The Gunnedah Town Hall celebrated the Multicultural Festival of Gunnedah on Saturday morning with 17 different cultures exhibited.
The main day had been planned in March for the Harmony Day celebrations but wet weather had cancelled the event.
The day was coordinated by a mix of organisations and volunteers including the Multicultural Women’s Association, Multicultural Tamworth, Multicultural Gunnedah and more.
The morning had gathered people from around the world for performances and workshops for the attendees.
Chinese lantern making, Indonesian Angklung musical instrument performance and Maori Poi dancing were just a few experiences offered during the morning.
Mitchum Neave opened the day with the welcome to country.
Entertainment included dancing, musical performances and workshops which showcased Gunnedah’s diversity.
Dibanhi Marsh was a volunteer for the day and expressed the importance of this celebration.
“This is a mix of the cultures we have in Gunnedah. It is funny that Gunnedah is a very small town but actually we have like 32 different [cultures] here so it is just to show a little of us,” she said.
She expressed her appreciation for the community kindness she had received while in Gunnedah.
“It is said that the Canadian people are the friendliest people in the world but that is a lie, it is Australian people,” she said.
“We really appreciate that. We are very far away from home, but Gunnedah is just making us feel at home.”
Dibanhi had travelled to Mexico to secure her dress for the celebration.
It was well worth it when she received first place for the fashion parade with prizes donated by local businesses.
This celebration came a week after the 125th Philippine Independence Day which Gunnedah had been in the forefront for celebrations.
“It was actually a very stunning night we had guests from different people from the NSW region,” Jo-an Meura said.
Gunnedah’s diversity has continued to be showcased through its organisations that hold annual celebrations such as the Multicultural Festival.
See gallery here: PHOTOS: Multicultural Festival of Gunnedah 2023 (gunnedahtimes.com.au)
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