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Multicultural festival heats up Monash

17 August 2005

Despite the big chill across Victoria last week, several Monash campuses were fired up with celebrations for the 9th Annual Multicultural Festival.

Trisna Fraser heats up the stage with a belly dance at the Clayton campus.

Designed to provide awareness and showcase Monash's multicultural community, the week-long festival included cultural performances, exhibitions, short film screenings and food stalls.

One of the highlights included a belly dancing performance by Underbelly performers, which drew a full house despite the wintry conditions.

Organised by International Student Services, the week concluded with a Multicultural Ball held at the Park Hyatt Hotel on Friday night.

International Student Services logistics officer Mr Keith Loy, who helped organise the week, was delighted by its success.

"Monash is, by nature, a truly multicultural society, so embracing our diversity is very important," he said

"Events such as the multicultural festival help to create a feeling of unity within the student body and showcase marvelous aspects of the different cultures that call Monash home."

At the Berwick campus, 500 students and staff attended an afternoon of celebrations in the student lounge.

Held for the 4th year running, the celebrations included performances, food stalls, an international beer competition and fundraising for a Cambodian orphanage.

Mr Noel Yek, chairman of the Berwick International Students Association, who organised the event at the campus, said creating cultural awareness and promoting unity was important in the current global climate.

"The responses we received were very positive," he said. "The atmosphere of acknowledgment and respect for the different cultures that were involved in the afternoon helped promote multiculturalism and ensured we achieved our goal of encouraging unity."

Similar celebrations were held at Peninsula and Gippsland campuses, while the Caulfield campus will hold its festival next week. No activities are planned for Parkville.