A multicultural university in a multicultural country deserves a multicultural festival and the University of Southern Queensland’s Harmony Day is just the ticket.
The national event is a celebration of different cultures and the way they interact and attendees are encouraged to immerse themselves in the day and interact with students from many different backgrounds.
The day, held across all three campuses, included food stalls representing places such as Nepal, China, Korea, Africa, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, information stalls, international fashion parade, traditional dance, kendo and ju-jitsu demos, the return of the Tug of Peace and more.
Multicultural Centre manager and event organiser at USQ Toowoomba, William Conwell, said Harmony Day was one of the highlights of USQ’s calendar year.
“Logistically it’s a huge effort to organise but when it comes to the day itself it’s an absolute joy,” Mr Conwell said.
“People really get involved with the event and help contribute to an atmosphere of sharing and interaction.
“For over 10 years I’ve seen a lot of different cultures getting together and talking, sharing stories from all sorts of different backgrounds.
“USQ is very much a multicultural campus so it’s great to have a day that celebrates that and encourages everyone to come together.”
Harmony Day already proved to be a resounding success at USQ Springfield last week (March 13).
The event was held on Wednesday (March 20) at USQ Toowoomba where Vivian Chitotombe was part of a more than 500-people strong crowd that danced, sang and ate their way around the world in the grassy Quadrangle.
The Bachelor of Nursing student was fascinated by her first Harmony Day at USQ after moving to Australia from her native Zimbabwe in 2006.
“It’s the music, seeing other nationalities, dressing up — it’s really good to be able to show other people your culture,” Vivian said.
Harmony Day at USQ Fraser Coast will be held on March 21 between 11.30am and 1pm.
The wider community is encouraged to attend.
Tell a friend!
