years at the Black Harmony Gathering with a display of dance and didgeridoo playing; Kuukua Acquah dances to the beats and the crowd enjoys the atmosphere at the Fairfield amphitheatre

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18 Autumn 2008

Interfaith Multifaith grant announcements

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital recently formalised their commitment to promoting cultural harmony.

All eyes on the Accord

It was standing room only at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (REEVH) signing of the Community Accord on Wednesday 19 March 2008.

The Accord highlights the need for respect all ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic communities. It also

rejects all forms of racial and religious vilification, violence, harassment and unlawful discrimination and seeks to advance the elimination of racial and religious intolerance.

The Accord was signed on behalf of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear

Hospital by acting Chair of the Board of Directors, Catherine Brown and witnessed by the Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, George Lekakis and Chair of the Hospital Cultural Diversity Committee, Katerina Angelopoulous.

The first six interfaith and multifaith grant recipients were announced in March.

FRom leFt: Representatives from the REEVH Catherine Brown, Katerina Angelopoulos, Mike Zafiropoulos and Christos Roussos with George Lekakis, VMC Chairperson (centre).

The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino announced the first six recipients of the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Promoting Harmony Multifaith/Interfaith Grants Program during Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week.

Mr Merlino said each of the recipients offer a range of unique activities, yet are united by a common thread; bringing people of different faiths together to promote harmony and awareness of each others’ beliefs.

“The Program is further proof that the Victorian Government is committed to strengthening Victoria’s cultural, religious and linguistic diversity,” Mr Merlino said.

The six recipients of the first round of funding, which totals $98,300, cover events and activities across Victoria. Some of these include the Castlemaine Interfaith Network, which will hold an Interfaith Peace Festival and the Interfaith Network of Greater Dandenong, which will develop a website and host a conference.

Mr Merlino said additional groups will be granted funding later this year.

“This $400,000 Program is expressly for the purpose of establishing strong

and harmonious networks between different religions and these six recipients are just the beginning of this important initiative,” Mr Merlino said.

tHe Recipients: • Castlemaine.Interfaith.Network• The.Centre.for.Melbourne.and.Multifaith.and.Others.Network

• The.City.of.Port.Phillip•. The.Interfaith.Network..of.Greater.Dandenong•. Whittlesea.Interfaith.Network.•. The.Jewish.Muslim.Christian.Association.of.Australia

aBoVe Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs James Merlino congratulates representatives from interfaith networks in Victoria after announcing funding for various projects to bring people of different faiths together to promote harmony and raise awareness.

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During Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week, grade 5 and 6 students decorated their classrooms with large letters spelling out “Harmony Week!” with a collage of multicultural faces, including photographs of themselves.

Grade 6 students also created a column graph of flags representing the different cultures represented in their year. This graph ran the length of one hallway and showed the surprising cultural diversity at the school.

The school held brainstorming sessions to see what was appreciated about a multicultural community, and the results were displayed on orange balloon shapes at the front of the school. They provided a backdrop for the Whole School Assembly around the flagpole on Harmony Day.

Students wore their national costume to school or wore orange. As they were out of uniform, the students gave a gold coin donation for the World Vision children sponsored by the school and raised more than $1000.

Cultural groups from within the school community were invited to perform at the assembly and students were treated to an outstanding display of Bollywood-style and traditional Indian dancing and singing as well as Macedonian drumming.

Dancing daysFrom a poster competition to a graph of flags representing the different nationalities of students at the school, Mill Park Heights PS was a hive of activity in March.

More than 150 people, representing different nationalities from Senior Citizens clubs throughout the district, the Italian Pensioners, Rangeview Nursing Home residents, and members of the North East Multicultural Association (NEMA), gathered in Wangaratta for Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week 2008.

The objective was to allow for seniors to gather and participate

in a range of activities that would encourage conversation, respect of ideas, fun and friendship and acknowledgement of their own cultural diversity.

Activities such as: darts, indoor carpet bowls, boccia, table tennis, Italian bingo (tombola), tin can work-out and board games engaged the participants and brought high spirits and fun to the hall.

Wangaratta seniors celebrated their cultural diversity with a day of games and activities.

Seniors celebrate

Elamathi is a flurry of colour during Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week at Mill Park Heights Primary School


20 Autumn 2008

The City of Melbourne joined the growing list of signatories of the Community Accord to reaffirm their continued commitment to community harmony.

Hub of activity

The crowds were out in force during Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week in Chinatown. The Chinese Museum held an Open Day on Sunday 23 March 2008. With free admission and an array of special activities, the Museum was visited by hundreds of people.

Chinese Museum open day

It was free for all at the Chinese Museum during Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week.

Activities included special guided tours of the Museum’s permanent exhibitions Finding Gold, the Gallery of Chinese Australians, and the Dragon Gallery where visitors were introduced to the long history of the Chinese in Australia, their life on the goldfields and in the post-goldrush period, and Chinese culture and traditions.

During the Open Day, visitors were also able to have their Chinese fortune told and their name written in Chinese calligraphy. There were Chinese tea-

making demonstrations, followed by tea tasting, and visitors could participate in tai chi chuan and kung fu demonstrations and introductory classes.

In addition, visitors to the Museum had the opportunity to view the Museum’s current temporary exhibition Selected Chinese Prints of the 20th Century Exhibition – a significant presentation of 80 Chinese prints drawn together by the Ministry of Culture in the People’s Republic of China.FoR moRe inFoRmation

visit chinesemuseum.com.au

The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino congratulated the City of Melbourne recently when they signed the Community Accord at the launch of the site for the Multicultural Hub.

Mr Merlino said that by signing the Accord the City of Melbourne was acknowledging the rich diversity of Melbourne and the importance of creating and fostering a harmonious and peaceful society.

“People from more than 130 countries unite to call Melbourne home and that helps to make our city vibrant and truly multicultural.

“The Multicultural Hub is a perfect place to be reaffirming our respect for our ethnic, religious and linguistic communities and for building on Victoria’s reputation as one of the most welcoming and tolerant places in the world,” Mr Merlino said.

The Accord was signed by Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So on 20 March as part of the launch of the site for the City of Melbourne’s new Multicultural Hub in the CBD, which will provide a place for the city’s culturally diverse communities to meet and access services.

Lord Mayor John So said signing the Community Accord was an affirmation

of the commitment the City of Melbourne has to promoting harmony and celebrating Melbourne’s rich diversity.

“We are proud of Melbourne’s status as a city of cultural and ethnic diversity. The different groups that contribute to that reputation are an extremely important part of our community, and the Community Accord will be displayed with pride as a sign of the significance of these members of our community,” Mr So said.

The Community Accord was first signed in 2002 by 36 community organisations to affirm their commitment to the principles of community harmony.

FRom leFt: Cr Carl Jetter, Lord Mayor John So, Aunty Vickie Nicholson, Minister James Merlino, VMC Chairperson George Lekakis and Cr David Wilson.



The City of Greater Bendigo’s celebrations for 2008 Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week were music to the ears for the local community.

Bendigo celebratesCelebrate our Cultural Diversity Week kicked off in Bendigo with a performance by the Indonesian Gamelon Orchestra and the festival went into overdrive the next day, when the beats of African drums filled the air and King Marong entertained the crowds.

Students from Flora Hill Secondary College and Quarry Hill Primary School experienced the unique

blend of Indigenous Australian and Celtic music when Kinja performed for them. Following the performance, the City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr David Jones acknowledged the schools’ achievements in the Cultural Diversity Quest Awards. French singer and new Bendigo resident, Sarah Prevost rounded out the week with a lively performance, which was enjoyed by all.

Coburns Child Care Centre celebrated the week with a range of experiences, including inviting Shukonya, one of the parents (pictured), to paint Mendhi (henna) designs on the children’s hands.

Coburns Child Care

On 19 March, 2008, the grade six students of Sydenham Hillside Primary School held a multicultural lunch and project exhibition to celebrate and educate the school community on ‘Multicultural Australia’.

All students wore an orange ribbon to represent and support how multicultural our society is. We also brought along a plate of traditional food from our different family cultures to share with our classmates. We enjoyed a large variety of foods from around the globe including pastizzies, Yorkshire pudding, croissants, tzatziki dip, pizzas, assatarts, as well as vegemite sandwiches.

Parents and other students from our school came along to support this great cause and view our fantastic projects. There were posters, advertisements, PowerPoint presentations, dioramas, scrapbooks and many more creative and informative projects. The day was a great success. Teachers, parents and even the other students were amazed at the hard work and effort we had put into the projects and making the day possible.

Grade six students Ryan and Bethany report on how they celebrated multiculturalism at their school.

Sydenham Hillside School


22 Autumn 2008

Participants at the inaugural Department of Human Services (DHS) Cultural Diversity Forum forged new ways of supporting cultural diversity in the sector.

Forum forges new paths

The first DHS Cultural Diversity Forum was recently held during Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week. More than 100 participants attended, representing local government, housing, mental health, disability services, hospitals, ethno-specific agencies and multicultural agencies. The purpose of the Forum was to discuss the implications of cultural and linguistic diversity for health and human services with DHS staff and Ministers.

Organised in partnership with the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria

(ECCV) and the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC), the Forum marked a new way to support engagement between the Human Services Ministers, the department and a range of sectors, agencies and service providers about cultural and linguistic diversity and its significance in the development and delivery of health and human services.

The Forum heard from all Human Services Ministers, Sam Afra, the chairperson of the ECCV and the keynote address was given by author Alice Pung.

A key element of the Forum was two facilitated discussion sessions where participants discussed CALD issues across broad themes and population groups. Participants valued the range of sectors represented, resulting in stimulating discussion.

The day closed with a panel discussion on future responses to cultural and linguistic diversity for health and human services.

At the Australian International Academy students were engaged in Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week in a variety of activities.

The King Khalid Coburg campus started off the week with an assembly attended by all classes. The school captain and vice captains each presented a speech on cultural diversity and the choir performed an array of songs.

In addition, each year was required to participate in a competition where students made bookmarks, posters, wrote stories and poetry and drew pictures, all incorporating the meaning of cultural diversity.

The outcome of the week was a great success. The students had a great time and gained an understanding of cultural diversity.

aBoVe Author Alice Pung gave the keynote speech at the forum.

Harmony in the classroom



The Israeli community celebrated the annual Grand Purim Festival with a day of activities at Caulfield Racecourse during Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week.

It was smiles all around as more than 2000 people attended this year’s Grand Purim Festival, which is known as the happiest day on the Jewish calendar.

Festival organiser Rabbi Motty Liberow of Hamerkaz Shelanu, said it is a day for people to come together to celebrate and break down barriers.

“Purim commemorates an event that took place some 2300 years ago and celebrates a miracle that happened to the people of Israel. It is a day to get dressed up, join together and celebrate,“ he said.

Fancy dress costumes, music, dancing, and food from around the world made the day a joyous occaison.

Grand day out

The City of Stonnington celebrated cultural diversity week with a special event to showcase the richness of the vast cultures of its participants. Guests were welcomed with a morning tea of European delicacies.

The local Chinese tai chi group presented a demonstration before guests chose to either enjoy a Middle Eastern-style meal indoors, while being treated to the sounds of the local choir who sang songs from around the world, or go outdoors to enjoy a BBQ in the park and listen to Spanish music.

More than 100 participants took the opportunity to celebrate the cultures within the City of Stonnington.

Richness of cultures

spRinGVale The.Springvale.Neighbourhood.House.celebrated.cultural.diversity.on.18..March.with.live.cultural.performances,.a.fashion.show,.free.food,.drinks.plus.community.and.general.services.stalls.for.the.very.diverse.community.of.City.of.Greater.Dandenong.and.beyond.

Clayton North Primary School celebrated Cultural Diversity Week with a host of events, including henna painting.


24 Autumn 2008

Greek dancing set the scene for a cultural diversity celebration for more than 100 people at Annecto in Yarraville.

Klabb Ghannejja Maltin proudly celebrated Cultural Diversity Week with the annual Multicultural Day festival on Sunday 16 March 2008.

The exciting program included a blend of traditional Maltese music and a variety of other performers, namely the Croatian Dance Group, The Pegasus Dance Academy and The Mladi Hrvati Clifton Inc Dance Group.

Guests included George Seitz MP, Brimbank Mayor Sam David and Councilor Troy Atanasovski. SBS recorded the event and a special feature was broadcast on the Maltese Radio Program.

Residents of Moonee Valley enjoyed a Concert for Cultural Harmony.

Songs of celebration

St Martin de Porres Catholic church in Avondale Heights was packed with 500 people on 16 March who enjoyed an inspiring concert of Italian opera, Eritrean songs and hymns sung in Vietnamese.

The three-hour concert was a celebration of the community commitment to build bridges of understanding and friendship with the newer and emerging communities who have made Moonee Valley their home.

A highlight of the day was the performance by the 50-musician Bellini Band, accompanied by two magnificent opera singers, soprano Estelle O’Callaghan and tenor Marco Cinque. The standing ovation at the conclusion of their performance was a clear indication the concert was a hit, with plenty of calls for a repeat performance next year.

Drumming up awareness

aBoVe leFt Tenor Marco Cinque and soprano Estelle O’Callaghan perform a duet. aBoVe RiGHt

The St Martin de Porres Church Vietnamese Choir.

Around 100 people with disabilities, staff and families from Annecto’s David House in Yarraville celebrated cultural diversity in style as part of Victoria’s multicultural celebrations to raise awareness of our cultural, linguistic and religious diversity in the community and at workplaces.

Much enjoyment came from the music and entertainment provided by staff members Theo Aguiard, who played the drums, and Nick Koutroumanis, accompanied by parent Andrew Anastasiadis, demonstrating traditional Greek folk dancing.

Support and Planning Co-ordinator at Annecto’s David House Kate Worland acknowledged the day was a success with many participants wanting to get involved again for next year’s Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week.

“The event explored cultural differences of people from other countries and stimulated great discussion about differences in religion and social norms that people experience as part of their day to day life,” she said.

aBoVe Klabb Ghannejja – Pegasus dance academy.

Maltese festival

Natalie O’Neill and Glen Cahil practice their drumming skills



On Wednesday 19 March more than 180 performers from six of some of Melbourne’s most disadvantaged and culturally diverse primary schools came together for a unique opportunity to perform at a world class venue – BMW Edge.

Notable performances included the bilingual Chinese/English choir from Abbotsford Primary School; a body percussion piece in which St Brigid’s School and Sacred Heart Primary School came together to perform as one group; a beautiful rendition of Bob Marley’s Everything’s Going to be Alright; and an African-inspired dance by Noble Park English Language School,

The Song Room, with the support of Federation Square, celebrated Cultural Diversity Week in grand style.

accompanied by djembe. After being in the spotlight as performers themselves, the schools were treated to an interactive performance by the sensational West African Drumming ensemble Afrobeat.

The Song Room vision is that all Australian children have the opportunity to participate in music

and the arts to enhance their education, personal development and community involvement.

The Song Room is a national not-for-profit organisation that provides opportunities for enhanced learning and development for disadvantaged children through music and the arts.

Harmony on stage

noRtH FitzRoY pRimaRY scHool North.Fitzroy.Primary.school.enjoyed.Celebrate.our.Cultural.Diversity.Week.with.a.variety.of.workshops.focusing.on.activities.involving.traditional.tales,.songs,.rhymes,.games,.food.and.arts.and.crafts..The.week.culminated.with.a.Harmony.Day.Picnic.on.19.March.where.the.crowd.was.a.sea.of.orange.as.students.and.their.families.came.together.to.enjoy.the.Latin.beat.sensation.Azucar,.organised.by.one.of.the.parents,.Marcelo.Salvo..

aBoVe Pauline McGrath, North Fitzroy Primary School Principal and VMC Chairperson George Lekakis enjoyed the activities at the school, as did the students.


26 Autumn 2008

Morwell celebrated its cultural diversity with a unique partnership between school students and the Coal Valley Men’s Chorus.

Advancing harmony

Harmonising was the order of the day on Friday 14 March, as the Coal Valley Men’s Chorus and students from several Morwell schools performed at the Advance Morwell Harmony Day celebrations at Legacy Place in Commercial Road, Morwell.

Latrobe City’s community development officer Henk Harberts was the MC for the day and said that Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week is an annual opportunity to focus on spreading a message of cultural acceptance.

“Cr Lisa Price, Chair of Latrobe City Cultural Diversity Reference Committee, addressed the crowd and asked everyone to examine their attitudes to other cultures and if necessary make a change this year,” said Mr Harberts.

“The morning continued with performances from St Vincent’s Primary and the Morwell Primary School. Children performed a Sudanese song, a Koori dance and also sang the national anthem together with the Coal Valley Men’s Chorus,” said Mr Harberts.

Hampton Park Primary School enjoyed an action-packed two weeks in a celebration of diversity in the community.

Dressing up for diversity

The events for Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week kicked off with Grades 5/6 A and 5/6 B winning the Visual Arts Middle Years Cultural Diversity Quest Award. Four students and their teachers represented the school at Parliament House on Thursday March 20 for the Awards on Presentation by the Minister for Education, Bronwyn Pike.

From 11-14 March Bernard Mangakahia – artist in residence – conducted Polynesian song and dance workshops with all grades in the school, culminating in a whole school Cultural Diversity Concert on Friday 14 March.

The school also became a multicultural smorgasbord, with families from many countries and cultures sharing their foods, clothing and customs with the students, culminating in a Cultural Dress-Up Day on Thursday 20 March and a Multicultural Assembly.

At the assembly, the audience was treated to a song and dance display by many of the students covering a range of diverse cultures, with some of the students’ parents even performing. The performance travelled through time, from early Indigenous cultures and the early settlers up to today and the many cultures that now call Hampton Park home.

Five students also performed the New Zealand Poi dance at the Pacifika Down Under Festival at Dandenong Park.

indian dance Natya.Kala.Mandir.held.their.fifth.annual.concert.this.year.during.Celebrate.our.Cultural.Diversity.Week.with.a.spectacular.display.of.Bharatha.Natyam,.the.classical.dance.of.India.


our communityevents • festivals • group activities

Day out with DadSudanese fathers and their children took to the road recently in an innovative project to strengthen family bonds.

The inaugural South Sudanese Dads and Kids Relationship Enhancement Project at Camp Kangaroobie got off to a flying start in January 2008. The three-day camp from January 26–28 was aimed at deepening family relationships and helping refugee families to adjust to their new lives in Australia. The program involved 10 Sudanese men and their 11 children.

The camp, a first of its kind, provided an opportunity for both the fathers and children to get to know each other more, to strengthen their family bonds and to learn more about the Australian community, as well as themselves.

South Sudanese leader and Community Development Worker for the Sunshine Family Relationship Centre David Lukudu said, “In the history of Sudan settlement in Australia, I have never heard of a program where Sudanese men have taken their children away on a camp. This is a first!”

Also joining the project and camp, developed and run by the Centacare Catholic Family Serice and the Sunshine Family Relationship Centre, were representatives of the Victoria Police Multicultural Liaison Unit. According to Leading Senior Constable Richard Dove, who was also accompanied on the camp by his daughter, Eden, the issues and hurdles facing South Sudanese families in Australia are many.

“It is a common mistake to believe that once a family arrives in Australia and the risk of murder, rape, death and disease is now behind them that all will be well. But many find when they arrive that the greatest battle now facing them is keeping their family together and adjusting to a foreign culture. Creating stronger bonds in the family unit is imperative to the successful future of refugee families settling here,” he said.

Camp activities included a visit to local property, where both the children and fathers were able to feed a herd of cows. Leading Senior Constable Richard Dove said the cattle brought back many positive memories of childhood and youth and their homeland for the Sudanese fathers. The families also visited the ocean, a first for many of them.

our community

28 Autumn 2007

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of a bilateral migration agreement between Australia and Turkey. The agreement, signed on 5 October 1967, for the purpose of bringing citizens of Turkey to Australia for employment and residence, saw the first group of assisted migrants from the eastern Mediterranean arrive in Australia in 1968.

For several years, groups of migrants from Turkey arrived regularly on chartered Qantas flights and by the mid-1970s almost 20,000 were settled in Australia. The first arrivals were given an enthusiastic and warm welcome by the small Turkish Cypriot community, which had arrived primarily during the 1940s and 1950s.

Initially, most of these new arrivals intended to work in Australia for around two to three years and then return to Turkey. Turkey had no recent history of emigration, but in the early 1960s began to send workers to industrialising European countries, which were not interested in recruitment of future citizens but rather saw these new arrivals as ‘guest workers’.

As the 40th Anniversary Project shows, those who saw themselves as guest workers have indeed become long-term settlers and citizens of Australia; migrants from Turkey have one of the highest rates of citizenship amongst migrant groups.

The special committee has been established for the 40th Anniversary Project. It is chaired by Mr Cemal Akdeniz and comprises Turkish and non-Turkish community members from diverse backgrounds and organisations. The work of the Committee has received support from more than fifty Turkish community organisations as well as many businesses.

The Turkish and Turkish Cypriot communities have been enjoying a host of activities in 2008, in celebration of their migration to Australia.

Turkish Cypriot migrants began arriving in Australia in the 1940s and this year are celebrating 60 years of migration. A part of these celebrations was the North Cyprus Turkish Festival on 17 February at the Errington Reserve in St Albans.

Close to 8000 people attended the celebrations, including distinguished guests from local government and the Turkish community. The event was very well organised and a great celebration of the communities history of migration.

The day was filled with traditional Turkish cultural activities and performances, including folk dancing and on-stage entertainment.

Other activities and treats on the day included a selection of traditional foods and sweets, Turkish coffee cup readings, photo galleries and art competitions, children’s activities and more. The day was concluded with a firework display.

A book celebrating the 60th year anniversary, Yesterday & Today Turkish Cypriots of Australia, by Serkan Hussein, which was launched on February 10, 2008, was also on sale and was well received by the Turkish Cypriot community. FoR moRe inFoRmation visit turkishcypriots.com.au

Historic milestones

40

60years of Turkish migration

years of Turkish Cypriot migration

our community


The Australian Croatian Community Services (ACCS) has been involved in an innovative project for the Croatian community over the last eight months. The project, titled ‘Life Albums’, is a scrapbook project where the participants, mainly Croatian women, have been able to document their lives since their arrival to Australia, coming to terms with a new culture, language, loss of the comfort of their extended family, raising a family and other milestones since their migration.

A comment from one of the participants sums up the positive effects of the social interaction, “It has been a joy to watch and listen to the laughter of the group every week”.

The Croatian community is using scrap books to document their journey to a new life in Australia.

A history of Chinese settlement in the City of Whittlesea has been recorded in a book by Arthur B.W Wong. The launch of Chinese Settlement in Whittlesea: Our Chinese Community Our Stories was held on Saturday 9 February 2008 at Mill Park Library and was attended by a host of business leaders, community representatives and government leaders.

Containing the stories of sixteen Chinese migrants, the book is a valuable resource for residents. The storytellers and their families came to Australia

Cut and paste

The stories of Chinese migrants in Whittlesea have been told in a new book.

primarily from mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Timor.

Included among the stories is the history of a local Chinese Market Garden, established in the City of Whittlesea after the Victorian Gold Rush, between 1853 and 1886. The book also seeks to engage with a broader range of issues which emerge from the Chinese migrant experience, such as interracial marriage, views on parenting, the Australian education system

and the interrelationship between Chinese and Western medicine.

The book is not for sale but you can access it at many public libraries and museums in Victoria and local schools in the City of Whittlesea.

Alternatively, you can download a free copy from the WCA website: www.whittleseachineseassociation.blogspot.com FoR moRe inFoRmation Contact Arthur B.W Yong at [email protected]

ESL students at the Gordon Institute in Geelong, expressed themselves creatively through a drama production called Changing Places and Faces on 20 March 2008.

Many of the students had never participated in public performance before, yet on the night they were able to incorporate material that had only been introduced to the production that morning. To perform in a second language and be able to adapt in such a way is a great achievement.

A performance by ESL students in Geelong told the stories of many new migrants to the state.

Changing places and faces

The main group was made up of women from Thailand, Cook Islands, Brazil, Bosnia, Croatia, Vietnam and Turkey, plus one young man from China. They ranged in age from early 20’s to late 60’s. They improvised dialogues and then wove them together. They also brought in songs, artefacts and photos, which were incorporated into the set. The show was a collage of scenes loosely linked by how they, and Australia, have changed since they moved here.

A Chinese history

leFt to RiGHt Minister Peter Batchelor MP, Cr Sam Alessi, Professor Robert Pascoe, Cr Kris Pavlidis, Cr Frank Merlino, Arthur B.W. Yong, Cr Whittlesea Mayor Elizabeth Nealy, Tasi Piuisi, Cr Mary Lalios, Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Bo Ai, and Harry Jenkins MP Federal Member for Scullin.

our community

30 Autumn 2007

The Jewish Holocaust Centre hosted Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) on Sunday 27 January, with the aim of inspiring people to individually and collectively ensure that the horrendous crimes, racism and victimisation of the Holocaust are never forgotten nor repeated.

Adopted by the UN in 2005, HMD is a broad-based and inclusive community activity commemorated on the anniversary date of the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp.

The event was attended by local and international guests who each presented the theme ‘Imagine’ in diverse ways. One of the highlights was the

More than 250 people attended this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day at the Jewish Holocaust Centre.

Remembering the Holocaust

launch by the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, of the Grade 4 Bialik College ‘Buttons Project’ at the Holocaust Centre. As an ongoing project, the Centre is housing a purpose-built collection box to help the students collect 1.5 million buttons rather than simply imagine the number of children who perished in the Holocaust.

Michael Brooks-Reid provided an emotive violin interlude of ‘Adagio’ by J.S. Bach from the first movement of Sonata No.1 for violin. The keynote speaker, Dr. Natan Kellermann (Phd), Clinical Psychologist and Director of AMCHA Psychosocial Support Centres for Holocaust Survivors in Israel gave a memorable address and spoke of ‘Trauma Aftermath: to remember or to forget’. Dr. Kellermann’s role was two-fold on the day acting as facilitator of the HMD Trauma workshop which was fully subscribed and followed successfully in the afternoon.

An important aspect of HMD is the ‘Righteous’ element with this year featuring two prominent Melbourne schools, Lauriston Girls School and Caulfield Grammar. In 2007, these schools developed their own Holocaust-related education programs which the Centre acknowledged with JHC Awards. ‘The Ruin of Hope’ was presented by Ann Bright, Deputy Principal of Lauriston Girls School as a graphically illustrated book created by Yr. 10 students Nive Asokarojan and Evelin Garza, while Yr. 11 student Elissa Young’s poignant speech was borne out of Caulfield Grammar’s moving commemoration to Holocaust victims which took place in June 2007 at the Wheelers Hill campus.

Planning for HMD 2009 is now underway and expressions of interest are being sought for inclusion in the event. to Be inVolVed email [email protected] or phone the Jewish Holocaust Centre on 9528 1985.

aBoVe Mrs Jan De Kretser, wife of Governor Prof, David De Kretser attends Holocaust Memorial Day at the Jewish Holocaust Centre. leFt Nive Asokarojan, Evelin Garza and Deputy Principal Anne Bright, with their awards.

our community


The Women Creating Harmony project was initiated by a team of women at community radio The Pulse and the Geelong Ethnic Broadcaster’s Association and a DVD and CD were produced as the result of two social gatherings of women who have chosen Australia as their new home.

The stories come from Iran, Sudan, Pakistan, Croatia, Kenya, the Netherlands and our own Indigenous people. They tell of the struggles of women to overcome the horrors of war, famine and dislocation and their huge effort to keep the family unit safe.

This project is just one of 34 projects funded by the Victorian Government as part of the Women Creating Harmony Grants, delivered through the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

Women in the Geelong and Torquay areas have used the powers of technology to record their stories and form a strong friendship bond.

Harmony projectThe fifth annual Thai Culture & Food Festival was held at Federation Square on Sunday 2 March, 2008 and was once again a resounding success. Warm weather and clear skies set the scene for showcasing Thailand’s culture, fashion and food.

The day began with the Buddhist Monks ceremony and was followed by the opening ceremony, which was attended by Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So, H E Bandhit Sotipalalit, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia and Dr Simon Wallace, Honorary Consul General for Thailand in Victoria.

More than 42,000 people were treated to displays of Thai dance, music, kickboxing, stick fighting and a beauty contest. The Thai Fashion show, featuring Thai silk designs from some of Thailand’s leading fashion labels – Sukman, Porini, Muung-Doo, C@NiNa and Enrichir.

The Singha Beer Garden was again very popular this year and provided live music entertainment throughout the afternoon and early evening. The River Terrace was lined with restaurant stalls serving delicious Thai food including desserts and drinks.

Thousands flocked to Federation Square in March to celebrate Thailand’s culture.

Thai high

Melbourne’s first Latin funk and hip hop block party had the audience grooving all day long. A collaboration between nine-piece Latin Mestizo outfit San Lazaro, hip hop masters Ladjacd

and samba-funk collective Tumbarumba had Federation Square shaking to the beats on 23 February, 2008. The day was a celebration of the cultivation of original urban music with Latin roots

and was especially curated to showcase the wealth of diverse and unique Latin music in Melbourne. The day was a part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s ‘A Taste of Slow’.

Outside the Square

aBoVe Thai dancers took to the stage in a brilliant performance of traditional Thai dance.

Federation Square was transformed during Melbourne’s first funk and hip hop party.

our community

32 Autumn 2007

Since 1983, Pako Festa has provided an opportunity for people from all cultural backgrounds to come together and celebrate the beauty and enriching capacity of multiculturalism. Staged as a free event, it currently attracts the participation of around 30 cultural community groups, up to 60 community groups and a total attendance of around 100,000 people.

This year, back-to-back performances on five stages, a dedicated Freeza Youth Stage, a venue for choirs and community singers in the Bethel Church, a smorgasbord of cultural

food, workshops, art and craft exhibitions, a host of roving street performers, and a range of free activities for children made the day more popular than ever. The Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino officially opened the Pako Festa this year and said the event was a highlight on the year’s calendar.

“Pako is a dynamic example of community diversity as well as Victoria’s biggest multicultural street party,” Mr Merlino said.

The Victorian Government, through the VMC’s Community Grants program,

provides $50,000 in funding for the event each year.

The theme for MatchWorks Pako Festa 2008, “Icons of Culture”, invited both participants and spectators to consider the significance and importance of the special symbols of their cultural heritage.

Overall winners for the community that best reflected the theme was the Ukrainian group, but special mentions must also go to the Indian and Filipino communities for their food stall decorations and the Dutch community for their impressive display

Pako.Festa.celebrated.its.26th.anniversary.with..a.full.day.of.fantastic.fun,.music,.dance.and.food.on.23.February,.2008..

Pako Festa

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our community


of a huge windmill, cheeses, tulips, clogs and dolls in national costume.

To some an icon of culture was as simple as a traditional costume, song or dance - to others it was a place, object, food, art, person, even a geographical feature or region. Some icons were shared, others were personal. Some icons were religious, others were cultural.

The quality that all icons of culture had in common, however, was that they enhanced our appreciation of our unique place in a diverse world.

Once again, the highlight of the

day was the Pako Parade comprising a colourful stream of cultural and community floats, groups, entertainers and brass bands that flowed through the festival precinct.

The artists were also a huge success. A highlight was Papa Mbaye, who travelled from Sydney with his eight-piece band, Chosani Afrique and brought the magic of West Africa and the sounds of a culture steeped in magic, ritual and a strong spirituality to the Festa.

The Dili Allstars, a high-energy seven-piece funk, ska, and reggae

band from Melbourne, with members of the group originally from East Timor were also a favourite with the crowd and continue to use music to highlight the problems faced by the people of East Timor to push for International justice on their behalf. Other performers includes Sweet Monas Choir, The Kalinka Dance Company, Acabellas Singers, Yalla, Flint, La Cumbiamba, Taisa Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, The Rustys, The Val, Sambrose Automobile, The Little Green Houses, Existdance Hip Hop Skool and many more.

Pako is Victoria's biggest

multicultural street party‘‘ ‘‘

aBoVe Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs James Merlino welcomes the crowd to the 26th Pako Festa.

Friends or Family Moving to Australia?

Commonwealth Bank can make the move easier!Moving to a new country is exciting, worrying about your finances isn’t, so it is good to know that the Commonwealth Bank of Australia can give you a head start by helping your friends and family open a bank account before they leave home.The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is one of the nations most trusted financial institutions and has the largest branch network in Australia.

Freecall from Australia: 1800 188 888

To see a full list of our International toll free numbers or to apply online please visit www.commbank.com.au/movingtoaustralia

Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124


government initiativesevents • awards • projects • supportFriends or

Family Moving to Australia?

Commonwealth Bank can make the move easier!Moving to a new country is exciting, worrying about your finances isn’t, so it is good to know that the Commonwealth Bank of Australia can give you a head start by helping your friends and family open a bank account before they leave home.The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is one of the nations most trusted financial institutions and has the largest branch network in Australia.

Freecall from Australia: 1800 188 888

To see a full list of our International toll free numbers or to apply online please visit www.commbank.com.au/movingtoaustralia

Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124

On Thursday 13 March 2008 at the Keele Children’s Centre in Collingwood, the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Maxine Morand, launched a new child-safe resource package for parents from culturally diverse backgrounds.

A new guide – Strengthening Outcomes: Refugees Students in Government Schools has been released to ensure schools are aware of the full range of support for refugee students available.

The guide was developed in response to requests from schools for information on how to support refugee students, particularly those with little or no schooling.

Minister for Education, Bronwyn Pike, who launched the guide at Flemington Primary School on

March 20, said Victoria had a proud tradition of supporting refugees.

“The Victorian Government values cultural diversity and is determined to ensure refugee students, who have often come from traumatic circumstances, are valued and are able to live full and productive lives within our community,” Ms Pike said.

The $4.5 million support package includes the pilot Out of School Hours Learning Support Program,

which will run at five locations in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

The pilot is being conducted by the Department, in partnership with Foundation House and the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues.

New purpose-built relocatable classrooms will also be sent to growth areas, including Werribee and Mildura, to ensure refugee students can attend intensive English language classes within their local area.by sara Bannister

Wise choices

Parents can now access a free DVD in eight languages to help choose safe options for child-care services.

Refugee students who are rebuilding their lives in Victoria following years of hardship are the focus of a $4.5 million Victorian Government support package. p

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Student support

The Wise Choices: Safe Children resource package offers practical tips and advice for parents on how to choose a child-safe service, activity or occasional carer for their child and includes:• A short DVD in eight languages

(English, Vietnamese, Dinka, Farsi, Somali, Arabic, Mandarin and Cantonese) that explores the key elements of a child-safe organisation, activity or carer.

• Fact Sheets - A series of tip sheets printed in eight different languages that summarise 13 key messages contained in the DVD.The resource was developed by

Victoria’s Child Safety Commissioner, Bernie Geary, following consultation with agency workers and representatives of Victoria’s culturally diverse communities.

Free copies of the DVD and fact sheets can be ordered online at ocsc.vic.gov.au. The fact sheets can also be downloaded from the website.

government initiatives

36 Autumn 2007

Department of Education &

Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development

Early Childhood Development

The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings launched the Land and biodiversity at a time of climate change Green Paper on Sunday 6 April.

The Green paper provides an opportunity for Victorians of all backgrounds to have a say in the way we manage our natural resources. It aims to promote discussion on the best ways to respond to the decline of Victoria’s land and aquatic ecosystems and the biodiversity that supports them.

The government wants to hear your

feedback on how best to achieve the vision set out in the Green Paper and the suggested approaches it includes. The Green Paper is available from dse.vic.gov.au/landwhitepaper. You can also ring the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Customer Service Centre on 136 186 if you would like a hard copy.

Having read the Green Paper, you can attend a regional community workshop to discuss the issues in more detail or make a formal submission. Visit dse.vic.gov.au for more information.

The Premier’s Sustainability Awards recognise innovation and reward outstanding achievement in the sustainable use of our natural resources for the benefit of all Victorians, now and for the future.

In partnership with Department of Planning and Community Development, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Western Bulldogs Football Club, the Multicultural School Gardens Project is an innovative schools-based project that builds social capacity through a unique combination of volunteering, gardening and cooking.

Students work with gardening ‘buddies’ to create multicultural food gardens, growing fruit, vegetables and herbs popular in different parts of the world.

This year in April, the project was nominated for Premier’s Sustainability Awards. Though the group didn’t win, the nomination is an impressive achievement and positive sign for the future of our cultural diversity.

Together, the participants cook traditional dishes using the produce from their multicultural gardens and share stories and information about different cultures.

How does your garden grow Congratulations to the Gould Group - Multicultural School Gardens Project who were a finalist in the recent Premier’s Sustainability Awards.

A new report by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) shows there is a strong relationship between cultural discrimination and poor mental health.

VicHealth CEO Todd Harper says “Victoria has a good record of fostering cultural diversity, yet the study indicates that people from migrant and refugee backgrounds continue to experience unacceptably high levels of discrimination, in turn affecting their health and wellbeing.”

“The report shows there is a clear link between culturally-based discrimination and mental health problems, particularly depression,” Mr Harper said.

More than 40 per cent of Victorians are either born overseas or have a parent born overseas. “Over 2 million Victorians, from culturally and linguistically diverse communities are at risk of the health impacts of discrimination,” Mr Harper said.

But it is encouraging that there is strong support for embracing diversity, Mr Harper added. “New VicHealth data shows that 90 per cent of Victorians agree it is a good for society to be made up of different cultures.”

The report highlights the need to target workplaces, educational settings and sporting environments as key places where discrimination is likely to occur, Mr Harper said.

FoR moR inFoRmation go to vichealth.vic.gov.au/discrimattitudes and follow the links to Discrimination Facts and Stats

Spotlight on discrimination

Have your say on biodiversityVictorians are invited to take this opportunity to contribute to discussion on the future of the state’s biodiversity.p

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Department of Education &

Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development

Early Childhood Development

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

The Victorian Multicultural Commission extends its appreciation to the following sponsors for Celebrate our Cultural Diversity Week 2008:

OUR SPONSORS

OUR SUPPORTeRS

OUR mediA PARTNeRS

Level 11, 1 Spring StreetMelbourne Victoria 3000

telepHone (03) 9208 3184 Facsimile (03) 9208 3179email [email protected]

www.multicultural.vic.gov.au

multicultural victoria issue 24.… · spanish, swahili and turkish. the exhibition, kimono:...

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