UPDATE: 11.45AM MARCH 17
The Cessnock Harmony Day Festival has been cancelled due to the wet weather.
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Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity and promotes inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
That includes people with a disability and their families and carers.
The 2017 Cessnock Harmony Day Festival will include a ‘chill-out zone’ – a quiet place for children challenged by the sensory stimulus associated with the festival.
The festival is expected to attract hundreds of people to the Cessnock TAFE grounds on Saturday, March 18.
Large and crowded events can present specific challenges for people with disabilities, including those with sensory processing disorders, autism spectrum disorder, mobility and other issues.
Located in the F Block of the TAFE, the chill-out zone will also allow other members of the community to take time out if need be – that might mean older people, mums with young babies, and people with other needs.
Ability Links has created the chill-out zone and will have various items such as fidget toys, weighted blankets, books, and sensory toys available.
A hearing loop, designed to help people with hearing impairments enjoy the entertainment, will also be available for free hire.
Ability Links coordinator Mishelle Dal Bianco said this year’s venue was more accessible and the chill-out zone will be located in a quieter area.
“We are letting people know that this is a more accessible venue and that the chill-out zone will be there because we know it’s going to be valuable to so many people in our community,” she said.
The chill-out zone will be there because we know it’s going to be valuable to so many people in our community
- Mishelle Dal Bianco, Ability Links coordinator
Ability Links coordinators, known as ‘Linkers’, work with people with disability, their families and carers, by building on their strengths and helping them to overcome barriers by becoming better connected with their local communities.
Linkers also work alongside community, community organisations, clubs, sporting and recreational groups, businesses and mainstream services to develop a better understanding of how they can become more welcoming and inclusive.
Linkers will be on-hand in the chill-out zone to answer any questions.
The Cessnock Harmony Day Festival will feature entertainment, multicultural food and market stalls, demonstrations and children’s activities.
This year’s program will include dancers from many different cultures, seniors and school choirs, performances by people with disabilities, an interactive drumming workshop, Tai Chi and soccer demonstrations and a fashion parade.
The festival will run from 10am to 2pm and entry is free.
PROGRAM
10.15am: Opening ceremony and Welcome to Country
10.25am: Korreil Wonnai Deadly Dancers
10.40am: Cessnock Pipe and Drums Band
10.55am: Cessnock Seniors Choir
11.10am: Perform-Ability
11.25am: Cessnock Community of Great Public Schools Choir
11.40am: JamoJamo Drumming demonstration
11.55am: Bengali singers
12.10pm: Mai-Wel house band
12.25pm: Russian dancers
12.40pm: Big Issue Street Soccer demonstration
12.55pm: Island (Hula) dancers
1.10pm: Indian fashion parade
1.25pm: African dancers
1.40pm: Raffle draw
All-day activities (located in F Block): Colourfest short film screenings, chill out zone and quiet space, Ability Links multicultural talking cards, Bunnings face painting.
