21 March 2016
His Excellency General The Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Patron-in-Chief of the Australian Council for Human Rights Education has hosted the Harmony Day function in the garden of the Government House in Yarralumla on Monday 21 March 2016. ACHRE was well represented by its president Dr Sev Ozdowski and his wife Hanna, Vice-President Pera Wales and member of the management committee Mr Chander Khera with his wife Wendy.
The celebration of Harmony Day with the theme that “everyone belongs” was brilliant. The invitation to guests was through email…and it was clear to everyone invited that his or her response and any further correspondence should be through email. A Government House first? I think so!
The email invitation suggested that guests bring a plate of food that was enjoyed by people of their cultural or ethnic origin. What!!?? Government House asking guests to bring a plate of food to an event! It worked so well…..Nearly everyone arrived with a large plate of delicious food that they happily shared with people on their table.
The table that was set in the garden was 350 meters long and accommodated about 1000 people from all over the world. There was a wonderful sense of a global community of people being in touch with each other.
When people arrived at Government House they were given a table number……this allocation of a table number was random: there was no High Table. So the whole concept of the luncheon was premised on everyone being included as equals.
It was a most wonderful and happy occasion.
Below is the link to view luncheon “from above”: https://www.facebook.com/GovernorGeneralAustralia/videos/271943716470244/
Picture Gallery:
