Cultural champions make way for next crop

THE City of Greater Bendigo’s 2023/2024 Intercultural Ambassadors have ended their tenures, with a new group of representatives to be sworn in at Zinda Festival tomorrow, 12 October.

The graduating ambassadors included Nishadi Weeratunga, Marlissa Theresia, Laila Hashimi, Yadwinder Singh, Miriam Casas, Shilin Joseph, Eunmi Cho, Maha Htoo Sein, Enos Mahachi, Dr Thaera O’Brien and Dassanyake Sampath Wickramasinghe.

During their terms, the volunteers hosted and supported events including citizenship ceremonies, festivals and launches.

City of Greater Bendigo community partnerships manager Andie West said the program is helping to build interesting and diverse relationships and connections.

“(It) aims to build the capacity and confidence of ambassadors and provide opportunities for growth, learning and leadership as well as advanced social cohesion more broadly,” she said.

Outgoing ambassador Dr Thaera O’Brien, who migrated to Australia in 2019 and is the former chairperson of Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services, said she became involved with the program as a way to “give back” to her adopted community, particularly in the multicultural space.

“I have that lived experience and I thought it was an interesting program to participate in because of its diversity, inclusion and social cohesion (values),” she said.

“It was a wonderful, positive experience. I was able to come out of it as a better leader in this space.

“Just looking at how committed the City of Greater Bendigo is – not many councils have this kind of plan.

“Having this kind of framework really helps people who’ve just arrived in Bendigo feel welcome. It helps them feel a part of the fabric of society and not isolated.

“I think what I really learned was at the end of the day, our experiences, regardless of what culture we come from, whether we’re a migrant or a refugee, are quite similar.”