A new community event focused on creativity, wellbeing and cultural connection will debut in Cranbourne West later this month, as One Harmony prepares to host its first Creative Wellness Fair.
The non-profit group, which promotes personal growth and community harmony through educational and wellbeing activities, will bring together families, children and seniors for a day of workshops, performances and cultural experiences to Cranbourne West Community Hub on Saturday 21 March, from 10am to 4pm.
Organiser Aileen A’Vard said the organisation aims to strengthen relationships within families and communities by creating opportunities for people to learn, share and connect.
Founded formally around three to five years ago, the organisation grew out of informal community gatherings where people supported each other through discussions, shared meals and cultural activities.
“Many years ago, when I first came to Australia, I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know much of an Asian community,” Aileen recalled the origin of the organisation.
“And then there was this Asian community that suddenly embraced me through the food and through talks. And I thought, oh, it’s a community that I felt I belong.
“In those days, you know, you start something from your home. After COVID, they just found that doing things from home is a little bit difficult, so we started to go out to parks where sometimes they do tai chi and yoga, and then now we go to community centres.”
Since then, One Harmony has run children’s value-based classes, parent sessions, philosophy discussions, tai chi and yoga, and community cooking activities across different parts of Melbourne, including regular programs at Lynbrook Community Centre.
The upcoming fair marks the group’s first major public event in Cranbourne West.
The event will feature a range of family-friendly activities, including face painting, candle-making, bookmark crafting and a family adventure challenge. Adults can also take part in wellbeing sessions such as yoga, tai chi, nutrition talks and flower-arrangement demonstrations.
Residents will also be able to learn practical self-care skills, including foot massage techniques that participants can practise at home.
Entertainment throughout the day will highlight the area’s cultural diversity, with performances including lion dance, African drumming, local singer-songwriters and traditional music such as the didgeridoo.
Aileen said the event is about celebrating art and culture.
“It is about bringing young people and older people through our activities, a lot of which are multi-generational.”
