From our Principal
Harmony Day: Celebrating What Truly Unites Us
On Tuesday we celebrated Harmony Day which is one of the most valued days in our school calendar. It provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on who we are as a school community, and on the kind of nation we are proud to be part of.
The word harmony has a rich and layered meaning. In everyday life, it refers to people living and working together in peaceful agreement, grounded in respect and understanding. In music, harmony is created when different notes are played simultaneously — not competing with one another, but blending together to form something richer, fuller, and more powerful than any single sound alone.
Australia, at its best, reflects this same idea.
When asked what has been positive about multiculturalism in Australia, people often point first to food — and rightly so. We are fortunate to enjoy cuisines from all over the world, along with cultural dress, dance, and celebrations that enrich our shared experiences. These expressions of culture are important and meaningful, and they are joyfully celebrated on Harmony Day. We thank the many staff and students from the VCE-VM program who produced such wonderful food and the staff who worked behind the scenes to support students to perform cultural dances.
However, if we stop there, we risk missing the deeper significance.
The true strength of multiculturalism lies not only in what we eat or wear, but in the diversity of ideas, perspectives, beliefs, and ways of thinking that shape our society. It is this diversity that brings creativity, resilience, and depth to our communities.
Australia’s democratic values — justice, respect, equity, freedom, and tolerance — are not weakened by diversity. They are strengthened by it. These values must be protected and celebrated, while at the same time allowing space for differing views and beliefs to be respectfully discussed, debated, and understood. Harmony is not achieved by everyone thinking the same way, but by learning how to listen well, disagree respectfully, and live well together.
Importantly, the greatest threats to harmony and democracy do not come from people of different cultures, races, or religions living side by side. They come from forces that seek to divide and undermine trust — through fear, misinformation, extremism, and hostility toward democratic institutions. The answer to such challenges is not suspicion or exclusion, but strong communities, critical thinking, respectful dialogue, and a shared commitment to our common values.
This is where schools like St Peter’s College play a vital role.
In our school community, harmony means that every student is known, valued, and respected. It means standing up for one another, challenging prejudice when it appears, and choosing curiosity over judgement. It means recognising that our diversity is not a problem to be managed, but a blessing to be grateful for and a strength to be nurtured. It is an understanding that is deeply rooted in our Christian belief that every person has been created in the image of God and is to be loved, valued and respected.
Like harmony in music, every voice matters. When we listen to one another and work together, we create something far more powerful than any single note on its own.
As part of our Harmony Day celebrations, we were honoured to welcome Abraham Kuol, the 2026 Young Australian of the Year for Victoria and a respected youth leader and community advocate.
Abraham is nationally recognised for his contribution to community safety, youth empowerment, and social change. A 2025 Westpac Social Change Fellow, he works closely with young people, mentors those at risk, and runs sport‑based programs that foster belonging and positive pathways. Alongside this work, he is completing a PhD in Criminology at Deakin University, where his research is shaping real‑world policy and practice.
Through initiatives such as the Black Rhinos soccer and basketball club and his leadership at Sandown Lions Football Club, Abraham creates opportunities for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to thrive. He has also helped secure more than $3.5 million in funding for programs supporting African‑Australian families and justice‑involved youth.
A trusted media commentator and an engaging public speaker, Abraham’s message of belonging, responsibility, and hope resonated strongly with our students and staff.
Harmony Day reminds us that everyone belongs, and that our differences — cultural, religious, and ideological — are not what divide us, but what make us stronger when held together by respect, compassion, and shared values.
We thank our students, staff, and families for continuing to make St Peter’s a community where harmony is not just celebrated for a day but lived every day.
Mr David Hansen
Acting Principal
The rainbow over the cross was beautifully captured by one of our Art teachers, Ms Deirdre Peterson. It is another important symbol of harmony when we think of the individual and distinct wavelengths and colours when added together make pure light.