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[Wed 01/07/2009 02:21:28]
Monash joins appeal for Harmony walk
By Rob O'Brien
The City of Monash has joined state leaders in its appeal for people to march in support of community diversity next month.
Following the recent attack on Indian and Chinese students in Melbourne, the council advised people to come together to express its support of all walks of life in Melbourne and the state of Victoria.
Leaders at tomorrow’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Darwin will underline the concern of all governments towards violence against overseas students after the recent spate of attacks.
City of Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris said that the Harmony Walk on 12 July was a great way for residents to show support for their culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse community.
“Over 39 per cent of Monash’s residents were born in 30 different countries. I am proud to represent the City of Monash in the Harmony Walk to show our appreciation and commitment to multiculturalism and our respect for diversity, which has so enriched our own community,” he said.
The City of Monash has the largest Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) population in Melbourne’s Eastern Metropolitan Region and ranks 5th out of 79 Victorian Local Government areas in terms of diversity.
Demographic statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that;
- 39.8 per cent of Monash residents were born overseas
- 76 per cent of residents follow 30 different religions
- 33 per cent of residents speak a language other than English at home, with more than 30 different languages and dialects spoken
- 48.6 per cent of residents in Clayton and Notting Hill were born overseas, the highest concentration in Monash.
“This is a fantastic way to celebrate and promote the rich cultural diversity of Monash and I would like to invite all residents to join in walking with me to support this celebration of multiculturalism,” said Mayor Klisaris.
The Harmony Walk will begin at Carlton Gardens at 1pm on Sunday 12 July and proceed through Melbourne’s central business district to Federation Square.
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