Diversity on show at morning tea – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

A free morning tea to celebrate Shepparton’s diverse community will be held at SPC Ardmona KidsTown next week.

City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Jenny Houlihan said the day would coincide with Cultural Diversity Week and Harmony Day, held annually to celebrate the inclusive nature of the nation and to promote the benefits of cultural diversity.

‘They encourage community participation, inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone,’, said Cr Houlihan.

‘As well as the morning tea, there will be face painting and KidsTown clowns to entertain the children, as well as henna painting and other cultural activities. Harmony Day celebrates our diversity and as Shepparton is built on years of migration and our Aboriginal history I don’t think there is a better place to celebrate our diverse community than here in Shepparton.’

Cr Houlihan also encouraged businesses and other groups who had not organised a function to arrange their own event to celebrate diversity.

Council is hosting the free morning tea in conjunction with Ethnic Council, Word and Mouth, Rumbalara, Yorta Yorta, Shepparton English Language Centre, Relationships Australia, Goulburn Valley Regional Library, GO TAFE, Uniting Care Cutting Edge, Shepparton Interfaith Network, Primary Care Connect, Family Care and Centrelink.

Cultural Diversity Week is held from March 16 to 24, 2013.

Harmony Day is celebrated on March 21, 2013.

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.