Horsham Town Hall will be a hub of beef, noodles, seafood, curry and exuberant cultural dances this Saturday, as the local Karen community celebrates the start of the year, which is year 2758 on their calendar.
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Wendy King, friend of the Wimmera’s Karen people, said this was the first time the New Year celebration would be held outside of Nhill.
“Last year the Horsham population of Karens grew and they thought they would like to have the New Year here. So we’ve put everything into action and are having it here this year,” she said.
“The girls will be dancing, and there will be girls from other towns coming to dance as well. There might also be music and poetry.”
The Karen community plans to hold the New Year celebration in Nhill again next year, and Horsham again in 2021.
Marie Perry, another friend, said Karen migration to Horsham began to pick up after the Anglican Church sponsored five families to come and settle here.
“They’ve told their friends and relatives about Horsham and how great it is, and that there is work and friendly people, and so more have moved up here,” she said.
There are now about 20 Karen families in Horsham, many of them working in local enterprises such as Oscars Furniture, Thai Basil and Grain Corp.
“Also the flower farm out at Laharum, and that’s expanding and they hope to get more Karen people working there in the future,” Ms Perry said.
“They’re all working out here now and buying homes and settling in to life in town, which they love because they’re country people.”
Ms Perry said the event presented an opportunity for Wimmera residents to be introduced to the history and culture of the ethnic group that is fast becoming an important part of life in the region.
“The Karen people went to Thailand and Burma many years ago from Mongolia, where they originated, and settled there” she said.
“They fought with the British in the second World War after the British promised them they would have their own state, but then unfortunately they reneged on that.”
“The Karen people now mostly live on camps on the Thai-Myanmar border, and they are persecuted. So we were very happy to bring some of them out here to Australia.”
The Karen community, Ms Perry and Ms King thanked Horsham Rural City Council and the Wimmera Development Association for helping to pay the $8000 needed to hire out the town hall for the event.
Ms King also praised the Horsham community for welcoming the Karen people with open arms, making their introduction to the region an ongoing success.
“Everybody goes out of their way to help, and we get more back, that’s for sure. All the children are going to school and the eldest boy is going to university this year.”
The Karen New Year 2758 celebration takes place at Horsham Town Hall, 71 Pynsent Street, from 10:30am to 12:30pm this Saturday. All are welcome, but a gold coin donation at the door is encouraged.
Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
