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Meet the Neighbours

By Samantha van Zweden

 MELBOURNE - Victoria’s Indonesian community jammed the Immigration Museum in mid-March for a one-day festival celebrating the diverse culture, activities and food of their homeland.

 
A crowd of more than 1,000 Indonesians were joined by local family and school groups to see traditional shadow puppetry, hear the sounds of the wayang and taste the best of Indonesian food.
 
 
Opening the festival, Indonesia’s Consul General, Budiarman Bahar, noted that “Melbourne is a welcoming outgoing and confident city - a reflection of the generous and inclusive spirit of its people.
 
“It is also a positive sign that multiculturalism truly works - that is what today’s celebration is all about.”
 
 
Indonesian performers showed both the traditional and modern sides of their culture. Highlight for traditionalists was the playing of gender wayang, a percussion instrument that is played in pairs, while younger people rocked to the music of the local “Indomonashis” band.
 
The Indonesian Festa was one of three festivals, which the Immigration Museum features throughout the year, aimed at focusing on local communities rather than an “overseas culture.”
  
“I think events like this are very useful for the younger generation who were born in Australia,” said recent immigrant Yulia Suparto. “I think it’s important they don’t lose their traditions.”
 
She added that events such as the Melbourne Festa were equally important for the wider community. “Indonesia is not portrayed so well in the media but here, people can see what is the reality, ”
 
Batik demonstrator Tania di Berardino hoped to make people understand what goes into the making of of the beautiful Indonesian textiles that often are regarded as just cheap souvenirs.
 
“If we can open people’s eyes to what things are really worth, then hopefully they will appreciate them more,” she said.
 
 
Two year 10 students at Warragul Regional College, Rachael Wangman and Laura Bennett, were excited to experience Indonesian customs first hand after studying them.
 
“We don’t have anything like this in Warragul,” said Laura, “I think it is important for everyone to have an understanding of different cultures - especially (Australia) being one of the most multicultural of countries.”
       
Pictures: Ben Healley, Museum Victoria