2019 is the 20th anniversary of the annual Harmony Day, held on 21 March. This will be the first year that St Peter’s College officially recognizes Harmony Day, and starting off small, we are dedicating our Senior School Muster on 20 March to coincide with the renamed Harmony Week.
Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, and united by a set of core Australian values. It also coexists with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and Harmony Week aims to celebrate this and work to maintain it. Australians are increasingly from many different places, and statistics support this with nearly half of Australians born overseas or having a parent who was. People from over 200 countries make up our Australian community and over 300 languages are spoken in our homes. Australia is a vibrant and multicultural country – from the oldest continuous culture of our first Australians to the cultures of the newest arrivals from around the world (Harmony Day, 2019). St Peter’s College seeks to recognise the diversity within our community because we are an example of the uniqueness within the overall Australian society.
While 2019 celebrations are starting off small, it is hoped in future years that this event will become a mainstay on the calendar and give students the chance to share more about themselves and their culture with their fellow students, teachers and members of the St Peter’s College community.
If parents and community members would like to share their stories and their culture this year or in future years, please contact the Coordinator of International Programs, Miss Sally Ziniak sziniak@stpeters.sa.edu.au.
