Gallery: All the touching moments captured at Luminous Lantern Parade
Hundreds of Toowoomba residents gathered outside the Empire Theatre at the weekend to celebrate the diversity of the community, creating heartfelt scenes of welcoming newly arrived refugees. See all the photos from the event here.
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Heartfelt scenes were witnessed when the Toowoomba community banded together as one at the Luminous Lantern Parade.
Hosted by Multicultural Australia, the treasured event was held for the first time in Brisbane’s South Bank Parklands 16 years ago and returned to Toowoomba for the fourth time at the weekend.
An estimated 500 members of the community gathered outside the Empire Theatre to make lanterns, watch the parade and welcome refugees in the most sentimental way.
“Sixteen years ago we started with just 50 people gathering at South Bank with candles and the desire to light the way for refugees,” Multicultural Australia regional manager Kelly Hogan-Buckingham said.
“The event has grown every year and at one point I needed to send people out to buy more craft supplies because it was so busy, which is fantastic.”
Ms Hogan-Buckingham said she loved hearing the beautiful settlement stories in Toowoomba which had certified itself as an official welcome zone for refugees.
Proud Indigenous man and Oakey resident Damon Anderson delivered an Acknowledgement of Country to the crowd and a Mariachi band performed, before community members lit their lanterns and proceeded to the parade.
“It was very powerful to walk in and see so many different community members helping to create that feeling of belonging,” Ms Hogan-Buckingham said.
“Whether you were a newly arrived refugee or Australian-born person, everyone came together to share this moment and felt welcome regardless of where they come from.
“We know when people feel that sense of belonging they will settle in easier and I really hope this becomes a yearly event here in Toowoomba.”
Check out all the photos from the event online at thechronicle.com.au
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