St Paul’s Primary School in Mt Lawley entered a City of Stirling photographic competition which is part of an international effort to eliminate racial discrimination – and won it.
They then donated their $350 prize to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion Lenten appeal.
Staff and students at the school were participating in Harmony Day, a program of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship which coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Harmony Day is a day of cultural respect, widely celebrated across schools, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies: the school marked the occasion on March 21.
Its message is summed up under the heading ‘Everyone Belongs’ and in 2013 the theme was: Many Stories – One Australia.
To recognise and celebrate the day, students of St Paul’s decided to enter the competition by showing what harmony looked like at their school.
Their winning photograph, taken by principal Joanna Noonan and entitled ‘A rainbow of togetherness and acceptance’, showed students from Kindergarten to Year 6 dressed in the colours of the rainbow. Assistant Principal Cheryl Brown told The Record Harmony Day is an occasion when all Australians can celebrate their cultural diversity and show care for one another.
“To mark the day, we took a photo of the children from Kindergarten to Year 6, dressed in all the colours of the rainbow and holding hands as a symbol of our togetherness and hope of a brighter future,” she said.
“Despite the 42 degree heat, there was much excitement and laughter as 220 students and staff joined hands to show what ‘Harmony’ looked like.” Students also made gold coin donations.