By Harguan Kaur
One of my favourite things about the western suburbs is the amount of people you meet from completely different backgrounds. It’s part of the reason why the western suburbs are often regarded as the mulit-cultural hub of Victoria. With various places to eat, chat and try something new it’s hard not to broaden your horizons here. It’s something which I think a lot of us end up taking for granted.
Make sure to spread some love.
In the news lately there has been a greater spotlight on immigration. This is greatly due to the United States harsh crackdown on immigrants, leading to mass deportations. While America is miles away from Australia, many of us, myself included, can’t help but feel worried about what this means for us.
In fact, the other day one of my friends posed a question which I had been dreading to answer, “If mass deportations can happen in America, why can’t they happen in Australia?” Simply put, I had no idea what to say. So instead, I posed the same question to other friends – a mix of those who immigrated at a young age to those who were born here. They all essentially said the same thing: “We wouldn’t let it.”
At first I was apprehensive about this reasoning, believing that if mass deportations were to occur, how would people be able to do anything? But, if recent protests in America have taught me anything, it is that we are stronger together.
In Wyndham, 25% of residents were born overseas. In Maribyrnong, 38% of residents were born overseas and in the City of Melton, 35% were born overseas. These statistics extend to all of the western suburbs, and show just how beautifully diverse our community is. To protect our community and to watch it grow even further make sure to spread some love. Chat with someone new, learn something new and embrace the gorgeous community we have created.
