Culture on display

Students from the Polynesian Kids Community Language School will showcase their culture and heritage at a concert in Werribee next week.
The school, which is based at the Wyndham Park Community Centre, teaches Tongan and Samoan language classes on weekends.
School director Mr John Palu said the concert – which is titled Celebrating the Journey – would feature up to 40 youngsters.
“The children will demonstrate what they have learned throughout the year with speeches, dance and singing,” he said.
Mr Palu said he and his wife Sesilia took over the running of the language school, which was previously located in Taylors Lakes, around a year ago.
“Wyndham has the second-largest population in Victoria for Polynesians, behind an area in the southeast around Dandenong and Frankston,” Mr Palu said.
“Some of the children we teach have a mixed background, for example a Tongan father and Australian mother, so connecting with others who share their heritage and learning the language and sharing that is the biggest thing.”
The Polynesian Kids Community Language School is the only accredited language school in the state that teaches Tongan and Samoan.
“Often, the students say they enjoy being able to go back to their grandparents and being to speak to them in their language,” Mr Palu said.
Celebrating the Journey will be held 6pm-8.30pm on Saturday, November 30 at the Kelly Park Centre, 2b Synnot St, Werribee. Tickets: $10 including a late supper of traditional Polynesian food.
Book at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/celebrating-the-journey-of-our-polynesian-children-tickets-78350349003