Culture Connects Us All

My name is Amelia Driu and I am 17 years of age. I come from the beautiful Islands of Fiji but grew up in Melbourne since I was 9 months old. I am a proud Australian Fijian who loves to showcase my Fijian culture through traditional Fijian dancing and at the same time, am proud to be an Australian. I attend Melton Secondary College and have lived in Melton for more than 10 years. 

I am part of the BULA Meke group, a Fijian youth dance group in Melton and I express my culture through contemporary and traditional Fijian dancing.

My family as members of  the Fijian community has organised events and celebrations here in the City of Melton. We have celebrated two annual Fiji Day celebrations at Hannah Watts Park where the City of Melton had the opportunity to learn about our Fijian culture, taste our delicious food and connect with Fijians residing in Melton.

Celebrating other cultures and embracing them is always important to me and my family and that is exactly what comes to mind when I hear Culture Connects Us All - Family, Love, Inclusiveness and Respect.

I have family friends and families that reside in City of Melton and I also attend the youth events organised by the school and Melton Youth services, whenever I can. I also  like to attend cultural and community events organised in Melton as it's a great platform to connect and learn about other cultures.

I am a proud Aboriginal and Irish woman, deeply family-oriented, because family is the most important part of my life. As a survivor of the Stolen Generations, I hold tightly to my kin.

I see myself as a loyal and compassionate friend. I am a fighter and a survivor of the cruellest abuse in my childhood - something I would never wish upon anyone else. The experiences gave me the strength to stand beside others and fight battles they cannot face alone.

I express my culture through art, music, food, storytelling, listening, truth-telling, bravery, respect, and connection to Dreamtime, family, land, and lore. Building relationships and engaging with my cultural community is important to me. I attend cultural events, participate in community activities and markets, and connect with my cultural community.

My cultural identity shapes my sense of belonging, where I fit in, who I spend time with, and how I see the world. It guides my values and influences my understanding of health and wellbeing.

Trust is very important for me. It is the foundation of strong relationships, strong families, and strong communities, it is what I believe connects us all.

My name is Jojo Hae and my ethnic background is Rotuman with paternal links to Fiji and maternal links to Samoa. I am happily married with a son and have lived in Melbourne for more than 10 years. 

I express my culture traditional dancing and have represented both my proud Rotuman and Fijian culture, through "Meke" performances. We always look forward to the annual Djerriwarrh Festival where we showcase our proud and underrepresented Island culture for  the community here in Melton.

We look forward to community events organised by Melton Council and other community groups and we share our culture through traditional and contemporary dancing.

Connecting with other cultures is very important to me because it creates an opportunity to learn other cultures, embrace them and respect them. This also promotes our Australian values and creates harmony in our community.

We attend local community events, visit the library, attend the interfaith services and visit family and friends.

I am compassionate, family-oriented and deeply connected to my roots. I value learning from different cultures and contributing positively to my community. For me, culture is not just tradition — it shapes how I live and the values I pass on to my children.

I express my culture through festivals, food, language and faith. We celebrate Diwali, Holi and Christmas with family and friends, cook traditional Indian meals and speak our mother tongue at home. These practices keep our heritage alive and strengthen our sense of togetherness.

In Melton’s diverse community, I connect with others through cultural events, temples, interfaith gatherings and local programs. Sharing traditions builds friendships, understanding and a sense of belonging for everyone.

“Culture Connects Us All” means unity and respect. By volunteering, attending multicultural events and having open conversations with neighbours from different backgrounds, we break down barriers and build a stronger, more inclusive community.

I am a solo mother of two beautiful, curious, wild, empathetic boys while working full-time as a teacher. I am constantly balancing many responsibilities. I also live with ADHD, so building connection and community around my family is important for our wellbeing. I express my culture through my appearance i.e. clothing, jewellery, and hair. I also express it through how I spend my time, whether that’s attending community markets and festivals (Djerriwarrah festival, Midsumma Carnival), gathering with family for barbecues and birthdays, or staying home playing board games with my sisters and our kids.

Since moving to Melton three years ago, I have learned that connection in the community doesn’t always happen by accident. You have to seek it out. That’s why I started a book club for local mums who work full-time or who are single or functionally single parents and can’t attend weekday or child-free events. Through this group I have met incredible women and built meaningful friendships. As a teacher, community connection is also part of everyday life, as I am often recognised by students and parents wherever I go.

In my classroom, culture becomes a way for students to learn from one another. Last year, my Grade Six class explored cultures that were unfamiliar to many of us but deeply meaningful to some of our classmates. Our conversations about why multicultural celebrations matter led to discussions about empathy, belonging, and how cultural traditions can create safe spaces for people to reconnect with their identity while helping others better understand their neighbours.

For me, culture has always been about belonging. I was born between two nations, with family and traditions in both, and sharing those practices with others helps me feel connected to each part of my identity. Whether it’s celebrating cultural traditions at my child’s daycare, attending local community events, or hosting Thanksgiving where everyone brings food from their own family traditions, these moments remind me that culture connects us through exchange, sharing our stories, learning from one another, and recognising that our differences are what make our communities stronger.

I am Nanchok Santino Chol. I am a mother, artist and writer. I am someone who values community as I believe that community is the driving ecosystem that encourages individual and collective growth over time. I express culture by standing firm in the name that I was given at birth. South Sudanese names and most African names hold a meaning and weight to why you were given that name. 

What comes to mind when I hear Culture Connects Us All is celebrating and supporting one another. As I believe that is what allows us to form connections and allows us to strengthen and build communities. 

I go to the Melton Library and Learning Hub to feel connected to others as the library allows us all to see that we are all students of life. There is always something new to learn and new areas of growth to tap into individually and collectively.

I connect to new and different cultures in the City of Melton by staying open and allowing organic conversations to occur with those that I meet within our community. 

I am Ronald Moss. I was born in Singapore and migrated to Australia in 1996 to start a family. Of Eurasian heritage - Malay, Chinese, Indian and English descent - I grew up in a Kampong surrounded by friends from many cultures. That early experience taught me that embracing difference helps break down barriers. When I arrived in Australia, I quickly fell in love with its openness, freedom, natural beauty and diverse migrant communities. Although values like the DIY spirit, can-do attitude and love of sport were different from my birth country, embracing them greatly enriched my life.

Today we live in a complex world where peace and harmony matter more than ever. Australia is a beautiful blend of Indigenous heritage and generations of migrants from around the globe. With people from over 200 countries and hundreds of languages spoken, diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Having lived in Melton for nearly 30 years, I see this richness reflected every day in our local community.

I have learned that the best way to understand other cultures is to celebrate alongside them. Whether at community festivals, Christmas carols, local sporting matches or simply visiting the library or parks, shared experiences bring people together. Sport especially connects Australians — from footy and cricket to soccer and tennis. Even a smile, a greeting, or patient listening can help bridge language and cultural differences.

Our cultures shape our families and communities, but no one culture is better than another. By showing kindness, respect and willingness to learn from each other - especially in times of need - we strengthen the bonds that unite us. When we co-celebrate our beliefs and values, we create a community where everyone feels they belong, and that is how we truly live in harmony.

I am deeply committed to fostering a city where diversity is embraced and cultural expression strengthens community connections. Through ongoing engagement and collaboration with local government, I have worked to promote social cohesion, support cultural diversity, and improve outcomes for disadvantaged and culturally diverse community members.

As a member of the WeCare Foundation, I contribute to initiatives that assist community members in need through financial support and community-based projects. My involvement ensures that help is delivered in a practical, compassionate, and culturally responsive way.

I am also an active member of the African Communities Working Group, where I collaborate with council to address issues affecting African community members. I provide community perspectives, support consultation processes, and help develop culturally appropriate responses to local needs.

These experiences have strengthened connections between African communities and the council, improving trust, communication, and engagement. Through this work, I continue to support diversity, equity, and social cohesion, contributing to the city’s inclusive civic and community life.

I am resilient, compassionate and determined, and proud of who I am. As an Australian-born young woman of Fijian Indian descent living with disability, I have learned to turn challenges into strength. My journey has shaped my commitment to inclusion, confidence and helping others feel they belong.

I express my culture through my values and community involvement. My Fijian-Indian heritage is reflected in my respect for family, kindness and strong sense of togetherness. Through advocacy, events and inclusive initiatives, I work to ensure people with disabilities feel seen, valued and represented.

Living in Melton’s diverse community allows me to connect with people from many backgrounds. Through youth leadership and community engagement, I build relationships across cultures and help create spaces where diversity is celebrated and everyone feels welcome.

To me, “Culture Connects Us All” means unity and strength in diversity. Culture should bring us closer, not divide us. I believe true connection comes from empathy, respect and a willingness to learn from one another.

I am a proud Punjabi Sikh, guided by the values of Seva (selfless service), compassion and unity. Family and community are central to my life. My wife and I are raising our two children in Melton to be kind, humble and always willing to help others. I believe that when we support one another, we all grow stronger together.

I live my culture through daily prayer, speaking Punjabi and celebrating our traditions at home. Seva teaches me that life is not just about personal success, but about serving others. Sikh teachings remind me that we are one human family and that everyone deserves dignity and respect.

These values shape how I connect within our diverse community. Through volunteering, attending multicultural events and being involved locally, I aim to build genuine relationships across cultures. Serving others strengthens the bonds that unite us.

To me, “Culture Connects Us All” reflects our shared hopes for safety, opportunity and a bright future for our children. By listening, learning and celebrating together, we create a kinder, more united and inclusive community.

I am Syed Asad Taqvi. I am originally from Pakistan. I am a proud father, community leader, faith advocate, multicultural connector and Melton local resident. I express my culture through faith, community service, interfaith events, and volunteering.

I am a professional spiritual hymn singer. I reflect on a deeper understanding of spirituality in my hymns. Uttering and singing hymns help me connect with my community and communities across South Asia.

My culture and faith encourage respect, dialogue, and working together across different faiths and backgrounds.

Culture Connects Us All represents to me a sense of unity, understanding, and shared humanity. Through genuine connections we can build trust, peace, and a stronger community here in the City of Melton and beyond.

I love to connect with other community groups. I visit local community centres, attend interfaith gatherings, local events, and council-led programs. I am part of Council’s Intercultural Advisory Committee. The committee helps me connect with different community leaders, councillors and council officers. I also learn from different presenters who share their initiatives with the committee. 

I came to Australia from China about thirty years ago with hope and curiosity, unsure of how I would fit into a new country. Over time, I have been deeply touched by Australia’s multicultural spirit — the openness, respect and peaceful way people from different backgrounds live together. That spirit has shaped me and given me many opportunities to grow.

In recent years, as President of the Melton Chinese Friendship Association, I have become actively involved in community work. Through organising and participating in local events, I see firsthand how vibrant and strong cultural diversity is in Melton. These experiences continually remind me of the power of multiculturalism.

Having benefited from Australia’s inclusive culture, I have always felt a responsibility to give back. Alongside our weekly gatherings, I help organise cultural celebrations, senior learning programs and activities that bring people together. We collaborate with Islamic, Indian, Greek and other cultural groups, and proudly participate in council festivals and multicultural events.

Through sharing conversations, food, music and traditions, we build understanding and friendship. These moments show how multiculturalism strengthens our community. I am proud to contribute in my own way and grateful for the connections and lessons I continue to gain in Melton.