Mirrabooka community celebrates multicultural links during Refugee Week

MORE than 100 people gathered in one of WA’s most culturally diverse suburbs to mark Refugee Week last month.

Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre held the celebration at the Herb Graham Recreation Centre in Mirrabooka and included ethnic food, an Australian barbecue, cultural music, dance and children’s activities.

Centre general manager Noel Whitehead said Refugee Week aimed to recognise talents, achievements and resilience of the refugee community.

According to the 2011 Census, the City of Stirling has more than one-third of its residents born overseas and nearly a quarter speak a language other than English at home.

Refugees, including an increasing number of new Syrian and Iraqi arrivals, have settled in the area.