He stood up in front of a crowd shaking and sharing his story.
” I once lived in a beautiful country, worked as a jeweller to raise my little family. Then the civil war broke out, I was persecuted because of my religion. In the end I had to fleet the war zone I once loved as my motherland and home, with my wife and two young children.
We were exhausted and with absolutely nothing when we arrived in Sydney airport. We were greeted and embraced by two born and bred Aussies. We were given a home with all amenities close by. My children went to school one week after we settled in. They were welcomed and loved by their school community. We befriended the Vietnamese, Laos and Assyrians neighbours.
I am working in a warehouse now. Yes, I see racial discrimination at my workplace, in shops and out in the public. But I always remind myself and my family that what matters is the day we came stricken, Australia welcomed us with open arms as their own. And that is why I call Australia home.”
What a beautiful speech on “What does Harmony Day mean to you?”.