Celebration of Islander culture

Talented vocalists from Victoria’s Pacific Islander communities will visit Stawell this month in a celebration of culture and gospel music.

Victoria is home to many Pacific Island diasporas, including people from Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa and Timor-leste, in part due to the Federal Government’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility, PALM, scheme, which addresses labour shortages across the country.

PALM workers living in Ararat will be among the performers taking part in the concert, which will be on May 11 at Stawell Entertainment Centre.

Stawell business Thomas Foods International employs workers through the PALM scheme, including Ni-vanuatu man Junior Issachar – one of the event organisers.

Mr Issachar said the concert was the second iteration of what he hoped would become an annual event.

“It is very important for Pacific Islander people to be able to come together to celebrate their culture when they live so far away from their homes,” he said.

“Christianity and gospel music is important in our culture and it is a joy and a privilege to come together to share this with the Stawell district.”

Mr Issachar said concert organisers enlisted the support of the Victorian Adventist Wantok Church.

Wantok, which means ‘one talk’ or ‘one language’, is a language that enables Pacific Islanders from different countries to communicate with each other.

Mr Issachar said the church would help stage the event and live stream the concert to Pacific Island communities.

The performance will begin at 7pm, with light refreshments available for sale at interval. Pacific Island cultural foods will be available for people to try. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased by calling Mr Issachar on 0477 859 683 or by visiting shop 108, Main Street, Stawell on Thursday between 4 and 5pm. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

For more information, people can call Mr Issachar or Jenny Greenberger on 0408 571 375.