Festival of Refugees - Melbourne
2/09/2010 11:51:28 AM
Melbourne's Largest Festival of Refugee's This Sunday -
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This Sunday September 5th, Box Hill Town Hall will be transformed into a vivid festival where over 600 refugees from around the world celebrate their traditions, contributions and place in Australian society.
Bringing together Burmese, Sudanese, Congolese, Vietnamese, Uyghur, West Papuan and Sri Lankan refugees, the festival is the largest annual celebration of its kind in Victoria.
Theo Mackaay, General Secretary of the Victorian Council of Churches said, “There is a time for making our point to leaders of government and to the community about compassion and meeting our international obligations to refugees, but we also reserve the right to celebrate with people who are finding new life and freedom in Australia.
“We hope that no-one ever thinks that holding this festival means that the job of caring for refugees around the world is finished. We are always mindful that those who arrived here as refugees often have family members still awaiting resettlement or – as is too often the case – unable to be located”, said Mr Mackaay.
The festival will feature cultural performances from Melbourne’s diverse refugee population, a musical performance from Aria award winning singer Kavisha Mazzella and speeches from well-known author Hanifa Deen and Aboriginal Elder Reg Blow.
The Festival Coordinator, Dr Visier Sanyü said, “This is a joyous occasion and obviously has a warm place in the hearts of many people, because the Box Hill Town Hall is full every year.
“The Festival especially helps highlight the personal and wider political issues facing refugees and asylum seekers and how the community can offer support and build friendships”, said Dr Sanyü.
This year’s Festival of Refugees is a joint initiative between Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia and the Victorian Council of Churches.
Dr Visier Sanyü, Act for Peace Refugee Coordinator is available for interview
For more information or to arrange interviews: Edwyn Shiell 0458 303 515, eshiell@ncca.org.au
WHAT: Festival of Refugees
WHEN: 3:00‐5:30pm, Sunday 5 September 2010
WHERE: Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, Victoria
