Thursday, 9 February 2023

Eureka electorate multicultural communities

Michaela SETTLE (Eureka) (09:59): I am proud to live in a vibrant multicultural community. Over the last two weeks I was honoured to attend many commemorative services, events and ceremonies that acknowledge the many cultures that contribute to the district of Eureka. I was proud to stand as an ally to the Wadawurrung people at the Survivors Day commemoration on the shores of Lake Wendouree, and I am proud that Victoria is the first jurisdiction to action treaty and truth.

Later that week the Ballarat Chinese association hosted the inaugural Chinese New Year festival in Ballarat, with spectacular music and dance. I was delighted to join the Ballarat Indian Association to acknowledge India’s Republic Day, and I watched the pot boil at the Thai Pongal event in Garibaldi. This is an important Hindi festival. Thanks go to the multicultural harvest festival. The food was delicious and plentiful at the Croatian association annual barbecue, and it was really great to see the wonderful new community clubroom full to the brim – so many people, so many Croatians, visiting from Melbourne and across the state to see the wonderful new clubrooms that were funded by the Andrews Labor government.

It was a great pleasure to welcome a record number of new citizens in the Moorabool, Golden Plains and Ballarat council citizenship ceremonies. Our diversity is our strength.