One Parramatta: Tony Slieman of Three Ropes Café in Parramatta features in the One Parramatta project which seeks to show how diversity can play a positive role and contribute to the success of living together.
‘‘Everyone’s welcome, everyone should be welcome and everyone has something to contribute in their own particular way ... That’s what Australia’s all about.’’
Those are the words of Parramatta café owner Tony Slieman featured in One Parramatta, a short film series addressing racism in the area.
He is one of 170 interviewees asked to reflect on the community’s behaviour and prejudice towards different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.
The first six episodes of the short film series, co-ordinated by the All Together Now charity, will screen today at Parramatta Event Cinemas from 10am.
Watch some of the episodes below:
‘‘Having spoken to over 170 people in Parramatta we have discovered that people give constructive comments about racism, providing they’re asked unbiased questions about their experiences and behaviours,’’ All Together Now managing director Priscilla Brice-Weller said.
A spokeswoman said the project was evidence-based and was confronting as it named racism without pretending to be something else.
Episodes have different tones – sometimes funny, sad or provocative – with interviewees asked confronting questions about racism.
The screening coincides with Harmony Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which is observed on March 21.