Soccer match to strengthen ties – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

Shepparton’s boys and girls in blue will join forces with the city’s multicultural community tonight for a friendly soccer match.

Two mixed teams will take to the pitch to battle it out in the name of cross-cultural communication.

Shepparton police Constable Matt Walker said the game aimed to strengthen ties between people of diverse backgrounds.

‘It’s about bridging the gap between police and our CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) communities,’ Const Walker said. ‘Many of our new arrivals come from places where police beat them and arrest them for no reason.

‘We want people to know that’s not how it works here.’

Const Walker said the event, organised by Shepparton police, Shepparton and District Ethnic Council and Greater Shepparton City Council, would welcome soccer enthusiasts from all walks of life and would include a halal barbecue.

He said finding common ground was key to developing relationships in the community.

‘Both teams will be made up of police and members from Shepparton’s CALD community and we will need male and female players,’ he said. ‘I’ve been involved with cricket matches with the Indigenous community and they start to see you differently after playing with you.’

The match will start at 5 pm tonight at McEwen Reserve, Brauman St, Shepparton. For more information, or to register, phone Shepparton police on 5820 5777.

Multicultural soccer match to be played with the Shepparton Police on Monday Shepparton Ethnic Council worker Khaluf Salim with Shepparton Police Station Members Matt Walker, Amy McColl and Dave Simmons

Article and image courtesy Shepparton News

	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.