On Monday 9th May, important guests including many whose stories appear in the exhibition, gathered to celebrate the official launch of Identity: yours, mine, ours.
Guests gather for the launch in the Long Room, Immigration Museum
Image: Ben Healley
Source: Museum Victoria
The event was MC’d by Aamer Rahman, one half of the comedy duo Fear of a Brown Planet, and he ably set up the evening with his witty introduction, managing to joke about topics as diverse as being a grown man moving back into his parents’ house, to racist media coverage.
Aamer had the guests in stitches
Image: Ben Healley
Source: Museum Victoria
Padmini Sebastian, Manager of the Immigration Museum and Dr Patrick Greene, CEO of Museum Victoria then gave warm welcoming speeches and introduced the next two VIP speakers: Harry O’Brien, Collingwood football legend (and a star of our multimedia piece ‘Standing Up’), and the Hon. Nicholas Kotsiras, Victorian State Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship.
Harry’s speech about his own struggle to belong in unfamiliar environments, and his decision to embrace diversity and champion individual uniqueness, was heartfelt and very moving, prompting an audience ovation. He’s a true star! We also appreciated his warm praise of the exhibition which he described as ‘outstanding’!
Collingwood great Harry O'Brien at the IYMO launch
Image: Ben Healley
Source: Museum Victoria
The Minister was able to follow up with his own moving and often humorous take on his personal journey to belonging.
The Hon Nicholas Kotsiras, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, at the IYMO launch.
Image: Ben Healley
Source: Museum Victoria
The Long Room was buzzing by the time we all got upstairs to wander through the exhibition. The reaction from our guests made all the hard work truly worthwhile. What a great evening, thanks to everyone who helped organise it, and who came to support this exhibition.
Guests enjoy the official launch of Identity: yours, mine, ours.
Image: Ben Healley
Source: Museum Victoria
Guests admire the feature multimedia of the first gallery in Identity: yours, mine, ours
Image: Ben Healley
Source: Museum Victoria