City of Casey councillors were joined by community members in Cranbourne East to celebrate 10 years since the establishment of the Wall of Global Friendships (WOGF).
The local icon acknowledges Casey’s rich cultural diversity and features a collection of inscribed plaques from local community groups that are committed to promoting mutual respect, friendship and goodwill.
Located at the Balla Balla Community Centre, the wall now has 23 community plaques following the addition of three more at the celebration on Saturday 29 June.
Casey mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon said she was thrilled to celebrate the occasion following the establishment of the wall in 2009, and acknowledged the late Salah Parker, who was integral in the fruition of the project.
“Casey’s Global Friendships Committee came up with the idea of establishing a Wall of Global Friendships back in 2007,” she said.
“Over the next two years, a working group of enthusiastic community volunteers, including members of the Balla Balla Centre Steering Committee and Council’s Access and Inclusions Advisory Committee, met regularly with Council officers and then in December 2009 the WOGF was officially opened with three community plaques.
“Every year since then, new plaques have been added and I am thrilled to welcome three new groups to the wall today.”
At the event, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre and the South Sudanese-Australian Academic Society each had a plaque added.
Cr Stapledon added that the wall is demonstrative of the diverse community that Casey is.
“The WOGF represents our community’s ability to work together to build a cohesive, harmonious and welcoming community, and I am extremely proud of this local asset,” she said.
