Wagga celebrates cultural diversity for Refugee Week

During the weekend's Refugee Week community celebration at Henschke Primary School, Phong Tiwangce told of how he arrived in the city when he was 12 years old.

"My mum and dad and I had to flee Burma because we feared for our lives," he said.

"We went through a lot to get here. We stayed here in Malaysia and then we got here.

"It was hard to leave our friends and family, especially my grandma, behind was pretty hard and we knew no English and we didn't know anyone."

Mr Tiwangce, now 21 years old, is in his third year of an electrical apprenticeship.

"Ever since I was little I always wanted to solve problems and now I am getting the proper training in Australia and I love what I am doing," he said.

"Wagga is my home.

"We are so grateful to the community for accepting us."

Belinda Crain, CEO of the Wagga Multicultural Council, said it was important to celebrate Refugee Week.

"It brings everyone from the community together and is a celebration of those here with a refugee background and what they contribute," she said.

"Looking around it's great to see so many people here from Australian-born to our refugees."

Ms Crain thanked Wagga Council, Multicultural Council NSW, Teys and Rotary for funding and donating time and food.

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