Celebrating Harmony Week

CULTURE

Recognising our culturally diverse community, the City of Salisbury celebrated Harmony Week during March. Harmony Week importantly includes the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March each year.

The week featured a Harmony Tree displaying messages from our cultural communities, live music from Rhythm Strings (pictured), I Belong in my Culture video and Blade Exhibition featuring Australian History. A community event was held at Salisbury Civic Plaza/Inparrinthi Kumangka during which Mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM officially recognised the cultural diversity of Salisbury. “We are a proudly vibrant and diverse community with three in every ten residents having been born overseas,” said Mayor Aldridge. “Harmony Week is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on the cultural richness that makes Salisbury such a special place, while highlighting the importance of inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all within our community.”

TREE OF DIVERSITY

Culturally and linguistically diverse community members wrote messages of peace, love and friendship on coloured paper for a Harmony Tree display. Written in languages including Arabic, Bosnian, Croatian, Finish, French, Greek, Hindi, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese, many were fashioned into origami hearts and cranes.

STRINGING TOGETHER SONGS FOR CELEBRATING

Salisbury Community Hub visitors enjoyed live music by Rhythm Strings with many commenting on the performance. Feedback from community members included:

“Lovely music, it was so relaxing and calming”

“Lifts the soul to hear live music”

“It was a pleasant surprise after coming in from the cold”

“It was good to have something different in the (Salisbury Community Hub) and to change it up”

“It was very good, it brought smiles to people’s faces and some energy to the space”

I BELONG IN MY CULTURE SALISBURY ALIVE WITH COLOUR

A number of Council’s culturally and linguistically diverse staff and community members were involved in a project to adapt the children’s book ‘I Belong In My Culture’ into a video format. Launched during Harmony Week, the video features people reading the book in their native language. To ensure accuracy many worked with their own parents and family to ensure that translation was correct. The video can be viewed on the Salisbury Library Service Facebook page: www.facebook.com/

SalisburyLibraryService/videos

Salisbury Civic Plaza/Inparrinthi Kumangka came alive with colour, music, dancing and food at the Harmony Week Community Event entertaining about 700 people throughout the day. Led by Indian Dhol drummers, community groups participated in a colourful intercultural parade wearing their national dress. Uncle Robert Taylor delivered a Welcome to Country and traditional didgeridoo performance before Mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM officially opened the event. Attendees heard from the Honorable Tung Ngo MLC and were then treated to a number of performances representing many cultures including Brazilian, Cambodian, Filipino, Indian, Italian and Spanish. A Chinese lion weaved its way through the parkland, delighting the audience. The outstanding event gained national interest with Mayor Aldridge interviewed by musician and ABC National radio program host Christine Anu. Local community radio PBAFM recorded interviews and music during the event. To learn more about Harmony Week visit

www.harmony.gov.au

FLAVOURS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Jack’s Café embraced Harmony Week by offering meals from different cultures as part of its weekly specials. The menu included dishes such as Vietnamese chicken and corn soup, Italian arancini balls, Australian roast lamb and Italian tiramisu for dessert. Hilary Smitham, pictured, enjoyed a delicious Greek chicken souvlaki and salad. Hilary enjoyed the tasty meal and said she loves being part of a society where food from different countries is available.

“When I get the chance, I choose to eat food from other cultures,” Hilary said.