Community shines at harmony awards

AS part of Harmony Fest, Ballarat’s Intercultural Recognition Awards were held last week to highlight and celebrate the City’s diversity.

The main individuals honoured were founder of the local Chinese Library Haoliang Sun, Ann Foley as the past CEO of the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, and former mayor and past BRMC chair Frank Williams.

Mr Williams’ recognition “came as a great shock.”

“I was very humbled to receive such a prestigious award,” he said. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being involved with the multicultural community for my entire life.

“The Intercultural Recognition Awards were a wonderful celebration of how far Ballarat has come under the intercultural leadership of Frances Salenga, John Drennan, Yvon Davis, and Dimitri Dollard.

“The city embraces inclusive diverse cultures right throughout the organisation and the initiatives that have developed from there have been truly remarkable.”

Mr Williams is also the past president of the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park committee, is chair of the Ballarat Japan Community Committee, a member of the City of Ballarat Intercultural Advisory Committee leading the intercultural garden project, and is the Filipino/Australian Association of Ballarat media officer.

A former teacher and university lecturer, he developed a passion for championing multicultural communities when he worked with students from 34 different ethnic groups at a Melbourne secondary school.

He said his current work with FAABI is a “spin off” from his BRMC connections, and he’s proud of the group’s happy culture and the projects they’re driving.

“We’ve been directly involved with MaxiTRANS recruiting 65 welders from the Philippines,” he said.

“We also had so many young people involved in the Begonia parade this month, and it was terrific to see the enthusiasm that they have. It adds to the flourishing nature of FAABI.”

Other individuals acknowleged were young volunteer Nivashini Neelavannan, youth worker Albert Mumba, Yorta Yorta woman and anti-racism activist Rachel Muir, refugee and migrant advocate Tashkah Lloyd, supporter of multicultural families Deepa Kuriachan, Women’s Health Grampians CEO Marianne Hendron, and tai chi teacher Jack Yang.

FAABI were also recognised as a standalone organisation alongside McAuley House Ballarat, Ballarat Interfaith Network, Ballarat Keralites’ Foundation of Australia, and Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees.