Cultura celebrates birthday with overseas flights giveaway

CULTURA Geelong has celebrated its first birthday and marked the occasion by giving away two international return airfares to a lucky recipient.

Formed from the merger of Diversitat and MACS: Multicultural Aged Care Services, Cultura Geelong ran the “Global Connections” competition to acknowledge its strong links to people from around the world.

Cultural Geelong chief executive officer Joy Leggo said Cultura has represented as many as 80 different nationalities.

“As Geelong’s leading multicultural organisation, we want to stand true to our ambitious intent to connect, inspire and embrace culturally diverse individuals.

“The competition prize was to send a lucky winner to any corner of the world.”

Entrants were asked to express, in 25 words or less, why they deserved to make global connections.

The ultimate winner, Julia Pantic, entered with the hope of winning two return tickets to travel to Serbia and finally reunite with her family.

Ms Pantic had grown up in a large family in a village in northern Serbia, surrounded by the love and support of her siblings.

At the age of 9, Ms Pantic’s family left their homeland and moved to Australia.

Over the years, she had made a new life for herself in Australia, but the memory of her brother and the love she had for her family had never faded.

Rebecca Smith from Cultura Geelong recently visited Ms Pantic, 63, at her home to deliver her the good news.

“Oh, you’re kidding me! Oh my god!” Ms Pantic said after she was told she had won.

“I haven’t seen my family in 53 years.

“I’m just shocked, I’m stunned – I would never have been able to do it any other way.”

Ms Leggo said Cultura wanted to thank everyone who participated and congratulated Ms Pantic on winning the competition.

Cultura is affiliated with 51 cultural communities in the Geelong region who each celebrate their diverse cultures by sharing their language, food, dress, music, art and lives together.

Some of these communities meet regularly throughout the year, while others come together for special events and performances such as the annual Pako Festa street parade and festival.