CULTURES and communities came together on the grounds of Moree Public School on Friday afternoon to celebrate Harmony on the Plains, an initiative delivered by the Welcome Experience and Moree Plains Shire Council as part of Harmony Week celebrations across Australia.
Harmony on the Plains featured the Lichi Percussion and Chili Drums ensemble, showcasing the history and meaning of time-honoured West African rhythms.
Students from Moree East Public School, Shae Dance Academy and Moree Public School entertained with traditional music and dance.
Moree Public School students, led by deputy principal Lindy Hosegood, brought a small part of Scotland to the school grounds with Celtic dancing and bagpipe performances.
Moree East Public School Cultural Dance Group and Yulugi Marumali Dance Group entertained with contemporary Aboriginal dance.
Moree Plains Shire Council deputy mayor, Wayne Tighe, said having so many people together to celebrate Harmony Week and embrace so many cultures was inspiring.
“The children singing and participating in dance, and getting involved with the audience, is truly wonderful,” Cr Tighe said.
“Events like this play an important role in building a stronger, more connected community.
“This is our first Harmony on the Plains event in Moree, and we hope it continues to grow in the years ahead,” he said.
A soulful, vocal performance from Indonesian artist Farah Tsabitha, who travelled from Armidale to take part in Harmony on the Plains, was followed by traditional Indian dancing from Aanya, who recently relocated to Moree with her family through The Welcome Experience initiative.
Author Kasey Holt travelled from New Zealand to launch her children’s book, Cotton at a Campsite, inspired by a family working holiday in 2022.
Face-painting, an origami station, rain stick-making station, flag-making station and communal art displays and activities kept the huge crowd busy, with Jule Jarner, from Social SEEN Gallery in Moree, guiding audience members through an interactive mandala presentation.
“Our community development team has supported a range of creative activities, and I want to thank community members and council staff who helped put everything together, especially Moree Public School for generously providing this venue,” Cr Tighe said.
Moree Lions Club served mouth-watering, Aussie steak sandwiches and staff and volunteers from Gwydir Day Care provided a multi-cultural food station, offering snacks and meals from all corners of the globe, including India, Spain, Nepal and Australia.
Tourism Moree’s Julie Rushby, who co-ordinated Harmony on the Plains with Rey Vila, Toni French and Rowena Chapman from Moree Plains Shire Council, said The Welcome Experience, designed to support eligible essential workers and their families to make the move to regional New South Wales, has so far brought 70 essential workers to Moree.
“The program has also helped bring together Harmony on the Plains,” Ms Rushby said.
“Harmony on the Plains highlights how cultural diversity enriches everyday life through food, language and traditions, and The Welcome Experience shows why Moree Plains is such a unique place to live.
“These moments of culture, connection and celebration are only possible because our community shows up with so much heart,” she said.
About The Welcome Experience
The Welcome Experience, delivered by Moree Plains Shire Council, is a free concierge-style service to support essential workers and their families to feel more at home in their new community through personalised support, local information and connections.
The date, The Welcome Experience has brought 70 essential workers to the Moree Plains.
A two-year program, fully funded by the NSW Government, the Welcome Experience is now provided in 55 Local Government Areas in regional New South Wales.
To find out more, go to The Welcome Experience.
