Celebrations foster harmony at USQ

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) will become a blaze of orange this Wednesday (22nd March), as students put down their pens to celebrate multiculturalism.

Harmony Day celebrations will kick off in the USQ Quadrangle at noon and continue through to 2pm.

USQ Harmony Day Coordinator and Manager of USQ's Multicultural Centre, William Conwell, said the Campus will come alive with international food stalls, live music, a fashion show and ethnic dancers.

"Harmony Day is an initiative of the Commonwealth Government to encourage people to say no to racism, reaffirm our shared values as a community and celebrate Australia's advancements as a multicultural society," Mr Conwell said.

"Multiculturalism is relevant to all Australians and, as well as community harmony, there are definite economic benefits in being a diverse society,

"The theme for this year's Harmony Day is 'YOU ME AUSTRALIAN' and we are encouraging as many people as possible to wear something orange or wear an orange ribbon to show some support for the day."

Mr Conwell said USQ is recognised as one of Australia's most multicultural universities and has received a number of awards for fostering an inclusive, non-racist and diverse student and staff community.

In 1999, USQ won the National Marketing Award from the Ethnic Affairs Commission of New South Wales for its success in attracting foreign students and in 2000 scooped the Queensland Premier's Multicultural Service Award.

"We also extend an invitation to the wider Toowoomba community to come out and join us for some food, music and fun as we celebrate the richness of our cultural diversity on campus," Mr Conwell said.

Harmony Day celebrations will also include the official opening of the USQ Multicultural Centre this year. Director of the Centre, Dr Krzysztof Batorowicz, says the centre will play a significant role in promoting and developing multiculturalism at USQ, in local communities and overseas.

A number of government officials, parliamentarians and community leaders are expected at Harmony Day and the official opening of the Multicultural Centre at USQ.