Children are important, wherever they come from. For the past four years Northam Army Camp Heritage Association Inc has hosted a multicultural festival. Community groups have presented music and dance from their own cultures. The Kukuleczka Polish Dance group has attended for the last three years. Many of the children are descendants of Polish Displaced Persons’ who lived at the Northam Army Camp following WWII.
The children learn their stories including the dragon legend of Krakow as seen in this photo.
Children from many different countries including Hungary, Ukraine, Indonesia, Filipino, Japanese drummers and Scottish dancers perform at the festival.
To celebrate Children’s Week and provide the opportunity for children to play together a Kid’s Zone is available. Thank you to the grant provided this year by Meerilinga and Lotterywest the children can share in crafts, face painting and fresh fruit. A donation of bottled water from Water Corporation means all children will have a bottle of water in their showbag.
An additional part of the program this year included a Children’s Writing Competition about migrant family stories. Entries included Mauritius, South Africa and New Zealand. Others included family stories from the 1800’s and Displaced Person’s from Croatia following WWII. Funding for this was provided by individual sponsors.
The Act Belong Commit Northam Heritage and Multicultural Festival is enhanced by the laughter and bright colours of the children in national dress playing together.