New South Wales Celebrates Harmony Day 2012
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Joint media release with Chris Bowen MP – Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and Senator the Hon Kate Lundy – Minister for Sport, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation.
New South Wales will tomorrow show its support for our nation's cultural diversity and successful multicultural society, coming together to celebrate Harmony Day 2012 at hundreds of events throughout the state.
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, said Harmony Day is a day for all Australians to come together and reflect on what makes Australia great.
In New South Wales, more than 1630 Harmony Day events have been registered for 2012, including a special A-League game between Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets at Sydney Football Stadium on March 25, while the NSW Rugby League will sponsor a Tag Game Day and festival for new migrants featuring league legend, Hazem El Masri, at Dunc Gray Velodrome at Bass Hill in Sydney's west on March 23.
There will be multicultural street parties from Liverpool in Sydney's west to Lightning Ridge in the state's far west; the citizens of Oberon will enjoy a Harmony Day event to launch their new community centre (March 21), and in Cessnock in the Hunter Valley, the district hospital is inviting special Indigenous guests to a barbeque.
Schools and universities are also getting behind Harmony Day in New South Wales this year with events and planned at Southern Cross campuses at Lismore and Coffs Harbour, the University of Newcastle, Charles Sturt campuses in Wagga Wagga and Orange, as well as TAFEs at Tighes Hill, Armidale, Gosford, Wentworth Falls, Queanbeyan, Cessnock and Ballina.
'Harmony Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the different cultures that make Australia a great place to live,' Mr Bowen said.
'It's a time to reflect on where Australia has come from and our shared rights and responsibilities. Australia's successful multicultural society is built on shared values, community participation and respect.
'The Government's commitment to multiculturalism has been strengthened by elevating the portfolio to the ministry and I look forward to continuing this important work with Minister Lundy.'
The Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, said this year Harmony Day was a celebration of the important role that sport plays in bringing together Australians from all walks of life.
'The 2012 Harmony Day theme of Sport-play, engage, inspire recognises the important role and positive influence that sport has in our multicultural nation,' Senator Lundy said.
'Sport brings people together to share in a mutual passion or strive for a common goal.
'Involvement in sport whether as a participant, volunteer, spectator or administrator unites people of all ages and fosters a sense of belonging, acceptance and an understanding of other cultures.
'I am pleased that this Harmony Day we're focusing on the power of sport to build bridges of understanding and respect — sport is a tremendous platform for inclusion.'
For more information on Harmony Day and the events being staged in your state or territory.
See: Harmony Day
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/cb/2012/cb184423.htm
Last update: Wednesday, 21 March 2012 at 09:32 AEST