An array of colour, culture and harmony flooded the grounds of several schools across Perth recently, as part of the 2019 Harmony Day celebrations on Thursday 21 March.
Chisholm Catholic College Bedford and Mercy College Koondoola were particularly involved in the celebrations. For the token price of a gold coin donation to Project Compassion, students came dressed in orange or in their traditional cultural dress.
“They have embraced the essence of equality, respect and diversity present in our multicultural community within the College,” said Chisholm College Principal John Bormolini.
“This is a wonderful occasion and tradition that is not just something we celebrate as a College, but has a special place in the fabric of who we are as Australians.”
Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. It is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism and the successful integration of migrants into the local community.
Its annual date of celebration, Thursday 21 March, is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Since 1999, more than 77,000 Harmony Day events have been held in childcare centres, schools, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies across Australia.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Harmony Day and in honour of the occasion, the event was renamed Harmony Week, recognising the length and breadth of the diversity and inclusion activities that took place.
Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week, traditionally signifying social communication and meaningful conversations, it also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.
Led by a procession of flag bearers, the College gathered to acknowledge Australia’s rich cultural heritage before listening to an address by Mr Bormolini who delivered the message that Harmony Day is a time to reflect and to find strength in love and respect for one another, regardless of their differences.
This was followed by a presentation by the Head Boy and Head Girl, who shared their own personal stories, both of their experiences of diversity and cultural acceptance as Australians and what the celebration of Harmony Week meant to them.
Head Girl Francesca Martino encouraged students to promote the values that Caroline Chisholm embodied.
“Caroline Chisholm, our school patron, was a strong advocate for equality, and showed strength in her belief that we all belong, regardless of differences. She dedicated her whole life to putting the needs of others before herself, welcoming and caring for migrants arriving in Australia,” she said.
For Head Boy Jayden Chiu, Harmony Day is something he deeply cares about as his family migrated to Australia from a war-torn East Timor.
“Harmony Day is about recognizing the fact that we, as a society, are stronger, and able to work better, together. Let us continue to work towards a more accepting and harmonious society, one in which we are all united by one commonality – we are all Australian,” Jayden explained.
Similar celebrations took place at Mercy College, where students, staff and members of the local community attended a multicultural Liturgy and event on the Primary School oval.
The event, dubbed “Harmunity” day by the school, had a wide range of entertainment on offer including a Lion dance, food stalls/trucks, bouncy castles and face painting.