CENTACARE FNQ’s annual Harmony Day celebration was its biggest yet, with around 300 people dressed in their colourful best for this week’s gathering.
Harmony events began with a traditional Welcome to Country for the city’s newest arrivals.
In the first half of this year, Centacare FNQ will welcome 120 humanitarian migrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, most of whom have waited between 10 and 15 years for resettlement.
According to Centacare FNQ’s Multicultural Services Manager, Andrea Obeyesekere, this year’s Harmony Week theme, ‘Everyone Belongs’, is a beautiful call to action for Cairns as a diverse community to share humanity and foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity.
“Harmony Day 2024 is one of our most memorable,” Ms Obeyesekere said.
Centacare FNQ’s long-term Harmony Day partners represented at this week’s event included Manoora Neighbourhood Centre and The Salvation Army along with Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT), Cairns West State School, Cairns Safer Streets, Cairns Arakanese Association, Cairns Bhutanese Association, Cairns African Association, and Cairns Congolese Association.
Since 1999, more than 80,000 Harmony events have been hosted across Australia in childcare centres, schools, community groups, churches, businesses, and federal, state, and local government agencies.
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: JCU Professor receives UNESCO recognition and Confronting “trust gap” crucial for Closing the Gap.
