Cultural diversity in the Redlands will be celebrated on Wednesday 9 March when 75 residents from around the globe take part in the city’s citizenship ceremony at the Redland Performing Arts Centre.
Redland City Council’s General Manger of Organisational Services, Nick Clarke, said the city’s newest Australian citizens hailed from 26 countries, demonstrating the cultural diversity of the city.
“Much of the Redlands was pioneered by migrant families a century ago, with the names of those families now part of the fabric of the city,” he said.
“Our idyllic location and strong sense of community continues to attract those seeking a new life, with the Redlands welcoming 769 new citizens from 57 countries in 2015 alone, enriching the multicultural character of our city.”
Mr Clarke said this month’s ceremony precedes National Harmony Day on 21 March, a day that celebrates our nation’s cultural diversity.
“With its core message ‘everyone belongs’, the theme of Harmony Day this year is ‘our diversity is our strength’, a philosophy that we embrace in the Redlands,” he said.
Nations represented at this week’s ceremony include: Afghanistan, Argentina, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Fiji, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Zimbabwe.
Guest speaker at this month’s ceremony will be Raby Bay resident Mr Stathis E Efstathis OAM, who recently received a Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his extensive service to the Greek community of Queensland over many years.
Redland City Council Citizenship Ceremony event details:
- Wednesday 9 March 2016
- Doors open at 5.30pm for a 6pm start
- Concert Hall, Redland Performing Arts Centre, Middle Street, Cleveland
If media would like to attend, please contact Redland City Council’s Communication, Engagement and Tourism Group on 3829 8288.
