A day of music, dance and food celebrated the rich cultural diversity of Bass Coast. Photo: Geoff Ellis
By Laura Brearley
DURING Harmony Week, the community came together in Wonthaggi to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Bass Coast. The event was hosted by the Migrant English Program at Bass Coast Adult Learning. The countries of origin of the students include Syria, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan. With their resilience, courage and understanding of the importance of culture and community, the students contribute strongly to the Bass Coast region in many ways.
DURING Harmony Week, the community came together in Wonthaggi to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Bass Coast. The event was hosted by the Migrant English Program at Bass Coast Adult Learning. The countries of origin of the students include Syria, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan. With their resilience, courage and understanding of the importance of culture and community, the students contribute strongly to the Bass Coast region in many ways.
| Harmony Day demonstrated the importance of people feeling respected and connected. The celebration featured music, dance, street parades and the sharing of stories and food. Special guests included community leaders, artists and musicians, and First Nations Elders. The event began with a Deep Listening Circle at the Goods Shed Art Space, which was filled to overflowing with community members. |  Welcome: Harmony Day 2026. Film by Bass Coast Adult Learning and TLC Productions |
Traditional Custodian Aunty Melissa McDevitt-Weston gave a heartfelt Welcome to Country, offering gum leaves to everyone as a sign of welcome and safe passage on her Bunurong/Boon Wurrung Country. Aunty Melissa spoke with warmth and generosity. Her words set the tone of welcome and belonging for the day.
“I’d like to welcome everyone from every race from everywhere … It’s really important that everybody knows they are loved and needed in this community.” |
In the Deep Listening Circle, there was a recognition of the global spread of ancestors represented by the people in the room. Uncle Ron Murray played didgeridoo and acknowledged the presence of the Ancestors. Matua (Uncle) Arnold Tihema responded with a Maori song of greeting from Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Accompanied by a musical improvisation from Uncle Ron and musicians Mal Webb and Kylie Morrigan, Aboriginal artist Lisa Kennedy shared some of her lyrical text from the recently published book ‘Mosaic Leadership’:
“Our stories are not lost. Nothing is lost.
There is still hope. There is always hope.
Never think it’s too late.
Life is supporting the process.
It is present and we can learn.
It is all there within us,
in relationship and in connection with others
and Mother Earth.”
The Archies Creek District Choir (ACDC), led by Tracey Miller, sang strongly about unity and hope, inviting everyone to join in with the harmonies. The EAL students demonstrated the traditional Middle Eastern Dabke dance, also welcoming participation.
After the Deep Listening Circle, Lyndal and Strat of the Invy Horn Jam led a colourful parade to the Wonthaggi Community Harvest Garden for the multicultural lunch. Community artist Camille Monet and students from her BCAL art class had created a treasure trove of playful costumes for participants to wear. The Diversity Parade was a vibrant orange sea of creativity and fun.
Accompanied by a musical improvisation from Uncle Ron and musicians Mal Webb and Kylie Morrigan, Aboriginal artist Lisa Kennedy shared some of her lyrical text from the recently published book ‘Mosaic Leadership’:
“Our stories are not lost. Nothing is lost.
There is still hope. There is always hope.
Never think it’s too late.
Life is supporting the process.
It is present and we can learn.
It is all there within us,
in relationship and in connection with others
and Mother Earth.”
The Archies Creek District Choir (ACDC), led by Tracey Miller, sang strongly about unity and hope, inviting everyone to join in with the harmonies. The EAL students demonstrated the traditional Middle Eastern Dabke dance, also welcoming participation.
After the Deep Listening Circle, Lyndal and Strat of the Invy Horn Jam led a colourful parade to the Wonthaggi Community Harvest Garden for the multicultural lunch. Community artist Camille Monet and students from her BCAL art class had created a treasure trove of playful costumes for participants to wear. The Diversity Parade was a vibrant orange sea of creativity and fun.
Photo: Catherine Watson
Bass Coast Mayor Rochelle Halstead warmly welcomed the community to the Harmony Week celebration, referring to the culture of inclusion we want to nurture and grow in our community. The multicultural lunch was co-ordinated by local cooking legend Emma Bowditch, supported by community members who contributed dishes from their countries of origin to the feast. Members of the Harvest Garden, led by Jessica Harrison, generously shared the produce of the garden, giving out posies of rosemary, bay leaves and flowers to participants. The quality of care and the spirit of generosity were everywhere.
 Photo: Laura Brearley |
After lunch, the Diversity Parade continued its way through Apex Park to the Wonthaggi Community Centre at Mitchell House where Ben Cavender, the new co-ordinator, welcomed the community. The afternoon of music and dance was led by Mandy Farr and the WonAleles, Tony Mans and the Wonthaggi Drumming Circle, Lisa Ovejero and the BCAL Music Group, Donald Ellsmore from Canti Popolari, and Mandy Evans and the Wonthaggi Circle Dancers. Musicians Ian ‘Macca’ McMullan and Takwai Mak also provided musical leadership on guitar, ukulele, mandolin and recorder.
At the end of the day, our sense of connection was deepened when the Wonthaggi Circle Dancers invited everyone to participate in a Greek Prayer Dance. In the words of the students from the Migrant English class:
“The Wonthaggi Circle Dancers showed us some beautiful group dances. These finished with us all being silent for one minute, thinking about all the people who are having a hard time all over the world, and we sent them our love.”
At the end of the day, our sense of connection was deepened when the Wonthaggi Circle Dancers invited everyone to participate in a Greek Prayer Dance. In the words of the students from the Migrant English class:
“The Wonthaggi Circle Dancers showed us some beautiful group dances. These finished with us all being silent for one minute, thinking about all the people who are having a hard time all over the world, and we sent them our love.”
Harmony Day had a special meaning this year, given the intensity of the public discourse about race and immigration, and the context of division, conflict and fear being experienced everywhere. When Tracey Miller and her choir taught us Heidi Wilson’s simple and powerful song ‘Hold On’, the sound of everyone singing in harmony moved people to tears.
‘Hold On’ is currently being sung across America and around the world, in recognition of the importance of people gaining strength from being together in troubled times. We sang ‘Hold On’ in solidarity with people suffering in our community, and also around the world.
‘Hold On’ is currently being sung across America and around the world, in recognition of the importance of people gaining strength from being together in troubled times. We sang ‘Hold On’ in solidarity with people suffering in our community, and also around the world.
"In this moment, collective singing offers us a chance to stand up against rising authoritarianism and violence in a way that is also simultaneously creating the world that we want to inhabit – one rooted in love.” |
Group singing, dancing and music-making are alive and well in our community, and we experienced the power of that on Harmony Day. In Bass Coast, there are community choirs, ukulele groups, drumming circles, circle dancing, open mics and the dynamic street band Invy Horn Jam.
Phtostory by Laura Brearley
When asked how people felt after sharing Harmony Day together, they offered the following words: ‘Joyful, Lighthearted, Ecstasy, Energised, Grateful, Uplifted, United, Floating, Harmony, Community, Connected, Safe, Flowing, Love, Blessed, Accepted.’
That’s the evidence of a diverse community being nourished and strengthened by the experience of welcoming and feeling welcomed.
That’s the evidence of a diverse community being nourished and strengthened by the experience of welcoming and feeling welcomed.
Khaled Al Hajj and Sabri Darwesh, both from Syria, now call Bass Coast home. Photo: Geoff Ellis
The 2026 Harmony Week Celebration in Wonthaggi was funded by Multicultural Affairs and led by Bass Coast Adult Learning, in collaboration with Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre at Mitchell House, Wonthaggi Community Harvest Garden Inc, Bass Coast Artists Society, Wonthaggi Acoustic Music and Bass Coast Shire Council.
We honour the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation who have cared for this Country for thousands of years. We recognise First Peoples’ continuing connection to lands, waters, and community.
We honour the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation who have cared for this Country for thousands of years. We recognise First Peoples’ continuing connection to lands, waters, and community.