Greater Shepparton Candidate Royden James gives a statement on the meaning of multiculturalism and the services required.
Greater Shepparton Council Elections
All candidates were asked to respond to these questions.
- What does multiculturalism mean to Shepparton?
- What specific services should Council provide to support these communities?
Responses in ballot paper order are given herewith without comment.
Royden James
What does multiculturalism mean to Shepparton?
Greater Shepparton is multiculturalism. For the last two centuries Shepparton has become home to cultures from all over the world and of course our First Nation Peoples have been in this place for many thousands of years. All these cultures have embraced Shepparton and over time Shepparton has embraced them. We enjoy each other’s food, we marvel at each other’s dress and we respect each others faith. We know that to be part of this world we need to be not only tolerant to the different but to understand that diversity gives us strength. It does not create division, it creates harmony.
What specific services should council provide to support these communities?
Regardless of the culture, Greater Shepparton City Council as a starting point needs to ensure that it engages in a truly meaningful way and in doing so acknowledge that diversity not only exists between cultures, but within cultures. It is not up to me to say what services Council should provide to communities. This should not be a top down approach, it needs to be driven from within the diverse cultures themselves.
Source: Candidate’s statements supplied to Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District.
