The Goulburn Valley Congolese Association, with the support of Ethnic Council of Shepparton, the Voice for Silent People and African House, will present their Congolese Independence Day Celebration at St Paul’s African House, Shepparton, on Saturday 3th July 2021 from 5.00 to 8.00pm.
“Never pick wet apples! They’ll rot faster!” Nothing could speak better to the journey that lies ahead with Under the Trees, a compelling new multimedia theatre work being developed in Shepparton by local Pasifika arts collective Know Your Roots Inc and Melbourne-based Pasifika creatives from Pacific Island Creative Arts Australia.
Set in present-day Shepparton, this seminal new work will delve deeply into the history of migrant Pasifika farm workers and will bring to life their stories along with those of their children who have grown up far from their Island homelands.
“With its rich history and vibrant dwellers, we can’t wait to see what will unfold from the Shepparton stories once they’re ready for picking. I can’t wait for the next stage of this project” says Asalemo Tofete who recently spent the weekend in Shepparton along with his colleagues from Pacific Island Creative Arts Australia meeting and hearing from local community.
Celebration was in the air as the Goulburn Valley Pakistani Association celebrated Eid Al-Fitr at the Shepparton East Bowls Club. The end of Ramadan came with traditional dress, music, food and giving. Children enjoyed dressing up in bright colours, with craft activities available to decorate masks with jewels.
This family friendly festival is an exhilarating annual event showcasing the rich traditions of different African cultures in regional Victoria and celebrating their amazing talents, music, drumming, dancing and cuisine.
Shepparton Council is organising a weekly catch up for CALD women – that is, women who have migrated, women who have settled here in Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley. Every Thursday at Shepparton Library from 10:00 am. This event is specially prepared for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Women.
Vesak is when Buddhists in Shepparton and across Australia come together and recollect the Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing. Vesak is an international celebration and listed among UN Observances. Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest philosophies of non-violence and has practiced peaceful relations for over 2600 years. In this day and age, Buddhism continues fostering of world peace. There will be a celebration of Vesak in Queens Gardens, Shepparton, on Saturday, 29 May 2021.
Shepparton’s Sri Lankan community celebrated the Sinhalese New Year this month with traditional rituals, a spread of food and games. The traditional Sri Lankan New Year falls in the month of April every year, and is the main cultural event celebrated by Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus.
When Mezhgan Alizadah and her friends began organising casual games of soccer at Shepparton’s Ducat Reserve last November, they had to use makeshift goals from plastic water bottles.
Four months later, the now 30 person-strong group of multicultural youth and newly arrived refugees have been gifted not one soccer goal, but two, and a range of merchandise from Melbourne City Football Club.
Ethnic Council of Shepparton strategic engagement coordinator Sam Atukorala organised the sponsorship when he saw an article in the Shepparton News, calling for help to secure goals.
The Coronavirus Vaccine will be given out in Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley very soon. A Friendship Cafe (Q and A session) will be held at Lutfiye’s Cafe, Shepparton, on monring of 10 March at 11AM. The Cafe will be led by Susan Johnson, the Covid Consortium coordinator for the Goulburn Valley Hub.
SOME of Shepparton’s newest young residents met with international cricket royalty last week when former Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan led a clinic for migrant children at Princess Park.