Community, diversity, respect and belonging was the focus of Harmony Day at Taree Library.
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The celebrations were well attended with about 100 people coming together, including students from the TAFE’s English class.
“Harmony Day for me is about community,” said migrant settlement worker Jane O’Dwyer. “We have the Biripi people, people who were born here, people from across Australia, people born overseas – we have people from more than 100 different countries living here.”
This year’s Harmony Day theme was Everyone Belongs. The welcome to country was given by Biripi elder Aunty Wilma Morcome and was followed with a performance by community choir Wingsong, which presented songs from six different languages.
People took the opportunity to put stickers on the world map, Australian map showing the First Nations and the MidCoast Council regional map, to show where they were from.
Guests also enjoyed a multicultural morning tea.
The screening of the film Charlie's Country was booked out and was followed by a screening of Constance on the Edge.
“Everyone together makes our community,” said Jane. “People often focus on the differences but when you look and you get to know people, you’re actually more similar than different.”
The library partnered with Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services and the Migrant Settlement Project to organise the event.
During March preschool aged children can enjoy stories from around the world, craft and more at MidCoast Libraries.
