Australia’s strength and unity were celebrated at the Community Language Schools Spectacular, held at Sydney Town Hall, where senior New South Wales Government officials underscored the importance of linguistic diversity. The event gathered 1,000 parents and 600 students, all emphasizing how language links us to our cultural roots and enriches our society.
Mark Buttigieg MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism, highlighted the critical role of language in fostering a stronger, more inclusive society. Reflecting on his Maltese heritage, he shared, “Language Diversity makes us better human beings and makes us a stronger society. Language is the intrinsic link to different cultures which allows us to understand a person’s cultural inheritance.”
Charisma Kaliyanda, State Member for Liverpool, addressed the role of language in positioning Australia as a leading international destination. She pointed to the new international airport in western Sydney, noting, “The new international airport in western Sydney, for example, will require lots of people who can communicate with our visitors. It will be an important selling point for this venture that we can say to anyone who comes from another part of the world that we have someone here who can speak your language and understand your culture and that will help you do business in this country.”
The NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure, also spoke on the future implications of language retention, emphasizing, “The next generation of Australians must maintain and hold onto the languages of their parents because Sydney’s success as a global city in the future depends on that. The work of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools helps ensure that it happens.”
The Federation, which organised the Spectacular, supports 3,500 teachers and volunteers who conduct classes in 461 locations across the state for over 32,000 children studying more than 69 different languages.
Lucia Johns, President of the Federation, expressed her pride in the event, stating, “This is a wonderful opportunity for the children of many cultural backgrounds to showcase the songs, dances and music of their parents’ homelands in this prestigious venue – Sydney Town Hall which hosts so many prestigious events each year. I hope that this children’s Spectacular becomes a feature on the NSW events’ calendar.”
The day-long programme included sixty-seven performances, featuring a vibrant array of songs, music, dances, and poetry from various language groups in New South Wales. The spectacle not only celebrated cultural heritage but also highlighted the crucial role of language in maintaining a connected and inclusive community.
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