16 March 2006

Harmony Week promises a rainbow of colours

The University of Canberra will be a rainbow of colours at the launch of 'Harmony Week' next Tuesday March 21st. The theme, 'Many Flowers, One Garden' will see students and visitors decorating the concourse with hand made flowers to celebrate diversity on the campus.

Diana Abdul Rahman, Vice-President of Canberra Islamic Centre, will be guest speaker at the official launch on Tuesday in the University Refectory at 12:30pm.

All hands will be on board for the celebrations with University gardeners putting on a unique floral display on the concourse and children from Wiradjuri Pre-School and Kirinari Early Childcare Centre, decorating the stage for the launch with handmade flowers. F ollowing the launch guests will be presented with the flowers to plant in a temporary symbolic garden.

Highlights of the week include cultural performances on Wednesday from 12pm beginning with a Lion Dance, Market Day Harmony stalls, a display of games from around the world. The Harmony Day Award presentation to students and staff will be held on Friday at 10:30am in the library.

Harmony week will also showcase a short documentary by student Lee Moskwa titled "How Green is my Campus?" to promote environmental harmony. This documentary will be launched at 11:30am on Thursday the 23 rd March.

This year Harmony Day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Harmony Program Coordinator, Leonie-Ruth Acland, said the week of celebration shows a commitment to harmony, and is particularly relevant in the light of recent events at Cronulla, Bondi and Dubbo.  

"The desperate need for tolerance in our communities is now more than ever an irrefutable Australian reality. At a time when discord in daily life for a growing number of Australians is painfully and in many cases dangerously obvious, there is the challenge for us all to urgently work towards social harmony."

For program information, visit http://www.canberra.edu.au/harmony/

UC Communications

Gaye Morrison
T: 02 6201 5855
M: 0409 470 755

Kaddie Pass
T: 02 6201 2681

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Copyright © 2005 University of Canberra

Last Updated on August 1, 2005