Over 40 different nationalities were represented at Kelmscott Senior High School on Friday as the school celebrated Harmony Day.
There’s a tendency for events honouring our country’s multiculturalism to be performative and twee; a chance to virtue signal rather than embrace honesty.
But Kelmscott High’s Harmony Day was an incredibly sincere and powerful look into the firsthand experience of migration in this country.
Over a hundred students and teachers proudly wore their cultural dress and paraded through the school body, while students sat and respectfully watched.
Dances elicited raucous cheers from the audience, with not a hint of the usual teen embarrassment on show.
And several students prepared speeches in both their native tongue, and in English, describing their experiences of coming to a strange new land, missing their food and cultural traditions, being the victims of prejudice and racism, and finding the inner strength to forge a new life in their adopted country.
“The label of immigrant is not dirty or embarrassing,” Victoria Garay said.
“And my love for my Latin-American heritage has helped me to overcome double standards and constant underestimation.”
Muhammad Raza spoke about there still being a “gap in understanding” for a lot of Australians about both his Pakistani heritage and religion (Islam).
“I do appreciate people who have taken the time to understand my culture and religion instead of making assumptions,” he said.
“Harmony isn’t about ignoring our differences and pretending they don’t exist. Diversity is what makes us stronger, and understanding is what brings us closer.”
Event organiser and Student Services Manager Idroz Shah said that the school was “very proud” to celebrate “the rich diversity that defines its community”.
“In an era where division and misunderstanding often dominate headlines, Kelmscott SHS stands as a shining example of how communities can foster acceptance and mutual respect,” he said.
“Our school community has the power to be a role model to the world, showcasing that tolerance, respect, and inclusion are more than just words—they are values that shape how we learn, interact, and grow.”
Photographs – Richard Polden.
