Each year during 17-23 March, every community organisations within the state of Victoria holds different celebrations to highlight the richness of Victoria's multicultural community. One of the aims of Cultural Diversity Week is to uphold community harmony and promote mutual understanding and respect. Additionally, March 21 also marks UN's day for the Elimination of Racism, which also provides another reason to celebrate and embrace the right for all Victorians to live without fear of discrimination of skin colour, language and faith.
Last Saturday, 14 March 2009 at The Palladium in Crown, the Premier held his Annual Gala Dinner in celebration of Cultural Diversity Week in Victoria. One of Victoria's strengths is its rich cultural, linguistic and religious diversity. With people from more than 200 nations, speaking more than 200 languages and dialects and with more than 120 faiths, Victoria is indeed one of the world's greatest multicultural societies.
The program was hosted by Mr Anton Enus, the well-known newsanchor for SBS news. Wonderful speeches were addressed by the honorary delegates in the Victorian government such as: Hon James Merlino MP (Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs), Hon John Brumby MP (Premier of Victoria and Minister for Multicultural Affairs), Mr Ted Baillieu (Leader of the Victorian Opposition), Ms Christine Nixon (Head of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority and previous Victorian Police Chief Commissioner) and Mr George Lekakis (Chairperson, Victorian Multicultural Commission). The aim for the evening was to re-affirm and create awareness amongst the multicultural community how the Victorian government values the rich diversity of the state through the different policies that they have passed through the years and at present and how us Victorians could make use of these opportunities and contribute for the advancement of a more open, inclusive and vibrant society.
(Photo-op with Mr Ted Bailleu)Furthermore, the unique numbers provided by the entertainers gave colour to the evening's festivity from the music and song numbers of the Blue-Lagoon Polynesian Arts (Cook Islands), Angels Voices (Congolese), Run Murray with Sarah James (Indigenous/Irish), Tabura and Laloran Choirs (West Papuan/East Timorese) and Coro Delle Montagne (Italian) and Afro Mandinke (The Gambia) to the dance and rythyms of Pallaconian Brotherhood and Pancretan Dance Groups (Pallaconian/Pancretan), Sekarwari Balinese Dance Society of Victoria (Balinese), Polonez (Polish), Tarumba (Brazilian) and King Marong and Afro Mandinke (The Gambia).
(Photo-op with one of the Brazilian dancers of the Tumbarumba)
(Bryan, Aggie, Me and Kelvin while dancing at the music of King Marong and Afro Mandinke)
The City of Melbourne and the State of Victoria is proud to be one of the world's most harmonious and culturally diverse communities. It is highly encouraged by the Victorian government and the local councils for everyone to be involved and participate in the many activities offered during this week. It is created and organised for us Victorians anyway. Plus it is our way of building a positive and progressive future for Victoria as a great place to live and work. This is one of the many reasons why each Victorian is proud to have this kind of opportunities given and supported by the government and by the community.
People in these photos are: CPCA committee (Mrs Ching, Ms Norminda, Ms Goodette, Ms Gloria and Mr Luis) and YFAA committe and guests (Kat, Aggie, Annie, Bryan and Kelvin)
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