CONNECT QUEENSLAND Multicultural Month has kicked off in full swing!

Multicultural Month has started in full swing in Brisbane. Various organisations have organised talks, workshops and art events for the community to engage in a meaningful cultural exchange.

The Multicultural festival opening organised by the Multicultural Australia was held on 3rd of August. This year the festival was organised at Southbank Parklands combining its two flagship events the MOSAIC festival and Lantern Parade. It also went on from morining till 8pm in the night concluding with its flagship Lantern Parade. LUMINOUS lantern parade began as a candlelight march in support of refugees and asylum seekers in 2008. Now in its 17th year, Christine Castley CEO of Multicultural Australia emphasized the need for united Multicultural Community. She said; “In a time of global conflict and many social challenges, we need to be intentional about how we come together as a community to celebrate the joy of true welcome, connection and belonging.”.

The Luminous Lantern Parade is the highlight of this event. Various organisations from Brisbane participate in the Parade to show their solidarity and welcome to the migrant community that thrives in Brisbane. Editor of MCCQ Mrs. Amrita Deshpande said “ We are extremely privileged to be a part of this migrant community that shapes the economy of Brisbane. This festival is in a way a recognition of those migrants who contribute in such a big way to help everyone settle in the new country they have adopted living in peace and harmony.”

This year Her Excellency Hon.. Governor General Ms Janette Young joined the parade along with the Multicultural Affairs Minister Ms. Charis Mullen, the Opposition Minister Mr. David Chrisafuli, UNHCR Regional Representative for Australia, NZ, and Pacific Mr. Adrian Edwards, Multicultural Australia CEO Ms Christine Castley and Director of Multicultural Australia Ms. Melissa Naidoo.

Apart from the Lantern Parade, there were cooking demonstrations at the Suncorp stage, an SBS Cultural Kitchen, music and dance workshops at the Connecting through Arts stage, food, arts and craft stalls from the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs Cultural Marketplace, sport activations at the Queensland Government Department of Tourism and continued on pg. 2