General News
28 May, 2026
United in difference
DIVERSITY brought unity to Terang College students and families at the Celebration of Cultures luncheon last Thursday.
School staff, students, families, friends and members of the wider community gathered in the Terang College hall last week for the school’s second multi-cultural day celebration.
Principal Kath Tanner said the event provided an opportunity for families representing 12 different cultures to serve up a range of delicious cuisines to students.
Different cultures represented included Columbia, Fiji, Pakistan, China, Peru, Philippines, Kenya and South Africa.
“This is our second year running the multi-cultural lunch, which is an opportunity for our families to share their culture with the wider school community,” Mrs Tanner said.
“We’ve got 12 different nationalities represented so it’s really exciting.
“A lot of the parents come in to be part of it but it’s the students who absolutely love this day.
“It’s their favourite day of the year, being able to showcase where they’re from and what they’re proud of.”
Mrs Tanner said it was a pleasure to have so many different cultures represented in a small community, with agriculture playing a large role in a recent uptick in enrolments.
“Our population has really diversified and grown over the past two years,” she said.
“We’ve seen a really big increase in the number of families who have come over to Australia and finding employment in farming and retail.
“Whilst it brings a richness to our school community, it has also been a challenge sometimes.
“We’ve had a number of students come over with no English, so we’ve used Google translator and devices such as that to be able to communicate.”
For Terang College, the day is about bringing differences to the forefront in an act of celebration – not hiding or pretending everyone is the same, but creating conversations and allowing interest and connection to grow naturally.
“We celebrate inclusion,” Mrs Tanner said.
“Everyone had a great time making everything – all the students come in and it’s all free to prevent any barriers.
“We give everyone a bowl and a fork, and they’re able to go around and try what they want to try.
“All of it is credit to our parents, who have been amazing.
“A lot of them have cooked from home and brought everything in – which has just been incredible.”
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