Harmony Day launched in Perth [Audio]

23/10/98

Western Australia's inaugural Harmony Day was today launched by Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Board in a special Harmony Village set up in Forrest Place.

Harmony Day is the culmination of Celebrate WA week (October 16-25, 1998). It is dedicated to celebrating cultural and racial diversity.

This year's Celebrate WA theme, Living in Harmony, promotes participation, respect, acceptance and understanding of the diversity of people, cultural backgrounds, languages and religions found in WA.

"Cultural diversity has been a part of WA since before this State was even proclaimed," Mr Board said at the launch.

"There were people of more than 50 different nationalities living here at the time of proclamation in 1890," he said.

"Since then they have been joined by people of a further 150 nationalities.

"The richness of cultural diversity brought by these people now constitutes one of WA's most important assets. Harmony Day is one way to recognise the strength our community gains through cultural diversity."

The Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI) has encouraged public participation in Harmony Day as part of its Living in Harmony strategy. It has organised a wide range of special events across the state and has encouraged the wearing of orange lapel ribbons -symbolising support for multiculturalism.

Many individuals and organisations (local councils, businesses, community groups and service agencies) have enthusiastically entered into the spirit of Harmony Day. Their support for a harmonious and diverse community is demonstrated their special Harmony Day events and activities.

Among the range of Harmony Day activities were events such as:

In the Harmony Village in Forrest Place, the OMI-sponsored East Side Eagles, coached by Wildcats premiership coach and former star player Cal Bruton, conducted a basketball demonstration.

Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Board presented the winners of OMI's Virtual Postcard competition with their prizes.

NetResults Australia, OMI's web developers, set up a computer terminal to display OMI's website and the Virtual Postcard campaign.

Between June and September 1998 OMI ran a virtual postcard slogan and design competition for schools on the Internet. Competition aims were to promote racial tolerance, mutual respect and a positive view of cultural diversity. The competition attracted 700 entries from around the State).

Royal Perth Hospital decorated its Wellington Street overpass bridge with a Harmony Day banner.

WA Police Officers on patrol were among those wearing orange lapel ribbons. Alexander Library and SGIO front line counter staff also wore orange lapel ribbons.

Chicken Treat has couriered the Olympic Harmony Ribbon to its 75 branches for signing and staff wore wear orange lapel ribbons.

(The Olympic Harmony Ribbon is a symbol for OMI's Living in Harmony strategy. The ribbon has recently reached its first kilometre of signatures milestone. Ribbon signatures range from that of the Very Reverend Desmond Tutu, dignitaries, sporting stars and Federal politicians, through to members of the WA community. The intention is to present kilometres of signed ribbon to the Sydney 2000 Olympics as a demonstration of Western Australia's commitment to living in harmony in a multicultural community.)

Contacts:

Jody Robb (Minister's Office): 9222 9211 or 0411 592 138

Barbara McDonald (OMI): 9426 690 or 0411 439 587