News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Students support diversity
The Moorabool News – 5 April, 2022 Page 13
By Lachlan Ellis Students in Gordon have chipped in to support a cause empowering migrant (L-R) Jaxon dressed up as Alexander the women, complementing Harmony Week Great, representing his Macedonian/Greek celebrations. culture and Charlee wanted to surprise her A range of ideas on how to celebrate Granny with an Irish theme. Photo Ally Munari Gordon PS students supported Harmony Day. Photo – Gordon PS Harmony Week was brainstormed by students at Gordon Primary School, with a dress up day on Friday 25 March emerging as the clear winner. Proceeds from the day will be donated to Ballarat’s A Pot of Courage Café, which began in 2018 as a forum for migrant women to share stories and experiences, with the difficulty of gaining employment arising as a major issue. Today, A Pot of Courage is a not-for-profit social enterprise that runs workshops, such as cooking classes and team building exercises, alongside regular café and catering operations. Grade 6 teacher at Gordon Primary, Hollie Searl, explained how the dress up day ran, and how important the cause is. “As Harmony Week is all about celebrating diversity and multiculturalism, we decided to ask the students to dress up in cultural clothing. We looked at the ‘did you know facts’ from the Harmony Week site, and used this as a platform to encourage students to find out their background, and celebrate different cultures within and outside of our community. We had students dress up from all over the world; Russia, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Ukraine, Mexico, USA, Indonesia, and the list goes on,” Ms Searl told the Moorabool News. “To be honest, A Pot of Courage is a cause close to me, so I may have instigated that one. I have worked with Shiree Pilkington (the co-founder) in the past, and really love the way it came about – literally from a group of women celebrating their food and understanding that migrating to Australia, without the language, poses such a problem for many to live here safely and comfortably.”
AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC PLAN Employment’s up, so we’re taking the next step. There are now 260,000 more people in work than before COVID. And Australia performed better than major advanced economies through the pandemic. That’s why we’re taking the next step.
To find out more, visit economicplan.gov.au
13.3 million
Gordon Primary’s Junior School Council Leaders, Caitlin and James, said the day was a fun way to celebrate the many cultures present in Australia. “We got to see how everyone interpreted Harmony Day, one kid dressed up in a complete princess dress, representing England. I don’t think anyone in the whole school dressed the same as anyone else. I feel like we have helped a lot of people and making others feel good for something that was fun for us,” Caitlin said. “The day was terrific, it was great to see everyone in what they wore. We are all different and we all know different things. It’s really good to help people, people who have come from all over the world (the women at A Pot of Courage),” James added. Prizes were awarded for the best dressed students, and a drawing competition was also held.
+260 , 000 More people in work 13 million
than before COVID
March 2020 - January 2022 Data: ABS Labour Force, Australia
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.