SydWest Multicultural Services led or participated in a number of Harmony Day events for 2019 — including Blacktown, Parramatta and St Marys.
More than 500 community members joined for Harmony Day at Bowman Hall, Blacktown, on March 20 to celebrate the incredible diversity of the Blacktown LGA, foster a sense of belonging for everyone and promote social inclusion.
During the program, Chief Inspector of the Blacktown Local Area Command and Chair for SydWest, Robert Fitzgerald, welcomed the audience and Mayer of Blacktown City Stephen Bali gave a speech on multiculturalism, diversity and harmony.
The audience enjoyed various performances and cultural dance from Mana Hearth Pacific Islander, MDAA, The Hills Chinese Association, Filipino Seniors, an African Drumming Group, Simply Voice Choir, Association of Bhutanese in Australia, Punjabi Dance from Harman Foundation, and Dabke dance from Arabic Dance Group.
Attendees also learned more about the many cultures and services of Blacktown through information stalls.
SydWest was a participating member of the Penrith celebrations on March 21 at St Mary’s Community Centre with more than 150 people attending from diverse background, including clients of SydWest.
Everyone, enjoyed the harmony, food, music and getting together.
The event featured an official opening by the Mayor of Penrith, Councillor Ross Fowler and Harmony Day Ambassador Mitchell Beggs-Mowczan. The event featured performances from St Clair High School Hula Dance, Community Choir, and a Maltese Group.
Clement Meru, SydWest Community Services and Engagement Manager, joined Multicultural NSW and members of the West Sydney Regional Advisory Council in celebrating Harmony Day in Parramatta on March 27.
It was an opportunity for a diverse range of community representatives and key stakeholders in NSW to network with each other and meet Multicultural NSW’s new CEO Joseph La Posta.