Rotary hails harmony project

By Justin Robertson
CARDINIA Shire’s Building Harmony Program was recognised by Rotary’s Community Services Awards held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre earlier this month.
The partnership between Cardinia Shire Council, Windermere Child and Family Services and Monash University was commended on the night as well as the work with the project’s participating schools, Berwick Grammar, Maranatha Christian College, Minaret College, Officer Primary School and St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School.
Cr Blenkhorn said congratulations were in order for the hard work put it in by all the organisations and schools involved in the project. “This is such an important project highlighting the beauty in each other’s differences,” he said.
“With a population of 77,233, expecting to more than double by 2031, we have people from diverse cultures joining our community, with 540 primary immigrants in the last three years. We welcome them with open arms.”
The program, which aims to build positive relationships among cultural groups in the growth corridor, received the major prize of $15, 000.
As part of the Building Harmony Program, a group of students from the multi faith schools completed a leadership program.
Students learnt about leadership and culture and were treated to presentations by council CEO Garry McQuillan, who shared some words of encouragement and spoke about leadership.
Cr George Blenkhorn also spoke and reflected on migrating from England to Australia.
The program has been funded by the Melbourne Community Foundation to support the participating schools to embrace cultural diversity, with an expected change of demographics to occur within Cardinia Shire over the next 10 years.