What does the Harmony Day mean to me?
For me, it is peace on earth. That is the beauty and charm of diversity. Long may it continue.
Harmony Day is 21 March each year. It celeberates the cohesive and inclusive nature of Australia and promotes cultural diversity. Starting in 1999, it is managed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
After growing up in conservative, 'big country town' Adelaide, I loved visiting my family on Kangaroo Island and mixing with the international guests staying at Ellson's Seaview Motel. They told interesting stories, looked different, sounded different and seemed so much more fascinating than the 'twin set and pearls' brigade that was more familiar to me.
I remember in high school how children with Italian parents could not go out with children of Greek parents. How Catholics were not allowed to marry Protestants. Worse still, that awful comment 'spot the Aussie' when there were many people of a non-Caucasian background in the one location. Or the insulting, he couldn't get an Aussie woman so he married an Asian.
So you can imagine how excited I was to come to Multicultural Melbourne in 1994. Despite not recognizing anyone for months (until I spotted a well known television actor), feeling as though everyone was staring at me and being struck by the overwhelming presence of black clothing, I felt more at home here than I ever did in Adelaide.
Six years later, I had a surprise birthday party and I looked around the room at all of my multicultural friends and I burst into tears – these people were my second family and I loved them just as much as my own family.
So I continue to support diversity in Australia in everything that I do. Moving to a new country and changing your life is the 'last frontier' left to us as human beings. So many things have been achieved and added to the record books, but choosing to live in a new country requires guts, courage and the ability to face constant challenges and rejection.
But what got me through my own transition was a woman who had also moved (albeit another Australian from Queensland via Canberra to Melbourne). She knew how hard it was to relocate and after 10 years of research, service and stories, I know that the most critical ingredient to success in a new location is friends. They make you feel as if you belong.
Our civilized, western, mostly secular and democratic culture understands the need for all people to belong and for everyone to get along. In Australia, we really are the lucky country and this constant mixing of cultures enables us all to see new perspectives, challenge our thinking and strive for a better life for our children. For me, it is peace on earth. That is the beauty and charm of diversity. Long may it continue.
But on our journey ahead, let us celebrate the successes but also seek new ways to capitalize on our strengths. The media still has an important role to play. Our society is shaped by thought and opinion leaders who get 'air time.' Labels are something that have been placed on people for way too long.
It is hard to believe that 100 years ago, people with disabilities were hidden from society. Now buses carry wheelchairs. People of different faiths have fought wars against each other – and yet Australia will host the World Parliament of Religions. The first migrants to Australia killed many Indigenous Australians and more recent migrants have instigated programs of respect and care for the original custodians of our land.
I believe that the increased diversity in Australia has helped remove labels from many people. The only label I want is that of my own name. I proudly declare that I am a Victorian, Australian, from South Australia and thanks to my education and technology, I am a citizen of the world.
All of us have the right to be who we are (within the laws of the country we live in). I don't want labels. I want friends. I want harmony and peace. I want respect and dignity. And lastly, I want everyone to feel that they really do belong.
What can you do for yourself and for your neighbour to ensure that 'everyone belongs'? Once you get the idea, DO something about it.
Sue Ellson BBus AIMM MAHRI, Founder and Director, Newcomers Network , Supporter of Diverse Australia Program
Sue Ellson first started supporting the Australian Government's Living in Harmony initiative back in 2003. With the change of government, it has been changed to the 'Diverse Australia Program.' With humble beginnings 10 years ago, these programs have had a focus on reducing racism – and Sue is pleased to see the new direction towards the key message of 'Everyone Belongs.'
Sue Ellson is the Founder and Director of Newcomers Network, a socially responsible enterprise providing information, events and advocacy for newcomers and networkers in Camberwell, Melbourne, Victoria. She has published three books and can be found via LinkedIn or at SueEllson.com.
Douglascomms
March 20, 2009 at 1:19 am
Three cheers for Harmony
I’m with you Sue – Harmony Day is the very essence of Australia.
Think about it, before Europeans cam to Australia there were about 300 nations and 600 language groups, in the country. The Europeans who did come were the most mongrelised race imaginable – counting amongst their ancestry Britons, Celts, Gauls, Scandanavians, a few odd Germanic tribes (Angles and Saxons etc) Normans, Romans and there are just the ones we can account for historically.
Now let’s not pretend our history has been particularly pacific. Pemulwuy lead a guerrilla struggle against the European settlement, and the once we crossed the mountains the Wiradjuri people put up a significant fight.
Then we get the waves of immigrants following the second world war again shaking up the ethinc mix. Whole Greek and Italian villages uprooted and came by boat, whole refugee camps crossed the ocean to plant vinyards, and bake bread and build industries on the other side of the planet.
And the most astounding thing about this country is that by and large we live together well.
Sure there are some ignorant racsists lurking around, we’ve got our Pauline Hanson’s too ignorant of her own history to realise how precious and rare our harmony is, and our John Howard’s too ignorant or dishonest of both history and maths to tally up a generation or realise that there are shameful and violent periods in our past.
But our cultural harmony is perhaps Australia’s greatest achievement and should be celebrated with more gusto and enthusiasm.
Sue Ellson
March 22, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Three cheers for harmony
Thanks Douglas…yes, absolutely, it is amazing to realise how harmonious our society is here in Australia and it is definitely something we need to celebrate.
However, there are still pockets of racism and discrimination. The older Australian who remains 'invisible' in shopping queues. The parent with an accent who is excluded from schoolyard conversations. The unfamiliar name appearing on a resume for a job. The single person who is made to feel odd because they are not in a relationship (thanks to all of those media messages).
Yes, let us celebrate, but let us ALL continue to work on ways where all people living in Australia have an opportunity to participate in life and enjoy it as much as you and I do!
Sue Ellson
Bob.Crawshaw
March 23, 2009 at 2:10 am
Spot On
Your comments are spot on Sue.
Every day should be harmony day in Australia and elsewhere. The 21 March allows us to hold a mirror up to the cultural diversity in our community.
Most of the time we like what we see reflected back. Sometimes we see things and say we can do better than that.
The important thing as Australians is that we continually strive to use the talents of everyone in our community and give people equal opportunity to contribute their talents.
Bob Crawshaw
Sue Ellson
March 23, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Spot on
Thanks Bob. Yes, it is nice to look in the mirror – but that only shows what is present, not the future, and we all need to take responsibility for that.
I think we need to start with acceptance of ourselves (which is not always an easy task after going through the everyday challenges of life) and when that acceptance is shared with the people we see every day, it can create harmony in many communities.
Sue
sally.rose
March 24, 2009 at 12:05 am
Getting to know the neighbours
Thanks Sue. After reading your blog on the weekend I popped down to my local community's Harmony Day celebrations. It was nothing fancy but just a great chance for strangers from the same neighbourhood to have a good excuse to say "Hi". I met a really lovely family who live in my street who I probably would never have met otherwise. Lots of locals were in attendance drawn by the free sausage sizzle, and it is amazing how something so simple can get people from different parts of the community talking. I think knowing one another as individuals helps spread the harmony.
Sue Ellson
March 24, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Getting to know the neighbours
Thanks for your post Sally. Yes, it is amazing what a free sausage (or any free food in a fun environment can achieve).
I had this very wise person once tell me that whenever he goes to a new location, he always asks the old ladies on public transport for information. They know everything and love to chat!
I remember going down the main street of Kingscote, Kangaroo Island with my grandmother Mavis Ellson. It seemed to me that it was such a slow trip because everyone would stop and say hello and have a little discussion.
Lucky for me, I had the dog called Skipper to amuse – he loved running into the vacant lot and checking out all the new smells.
So, my recommendation for someone to talk to – just chat to an older woman! To meet new people, take a dog for a walk.
As to meeting the neighbours, you cannot wait for them to introduce themselves to you.
Back in Adelaide, an older couple from the country moved in next door and they came in to say hello with the gift of a lovely china plate! Over the following years, Sid would come in for a cigarette and a chat on several occasions. When he was widowed, he was a regular at the local Chinese restaurant and would top it off with a night cap at our place.
A wife of a well known swimming celebrity moved into a suburb in Sydney and as she had a young baby, she went door knocking and introduced herself to all the neighbours and hey, presto, she had a reliable source of new babysitters – all close and handy!
Sure, some people will not want to mix (like my current neighbours, one of which has recently moved out – so I am eagerly awaiting the new arrival!). But if you know nothing else but their first name, at least you can say hello when you see them out and about.
Enjoy your week Sally!
Cheers, Sue Ellson