My Dream

Melton City Council’s Cultural Diversity Week Festival 2024 (the Festival) celebrated Cultural Diversity Week 18 - 24 March.  The Festival brought residents of Melton from all diverse backgrounds, identities ages and abilities to celebrate the City of Melton’s diverse communities.

The theme of the Festival is the City of Melton Harmony - Two Hundred Thousand Dreams and More!

As part of the Festival, Council organised My Dream.

My Dream featured 12 active community members who have made a significant contribution towards making the City of Melton an inclusive and welcoming place where diversity is embraced and celebrated.

The Stories

Alex Osborne Briggs

I am Alex Osborne Briggs. I am a Forgotten Australian and one of the stolen Generations.  I weave my life journey and lived experiences through my art.  Born to a Maori Mother and Aboriginal Father, I have the ability to draw deep connections from these two cultures in my artwork.

Find out more about Alex Osborne Briggs

Andrew Makumbe

I am Andrew Makumbe. I am originally from Zimbabwe. I am a resident of the City of Melton. I am passionate about community diversity and inclusion.

Find out more about Andrew Makumbe  

Comfort Kennedy

I am Comfort Kennedy, an African Australian who migrated to Australia over 15 years ago. I’m studying my honours in psychology. I’m a driven, inquisitive and determined person. I’m passionate about learning and volunteering.  I am most proud of being able to integrate myself into different community groups through my volunteering roles and using my voice. 

Find out more about Comfort Kennedy

Jono Ingram

My name is Jono Ingram. I am passionate about caring for the environment and inspiring others to engage in small things which make a huge difference to the ecosystems we are a part of. I am really proud of the fact that over the past 6 years, together with well over 700 volunteers, I have co-ordinated the revegetation of parts of the Kororoit Creek and Deanside Wetlands with more than 12,000 plants through community and school planting days.

Find out more about Jono Ingram

Karuna Malik

I am Karuna Malik. I have been a proud resident of the City of Melton since 2007. I am an accountant by profession. I manage my own accounting firm based in Caroline Springs. 

Find out more about Karuna Malik  

Kim

I am Kim. I am happy. I love cooking and I love my life. I am happy with myself. I am proud of myself learning to make coffees on the coffee machine. I am currently enrolled in a program to learn barista skills to open up a community café.  

Find out more about Kim

Kulvinder Singh

I am Kulvinder Singh. I was born and raised in Punjab, India. I was fortunate to have been raised and brought up in a country that values respect, social connections, unity and harmony which form the foundation of our culture. 

Find out more about Kulvinder Singh 

Dr Loudeen Lam

I am Dr. Loudeen Lam. My family moved into Australia from Samoa and settled in the City of Melton in mid-December 2018. The lively festive season spirit I experienced alleviated my panic and anxious mood swings. The Melton Library became my hangout place (and still is today), reading and researching for work, school and essential support services. My goal is to guide my family towards opportunities so we can thrive and embrace our livelihoods in our new home.

Find out more about Dr Loudeen Lam

Matt Richardson

I am Matt Richardson. I am a queer author, editor, and youth mental health advocate. I am proud of my work with Headspace Melton especially the improvements I have made with regards to accessing mental health care in the community.  

Find out more about Matt Richardson 

Mukhles Habash

My name is Mukhles Habash, a father of four children. I am a Vet, an interpreter and language service administrator for the Iraqi Syriac community. I am an active member of the City of Melton leading a local community association. I also serve on the Regional Advisory Council of Victorian Multicultural Commission. 

Find out more about Mukhles Habash 

Shaofei Liang

My name is Shaofei Liang. I am from China, and my everyday life is deeply branded with elements of Chinese values. As the population of our community grows, so does the number of people with different cultural backgrounds. I am very proud to have experienced the great changes in our Melton community in recent years. The diverse backgrounds in our community have also developed harmoniously.

Find out more about Shaofei Liang

Sainab Sheikh

I am Sainab Sheikh, a dedicated and passionate advocate for positive change in society.  As a mother, community leader, and humanitarian aid worker with professional qualifications in social work and international community development, I have found my true calling in creating a lasting impact. Through my roles as the founder of the Somali Women’s Development Association Inc. and the Zainab Sheikh Foundation Ltd. I have served the community.  

Find out more about Sainab Sheikh