THE Hastings leads the way in celebrating cultural diversity, albeit in wonderfully distinct ways.
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Last Friday the third annual Iftar Diversity and Dialogue Dinner allowed many to have their first experience of Islamic culture.
Bread was broken and mutual responsibilities in achieving a harmonious society topped the menu. Perhaps most importantly, the eager eyes and ears of the next generation were on hand to absorb it all.
Just two days later, NAIDOC Week roared to life. This year’s annual celebration of Australia’s Indigenous cultures has special emphasis.
A few hundred kilometres down the road a group will today discuss the possibility of constitutional change to eliminate racial discrimination.
Australia’s supreme law document, which came into force on the first day of 1901, did not count Indigenous Australians as citizens until the 1967 referendum. But sections 25 and 51 (xxvi) of the Constitution still permit government to racial discrimination.
We are getting a wriggle on with embracing diversity on the Mid-North Coast. Let’s hope those in Sydney can take an important step towards Australia no longer being the only democratic nation whose governing document authorises racial discrimination.
