GOOD food, a few laughs and some amazing clothes are how the Peel Multicultural Society celebrated Harmony Day and the multiculturalism of Mandurah.
The group joined with Fremantle Multicultural Centre to bring together local residents from a range of walks of life.
Organiser Virginia Pitts said the event showed the ongoing support multicultural groups were receiving in the community.
“We had a lot of people last year, and we’re hoping to have more again next year,” she said.
“This day is about celebrating with all different kinds of food, and celebrating who we are and where we come from.”
Former mayor Paddi Creevey, Mandurah MP David Templeman and others were in attendance.
Fremantle Multicultural Centre organiser Teresa Zemek said Harmony Day celebrated the work that both refugee networks and multicultural support organisations do throughout the year.
“Harmony Day is to celebrate Australia’s multiculturalism and it’s rich, diverse culture,” she said.
“One of the ways of doing that is to share a lunch, like we are today.”
Mandurah local and Persian dance instructor Mehrangiz Kalany said the event showed the willingness for the multicultural community to come together, and also the capacity for the area to allow such communities to thrive.
“I’ve been here for two years now, and it’s been great, it’s a new life,” she said.
Ms Kalany has been teaching traditional Persian dance for more than a decade, but the experience of bringing a piece of her culture to her new home has been invigorating.
“It’s so good to see other people get up and try dance,” she said.
“It’s something different. I go to schools and the teachers say, ‘thankyou for coming, we need this’. That feels good, because for me it’s what I do, but for the students it means trying something new.”
Ms Kalany said Harmony Day showed how easy it was for cultures to share experiences.
“I love this country and today shows how much people want to share dance, and other things,” she said.
“It’s something anyone can do, no matter the boundaries. That’s what today’s about.”
Ms Creevey congratulated the organisers for bringing different cultures together.
“It’s so important, with a lot of the negative things that happen politically, to stand up and say we’re all Australians,” she said.
“We all belong here and we welcome those who come from other places, because as you rightly say they’ve enriched us, they give us a great diversity, and they make fantastic food.
“I think we as a community can say, ‘you are welcome here’, and that’s what a day like today proves.”
Following the recognition of the traditional Noongar inhabitants of the region, Mr Templeman said Harmony Day was not just about accepting those of different cultures, but also commemorating what they brought to the country.
“The great thing about being the state member of parliament for Mandurah is that I have a great affection for what makes us a community,” he said.
“The great thing about it is it’s made up of every type of person from many walks of life.
“Not only is everybody welcome, but more important is the contribution that people from all parts of the world have made and will continue to make.”
