Tasmania Celebrates Harmony Day 2010

Tasmania Celebrates Harmony Day 2010

Media release

19 March 2010

Thousands of people around Tasmania will join together this weekend to showcase their cultural diversity in Harmony Day celebrations.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said Harmony Day on March 21 is an opportunity for people across the nation to promote the benefits of a multicultural society.

"Harmony Day is an event at the heart of Australian communities, which have increasingly taken ownership of this special occasion throughout its 11-year history," Senator Evans said.

In Tasmania, more than 200 Harmony Day events have been registered at such far-flung locations as Glenorchy, Devonport, Launceston, Newnham and Hobart. Celebrations around Tasmania include:

* Today (March 19), Newnham: Brooks High School students speak their mind on how best to address racial intolerance in class then join soccer, cultural dance, hair braiding and henna tattooing

* March 21, Hobart: Campbell Street School kicks off a festive conga line for students, releases orange Harmony Day helium balloons and encourages children to dress up and join in games

* March 21, Launceston: City Council presents movies, multicultural performances in City Park from 1-3pm as well as face painting, henna painting and fine examples of Chinese brushwork

* March 22, Devonport: Tasmanian Polytechnic has The Amazing (Human) Race. Like the TV show, participants complete simple and fun educational challenges while going from 'country to country' on the Valley Road Polytechnic campus. Festivities include prizes and sausage sizzles

* March 24, Glenorchy: The City Council hosts a barbecue and community celebrations at the newly-built 'Glenorchy's Garden of Many Cultures' in Tolosa Street Park, 11.30am to 1.30pm.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, Laurie Ferguson, said Harmony Day was part of the Diverse Australia Program, which helps local communities to address cultural, racial and religious intolerance and works with different levels of government and community organisations to empower grassroots action.

"The theme for Harmony Day 2010 is express yourself, a message encouraging people to demonstrate their culture through food, action, fashion and performance," Mr Ferguson said.

Harmony Day 2010 is supported by iconic Australian organisations such as the Australian Football League, Girl Guides Australia, Scouts Australia and Woolworths. Valuable corporate support is provided by Unisys, Universal McCann, Adcorp, Leba Ethnic Media and Spots and Space.

For more information on events, visit www.harmony.gov.au. Broadcast-quality audio is also available online at: www.newsroom.immi.gov.au.

MEDIA CONTACT: Simon Dowding (02) 6277 7860 or 0411 138 541 (Senator Evans)
Carla Wilshire (02) 6277 4920 or 0432 755 935 (Mr Ferguson)


SOURCE: Senator Chris Evans and Laurie Ferguson MP