There are many different stake holders ranging from Victorian multicultural community representatives, organisations, Victorian Multicultural Commission and Victorian authorities either state or federal figures attended the Victorian Premier Gala dinner on the 16. 3. 2019. The main purpose is to celebrate and to embrace diversity and multiculturalism.
After open ceremony of dragon dance and acknowledgement of Australian Indigenous elders in the past, present and into the future, Helen Kapalos, Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and the leader of Victorian Opposition Michael O'Brien each has recognized Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, the owner of the land, its past, present and emerging elders, they have sent their deepest condolences to New Zealand victims, their family and New Zealand authorities in regards to the recent Christchurch terror attack (Friday,15 March 2019).
“I would like to the sentiment of Prime Minister express our deepest condolences of yesterday’s (15 Mar 2019) tragedy, and this moment to affirm our solidarity with our Muslim’s brothers and sisters of this time, "As-Salaam-Alaikum-Peace unto you-hope and happiness, was said to me from benevolent Muslim. I believe we need to stand up for multiculturalism more than ever, and yes we do, and yes we will, in a strongest possible way and in a strongest possible term, and in doing so, we recognize that leadership is not always easy. At the time like this leadership is required in all its forms, through all of us, It requires us to do one simple thing, one thing, accept one another, In our daily connector we relate to each other, in one common shared identity, we are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers grandparents, friends these are the only labels we need and the labels that connect us as one.”says Helen Kapalos, chairman of current Victoria Multicultural Commission.
“To all of our Muslim brothers and sisters, to every member of Muslim communities across Victoria, I have a very clear message for you, you are respected, you are valued, and you are central to our cultural diversity, to our multiculturalism, to a fair and prosperous future. I can say that with absolute confidence because I know in my heart and in my head that, harmony and our commitment to diversity and inclusion, to love and respects, to value each other, to look beyond our differences will always win out over hate and prejudice and evil,'' says Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews.
"To our Muslim brothers and sisters, we put our arms around you, we are with you, we will support you, and we will say that we will not divide. That is the essence of multicultural Victoria, that is the source of our strength, that is who we are, and without commitment and work, that is who we will remain,” says Michael O'Brien, leader of Victoria Opposition.
Helen Kapalos, Victoria Multicultural Commissioner's speech about multiculturalism at Victoria Premier gala dinner 2019 at Melbourne Exhibition Center-SBS Hmong Source: SBS Hmong
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews's speech about diversity and and multiculturalism and condolences to Muslim communities in Australia - SBS Hmong Source: SBS Hmong
Michael O'Brien, leader of Victoria Opposition's speech about diversity and multiculturalism - SBS Hmong Source: SBS Hmong
They then focus on significant of diversity and multiculturalism toward Australian communities and to Australia.
“To night is a night that we celebrate of our greatest assets, our most precious gift of diversity that makes us fairer and stronger and makes us confident and see us to the region and across the world make with that sense of confident and optimism toward the future. To night is important. We need to celebrate our diversity. We need to remind every single Victorians that we are a more prosperous place, a safer place, a better place, because the fact that we come from so many different perspectives. But despite that diversity, you can be exact who you are, you can celebrate who you are, you can share and celebrate your religious observance, your cultural tradition, your history, your heritage and enrich all of us, that in essence together, we are so much greater than we look at each other individual sections of our Victorian communities," says Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews.
"I believe we need to stand up for multiculturalism more than ever, and yes we do, and yes we will, in a strongest possible way and in a strongest possible term, and in doing so, we recognize that leadership is not always easy," says Helen Kapalos, Victoria Multicultural Commissioner.
Australian communities play their instruments as an orchestra - SBS Hmong Source: SBS Hmong
"To me multiculturalism is not just the government policy, or the description of our society, with the strong believer of our communities that not just the acceptance but the embracing of many cultures by this state, by this country, has made us better, made us smarter, more creative, more just, more decent, more prosperous and a lot more interesting. We’ve shown that we can do better than tolerate differences, I think we can even better at accept difference, here in Victoria we can embrace differences because that makes us truly harmonious. Different cultures different faiths different nationalities living and thriving side by side in peace. That’s the Victoria that I know and that’s the Victoria that I love. And if that piece is ever been threatened, I know that we will stand as one and we will say that we will not divide," says Michael O'Brien, leader of Victoria Opposition
Furthermore, Hmong community especially the Hmong Australia Festival Incorporation also attend the Victoria Premier gala dinner. These are some of the opinion they shared.
Hmong Australia Festival Inc to represent Hmong communities at VIC Premier gala dinner - SBS Hmong Source: SBS Hmong
“It is very important, because I realize that government officials are working hard to make sure that everyone live in harmony and live in peace, however some still don't understand how much Australia welcomes and loves our diverse communities who call Australia home,'' says Mai Yia Moua.
“I still remember Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews comment that we are like a lot of combining thread with different colors that when we saw into embroidery, it will be extraordinary piece. It was a very good opportunities that we came tonight to network Hmong culture with other Australian communities so they are aware about Hmong communities in Australia. We also have a dream that some day into the future, we could collaborate our Hmong musical instruments such as Hmong reed pipe, harp with other Australian communities' ones. Or we can perform Hmong spoken words or other Hmong talent shows in this gala dinner,'' says Pat Virathone.
“We also join important party like this one in the United States, but I believe we have more Hmong who are well-known in our community and scholars who attend such party. Compare to Hmong in Australia, we are not quite proactive, if we are more active than this we could much more better than this. Therefore, I would like to see more people from Hmong communities to join,'' says Mee Thao.
Diverse Victorian communities who attended Victoria Premier gala dinner at Melbourne Conventional Exhibition Centre - SBS Hmong Source: SBS Hmong
Vietnamese community who attended Victoria Premier gala dinner at Melbourne Conventional Exhibition Centre - SBS Hmong Source: SBS Hmong
