Flourish Showcases Emerald Community

Over 500 people gathered to celebrate Integreat Queensland’s inaugural Flourish Festival in Emerald!

The Emerald Town Hall on Saturday, February 24th, 2024, was filled with smiling faces, community members dressed in vibrant cultural attire, and attendees enjoyed inspiring performances and delectable cuisine.

Months of dedicated effort from Coe, our Community Engagement Officer in Emerald, along with the Integreat Queensland Team in Gladstone, culminated in an event aimed at fostering understanding and recognition of the diverse multicultural community of the Central Highlands Region.

“The event offered a rich cross-section of Emerald’s community, celebrating its diverse ethnicities through a vibrant array of art and craft workshops, showcasing products, and culminating in lively displays of song, dance, and culinary delights,” Coe remarked. Local organisations were on hand to provide valuable information to both longstanding community members and newcomers, covering topics such as flood preparedness, tourism, travel, and even gem polishing.

Representatives from the community services sector were present, addressing the varied needs of youth, seniors, caregivers, children, and individuals focused on health and wellbeing. Parents felt it was a safe space for the children. The kids could be left to do activities, giving the parents time to sit, relax, watch the performances, and catch up with friends. They were also pleased the event was alcohol-free.”

Esther Arzolay, a member of Integreat Queensland’s team, joined the cultural performers on stage to sing ‘We Are Australian.’ Reflecting on the event, she said, “The entire event was just amazing!”

We are proud of our team and the Emerald community for making Flourish Emerald such an outstanding success!

Thank you to all the volunteers, Cultural fashion parade participants, stage performers, community stalls, food vendors, and to everyone who supported the event.

A special thank you to the following:

• Mayor Kerry Hayes – for opening
• Rose Sjaardema – Acknowledgement to Country