Culture and community

Macarthur Adventist College in Sydney recently held a fun and colourful multicultural night, raising more than $20,000.

Over 1000 people attended the night which raised money for the school’s year 11 community service trip to Beulah Adventist College in Tonga later this year. The trip will involve renovating Beulah Adventist College’s classrooms, running a fun program for the kids and providing essential items to the community.

Cultural performances were organised by Macarthur’s year 11 and 12 students, who practised every lunchtime and after school for four weeks. The multicultural program had dance items from Tonga, Samoa, Philippines, Chile, India, Fiji, Nepal, Cook Islands and the Torres Strait. The hall was decorated with murals of various countries, painted by the students. Live music was provided by 4XL, a musical group featuring former Beulah College students, who sang songs from different Pacific Islands.

Food stalls provided a variety of cultural foods from Fiji, India, Australia, Tonga, Samoa and Philippines, as well as Middle Eastern sweets. Items were also available for auction on the night, including State of Origin tickets and signed NRL jerseys.

Twenty-seven students will be embarking on the community service trip—the first time Macarthur has run such a trip to Tonga. Macarthur has previously hosted trips to Cambodia, Laos and Fiji.