PR-11-2022 

Consulate, Filcom leaders support Cultural Diversity during the Victorian Multicultural Gala Dinner in Melbourne

PHOTO: (upper left) The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne, led by Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo (4th from left), with members of the Filipino community during the Victorian Multicultural Gala Dinner in Melbourne on 19 March 2022. Also in photo are Mr. Graeme Freear Lade, partner of Consul General Salcedo (5th from left); Ms. Vivienne Nguyen AM, Chairperson, Victorian Multicultural Commission (6th from left); Consul Jan Sherwin P. Wenceslao (3rd from right); (upper right) Consul General Salcedo with Ms. Melba Marginson, Executive Director of the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition and Founder/Convenor of The Silent Witness Network; (bottom left) The Hon. Daniel Andrews MP, Premier of Victoria (2nd from right); the Hon Ros Spence MP, Minister for Multicultural Affairs (3rd from left); the Hon Matthew Guy MP, leader of the opposition in Victoria (2nd from left); (bottom right) Ms. Marginson with members of the Filipino community during the multicultural gala.

19 March 2022, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne, represented by Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo, took part in the Victorian Multicultural Gala Dinner held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, in celebration of the State of Victoria’s vibrant multicultural community.

Hosted by Victorian Premier Hon. Daniel Andrews, the Gala Dinner also kicked off Cultural Diversity Week, Victoria’s largest multicultural celebration, to coincide with the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Harmony Day on 21 March. The event was attended by high officials of the Victorian State Government, including the State Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Ros Spence MP, the Leader of the Opposition Matthew Guy, high-profile community and civic leaders, as well as representatives of the various cultural and ethnic communities in Victoria, including prominent members of the Filipino Community.

Premier Andrews expressed his admiration for how the Victorian community “came from different parts of the world (to) come together to build something better.” He described Victoria as “not just the multicultural capital of Australia but the multicultural capital of the world,” for which the audience of 1,400 guests burst into applause. He promised to provide temporary resident visas to all Ukranians in Victoria.

The leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Matthew Guy, whose Ukrainian grandparents migrated to Australia after World War II, became emotional as he thanked Australia for the opportunities “to become the best version of yourself”.

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