Launched as part of Harmony Day celebrations on Thursday, Centre for Participation hopes its new kitchen will be a place where cultural groups can come together and celebrate their diversity.
Following a Welcome to Country by Aunty Hazel McDonald, Horsham Mayor Mark Radford kicked off celebrations, pausing to reflect on the victims of the New Zealand mosque attack and paying homage to the Wimmera’s Muslim communities, before using music as an analogy for diversity and respecting each other’s cultures.
CEO Julie Pettett welcomed guests commenting it is important to acknowledge local communities and that we “all have so much to learn from each other”.
“The vision we have for this room is as a place where cultural diversity is celebrated and where different cultural and migrant groups can come together and share their dreams and what their hopes are for the community,” Mrs Pettett said.
“It’s a big thing to come to a new country, and we want this space to be a place where our new residents can grow and reflect,” she said.
Capping off the celebrations were traditional dances performed by members of Oasis Wimmera and the Wimmera Filipino-Australian Club and a beautiful rendition of a song about world peace titled “One Day”.
