Cultural calendar looks to 2024

BALLARAT Regional Multicultural Council’s final 2023 Welcome Morning Tea saw the region’s migrant community mix and mingle on Wednesday.

The meeting also saw the launch of the City of Ballarat’s 2024 intercultural wall calendar as well as a singing performance by students from the Adult Migrant English Program.

The intercultural wall calendar highlights events that members of the city’s diverse community will mark in 2024, by listing significant celebrations, festivals, and days of remembrance, from St Patrick’s day to Ramadan, Begonia Festival to Harmony Week.

“I only came here four years ago, and when I received the calendar, I could learn what sort of things are happening here in Ballarat,” said BRMC strategy and settlement manager, Hee Young Lim.

The calendar has been printed annually since 2011, and this year’s was developed by the City’s intercultural services staff in partnership with BRMC.

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson helped launch it and said the region has been improved by migrants sharing their cultures.

“From our region’s very first peoples, the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung people, to the many nationalities that migrated to the region during the gold rush,” he said.

“So many have continued to flourish. Our figures show that Ballarat is home to migrants from 89 different countries.

“Almost 10 per cent identify with being born overseas, and that’s around 11,700 people. Interculturalism is a defining part of our local community.”

Copies of the calendar are at Ballarat Welcome Centre and Ballarat Libraries.