By Danielle Kutchel
It was standing room only at Hampton Park Secondary College for the annual multicultural assembly.
Students, teachers and guests packed out the newly-upgraded gym and foyer, craning their necks for a glimpse of a colourful assortment of acts celebrating the many diverse cultures that make up the school’s tight-knit community.
Indigenous, African, Samoan, Afghan, Chinese, Maori, Pasifika, Indian, Filipino and Australian cultures were all represented through song and dance, encouraged by thunderous cheers and applause from the audience.
Local primary schools were also in on the act, with two groups from Hampton Park Primary School performing, and students from River Gum Primary School, Coral Park Primary School, Lynbrook Primary School and Noble Park English Language School – Casey Campus watching from the wings.
The Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne put on a show, performing the dragon dance with Warren Yuen, a teacher at the College who is also a member of the Society, taking the lead on drums.
College students were invited to audition to be part of the show, and while some were nervous about performing in front of such a large audience, community engagement leader at the school, Fiona Vanstan, said students are proud of their culture.
“It is a wonderful way to acknowledge and celebrate our diversity. We have students who are very proud of their culture and want this represented well, whilst also being respectful of others cultures.”
This was the eighth year of the assembly, which is not a stand-alone event. The school celebrates other multicultural events throughout the year, including diversity week, and has recently produced a book featuring stories from refugee students called ‘Tales from Hampton Park Secondary College’.
More than 50 cultures are represented in the school’s student body.
– what nationalities presented/sang/danced (I got some of them but the audio was a bit echo-y)
These are listed on the sheet – although in the first video clip we had numerous students from different cultures take part in the welcome (Syria, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Liberia, Chinese, Cambodian, Philippines, Mauritius, Greece, South Sudan, Albanian, Bosnian, Nauru, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysian, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Vietnamese, India, Romania, Samoa, El Salvador, Australia, Indigenous)
