Blended Harmony

You Belong band performing at the Harmony Day celebration at Drayton State School

The You Belong band was invited to be a part of the Drayton State School Harmony Day celebrations last term. In addition to celebrating different cultures from around the world, there was also a special focus on welcoming others, including them and helping them feel like they belong. 

During the school’s Harmony Day assembly, the band got on stage to perform their rendition of “We are Australian”—celebrating both the heritage and oneness of our multicultural nation—along with a mash-up featuring Australian, Arabic, Kurdish, and South African songs. Students and staff alike enjoyed the performance, clapping along and showing a keen interest in the different cultures represented by the band.

After the assembly, the band had the opportunity to speak with several groups of students, sharing their personal backgrounds and stories, as well as singing songs from their own cultures. The students, in turn, had the chance to share about their own heritage before moving on to brainstorm simple ways we can help make people feel welcome. Things like learning how to say ‘hello’ in different languages and taking the initiative to include others in activities. 

All in all, it was a fantastic morning of learning and sharing. As James O’Shea—a local representative—told the students, “We’re like a box of crayons – we’re all different, but when we get together the picture is complete.”