The Palmerston community celebrated its diversity through music, dance and food at this year’s Harmony Day event on 22 March at the Palmerston Recreation Centre.
Grow Well Live Well partnered with community members, the City of Palmerston, STEPS, and Larrakia Nation’s Palmerston Culture and Family Centre to host a series of multicultural workshops to celebrate the 2021 theme ‘everyone belongs’.
The workshop participants were welcomed to country by Larrakia Elder, Aunty June Mills who joined City of Palmerston Mayor, Athina Pascoe-Bell, to cut the Harmony Day cake.
“I am really proud and happy that I have people from all over the world calling me Aunty and Nana.
It fills my heart up with joy,” said Aunty June Mills.
The workshops included a Larrakia cultural awareness presentation by Jeanneen McLennan, a Sri Lankan cooking demonstration by Karunika Pemarathne and belly dancing by Darwin Belly Dancers.
Lesley O’Brien and Larrakia Nation’s Palmerston Culture and Family Centre served damper at the morning tea, educating participants on the long history of the staple food within the Indigenous community.
The event also featured a digeridoo performance by Les Huddleston and traditional Russian dancing.