Multicultural celebration a crowd pleaser

Just as we were leaving this year’s Harmony Festival in Geraldton, organiser Tom Mwangi was imploring anyone and everyone present to join in the Jerusalema dance from Zimbabwe.

“That was a fantastic dance with everyone joining in, it surpassed our expectations,” he said.

“That was a great sense of community with everyone coming in enjoying and celebrating together.

“The turnout was fantastic, it was within the limit set up by the City for the ground so it was very good support by the community.”

The annual event had been a more subdued affair last year, just before COVID-19 restrictions came into place, and some feared the threatened hot easterly wind would persuade people to stay home on Saturday.

However the wind stayed away and the people came to Stow Gardens to enjoy four hours of dancing from various countries on the stage, craft demonstrations, food stalls and activities for children.

Australia Day Ambassador and Perth resteranteur Jennie Lam had opened the event and later gave a sundowner Q and A session at Pollinators City Hive.