By NATALIE GALLENTI-BREKALO
THE Melton community will come together and celebrate the area’s growing cultural diversity as part of Harmony Day later this month.
Melton City Council will mark Harmony Day on Saturday, 22 March, with a community event promoting awareness, acceptance and appreciation of multiculturalism.
The celebration will include free multicultural food, music, dancing, African drumming workshops, henna tattoos, a magician, kinder gym and community service stalls.
Mayor Bob Turner invited the community to join in the festivities and said events like this were a wonderful opportunity for residents to gain a greater understanding of the different backgrounds that make up the area’s vibrant and diverse community.
The event will be held between 11.30am and 1.30pm outside the Caroline Springs Civic Centre and Library.
“With 27.8 per cent of our residents born overseas, celebrations such as this help enrich our community by giving us the opportunity to learn about different customs and cultural traditions,” Cr Turner said.
Between 2006 and 2011, the number of Melton residents born overseas increased by 11,138 or 58.1 per cent, and the number of people from a non-English speaking background increased by 9,526 or 64.7 per cent.
Other events taking place throughout Cultural Diversity Week include the launch of an intercultural book collection, multicultural art exhibition launch, Polish bilingual story time and the launch of the Melton Interfaith Network and Cultural Evening. For more details visit www.melton.vic.gov.au
