HARMONY WEEK

Harmony Week

Australia is one of the most diverse societies in the world with communities coming from every corner of the Earth. They not only live together in a peaceful and cooperative way, but also create the unique Australian multiculturalism. That is possible by the amazing welcome Australia has given to each and every migrant coming to her land. It is the characteristics of tolerance, love and generosity which define modern Australia. It is the successful integration of migrants into our community that allow them to settle. And it is why about half of Australians are either born overseas or have at least a parent who was.

This year, we celebrate Harmony Week for the first time at BSC. The event is the celebration of the inclusiveness, respect and multiculturalism in Australia. It is an annual event celebrated across Australia for 20 years, which brings the communities – which differ from their background, language and traditions but share the vision of a modern, generous and opportune Australia.

The message of Harmony Week is simple: Everyone belongs.

This message echoes the efforts of our school and community to help everyone understands themselves and finds a place which they can feel safe and be a part of it. We embrace inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.

Harmony Week is also about celebrating the uniqueness of Australia multiculturalism.

Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia. That means 7.5 million people have put faith in Australia for all of her beauty and kindness to travel far from around the world. That means 7.5 million people have worked, contributed and gave birth to a whole generation of Australia. That means 7.5 million people helped build together this country and strengthen the core of our values.

Lastly, Harmony Week is the reminder of who we are and the opportunities we have.

For those who were born here in this nation, you are the beneficiary of multicultural Australia. You have the opportunity to experience the different cultures, customs and traditions of ethnics around the world. You have chance to meet people who are not the same as you but connects with you on what you both believe, both admire or both against, to encourage yourselves to learn a second language, to bring yourselves to talk about something beyond the confinement of our border and the ocean which isolates us from the rest of the world. Those are evident at Brighton Secondary College. Sitting in the assembly on Thursday 5th March, is more than 90 international students from a variety of countries. You have met them. You’ve talked to them. You’ve seen them as your friends. You’ve become a better person because you could see beyond your daily life. That is the power that diversity has brought to Australia.

Which is why, this year, for the first time, we are celebrating Harmony Week at our school. We will celebrate Harmony Week on the 19th and 20th March with many activities, and we encourage you to join an even larger celebration in the Federation Square on Saturday, 21st March.

Make sure to look for notices from Compass for our activities.

Thank you.

John Nguyen and Nancy Lai