The flag will be raised on the Civic Flagpole from 10am this Saturday
Wollongong has long opened its arms to people from around the world looking to make our beautiful city home. The contribution of various migrant communities in building the Wollongong we know and love has been well documented and celebrated over many years.
This cultural diversity means large sections of our community maintain strong ties to ancestral homelands and can be profoundly impacted by events occurring overseas. This has certainly been the case for the Nepali community following the devastating glacier collapse in late August that claimed more than 1400 lives and has left a further 6000 people missing.
Impacts of the tragedy have been strongly felt around the world, including the Nepali community in Wollongong and the Illawarra. In a show of solidarity for a community still feeling the impacts of the disaster, Wollongong City Council has agreed to a request to fly the flag of Nepal from its Civic Flagpole and will do so this Saturday from 10am.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said the mark of respect aligns with the city’s ethos of uniting people from all cultures and backgrounds.
“The impacts of the tragic events in Nepal have been felt all around the world, and deeply by the Nepali community in Wollongong,” Cr Brown said.
“In recognition of that pain, and as a sign of respect, we’re honouring a request to fly the flag of Nepal from the Civic Flagpole this Saturday. It is a simple gesture, but one that can be profoundly moving for the Nepali community, and for all our residents who’ve witnessed the devastation of the natural disaster.
“It’s often, and quite rightly said that diversity is one of Wollongong’s greatest strengths. It’s something we celebrate at every opportunity, but it’s just as important for us to unite in solidarity when a section of our community is in distress because of such awful circumstances.
“That’s what we’re doing in raising the flag to show, as a council and as a community, that our thoughts are with the Nepali people at this sad time.”
The flag of Nepal will be flown from 10am, 26 September.
