CULTURA Geelong has celebrated its first birthday and marked the occasion by giving away two international return airfares to a lucky recipient.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Cultural Geelong chief executive officer Joy Leggo said Cultura has represented as many as 80 different nationalities.<\/p>\n
“As Geelong’s leading multicultural organisation, we want to stand true to our ambitious intent to connect, inspire and embrace culturally diverse individuals.<\/p>\n
“The competition prize was to send a lucky winner to any corner of the world.”<\/p>\n
Entrants were asked to express, in 25 words or less, why they deserved to make global connections.<\/p>\n
The ultimate winner, Julia Pantic, entered with the hope of winning two return tickets to travel to Serbia and finally reunite with her family.<\/p>\n
Ms Pantic had grown up in a large family in a village in northern Serbia, surrounded by the love and support of her siblings.<\/p>\n
At the age of 9, Ms Pantic’s family left their homeland and moved to Australia.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Rebecca Smith from Cultura Geelong recently visited Ms Pantic, 63, at her home to deliver her the good news.<\/p>\n
“Oh, you’re kidding me! Oh my god!” Ms Pantic said after she was told she had won.<\/p>\n
“I haven’t seen my family in 53 years.<\/p>\n
“I’m just shocked, I’m stunned – I would never have been able to do it any other way.”<\/p>\n
Ms Leggo said Cultura wanted to thank everyone who participated and congratulated Ms Pantic on winning the competition.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n