Banksia Secondary College

For the final week of first term, students and staff devote a great deal of effort to conduct "Multicultural Week". This celebrates the culture and backgrounds of all our students, from the earliest Aboriginal inhabitants, through Anglo-Celtic settlers, Italian and Greek migrants, to our most recent arrivals from Vietnam, Lebanon, Somalia, the Pacific Islands, and many other places.

The week climaxes with a concert performed by the various cultural groups, including groups of students who were born in Lebanon and Somalia and Indonesia and the Pacific Islands.

Here are some scenes from our 1998 concert:

The keynote speaker was Mrs. Kavisha Mazella, who played guitar and sang two Italian songs beautifully. We also had many Bellfield Primary School students as guests in the audience.

Another guest was Mr. Jama Mugalihya,
a drummer from Zaire.

The Banksia Voice sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Note the members of the Signing Choir in the front.


The Banksia Anklung Group performed "Joy to the World" with traditional Indonesian wooden instruments.

Rima and Lia Sutriyono tried valiantly to maintain the flame in an Indonesian Candle Dance.

Another special guest was Mr. Wang Zheng-Ting who played the Sheng, a Chinese mouth organ with 22 pipes, first used thousands of years ago. His contribution to multiculturalism was to play "Golden Phoenix goes to the Lake" and "Click go the Shears"!


Rashmei Keo, a Year 10 student, performed a dance
from her native Cambodia.

A Pacific Island dance was performed by Natasha Sua, Jacklyn Kenny, Tia Makoni and Fiona Sua.

Michael Healy, born in Australia, played a final
fanfare on solo trumpet.