Gitie brings our region together
Founder of the Toowoomba International Multicultural Society Gitie House is getting ready for the annual Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival. As chairperson, Mrs House has a big job ahead of her. “The festival gives people of all backgrounds and ages the opportunity to share their cultures with those living right across our region,” she said. “People come from all around to discover the rich tapestry of colours, sounds, smells and flavours of the festival.” “It’s not long before they look deeper and begin to understand that underneath the kaleidoscope of food, clothing, language and music , we are really not so different after all.” Gitie grew up in Delhi, India, with an interesting childhood. “I grew up in a multicultural, multi-faith family and we joined in the celebrations of people from all different backgrounds,” she said. “I also studied in a multicultural, multi-faith school, where I learned about all the major religions and cultures.” However, despite her background, Gitie’s early introduction to the Garden City in 1978 was as a student enrolled through the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education.
With credit given to her Bachelor of Science degree she’d gained in India it wasn’t long before she began year later she began working in the IT and software development industries. “From the very beginning, I was impressed with the community spirit and the sense of collegiality the staff had,” Mrs House said. “That inspired me and gave me the aspiration to work for the community. “As my career evolved from writing technical code to management, my people- and project-management skills allowed me to transition into community type work.” In 2001, Mrs House made the move away from her career and giving more time to community based activities. With her passion to make the region more culturally aware and inclusive she began the Toowoomba International Multicultural Society.
“One of the best things about the Society and living in such a diverse community is that every year more people are coming to our event and keen to learn more about other cultures. Mrs House said.
“People look deeper and begin to understand that underneath the kaleidoscope of food, clothing, language and music choices, we are really not so different after all.”