Mildura Rural City Council and the Mildura English Language Centre (MELC) are joining together to mark Harmony Day 2022 later this month.
Harmony Day falls on 21 March every year and has been celebrated in Australia since 1999 to honour the cultural diversity of our country.
It also coincides each year with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
As part of Council’s work to mark this important day staff will briefly take on the role of ‘teacher’.
Council officers will provide a short classroom lesson explaining our country’s government system, including the difference between Federal, State and Local Government, with a focus on Local Government.
The lesson will conclude with a short activity for students, followed by a visit by Mildura’s Mayor Liam Wood and Deputy Mayor Cyndi Power, who will join students, parents and teachers for a Harmony Day afternoon tea.
Councillor for Community Development and Gender Equity, Helen Healy said Harmony Day was an important opportunity for Council to show the value staff and Councillors place on cultural diversity.
“Cultural diversity lies at the heart of our region when you look at the make-up of our community – from Traditional owners, to the massive influx of European immigrants during the early part of the 20th Century,” Cr Healy said.
“And it’s an evolving and positive feature of our region, as our community continues to welcome people from new and different countries each year.
“Combined with our area’s ancient First Peoples’ culture, it has created a rich, diverse and welcoming community that we can be so proud of.”
Cr Healy said this month’s Harmony Day event at the MELC would also be an opportunity for the Centre to showcase to the community the work it does, as well as the ongoing need for more volunteers, particularly to help read books aloud to students.
