A message of welcoming and harmony is more than just a one day a year thing for St Albans Junior Football Club.
With many sporting clubs across Australia celebrating Harmony Day on March 21, the club’s junior co-ordinator Laura Kretiuk said being one of the most culturally diverse clubs in the state was a point of pride for the club.
“We’re right in the hub of St Albans, so we do tend to get a lot of very multicultural kids because St Albans is such a multicultural community,” Ms Kretiuk said.
“We’ve got families from across Asia, and Sudanese, Somalian, and all over Europe as well with Maltese, Polish, so it’s a real mix of kids and families at the club.
“It’s very important to us to embrace that multiculturalism, and we welcome any kid that wants to come down and play football.”
Harmony Day is a celebration across Australia that coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Ms Kretiuk said with so many local juniors getting their first taste of Australian Rules at the club it was important for them to be welcoming to juniors of all backgrounds and skill levels.
“We might have a kid come down who’s nervous or scared to play because it’s so new to them,” she said.
“The coaches are trained to make them feel welcome and part of a team.”
Ewen McRae
