The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have today announced that they will be continuing their annual tradition of celebrating Harmony Day at their Round 26 home match against Brisbane Roar on 7 April.
The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have today announced that they will be continuing their annual tradition of celebrating Harmony Day at their Round 26 home match against Brisbane Roar on 7 April.
In an effort to continue to promote inclusivity and unity for new arrivals and migrants in Western Sydney the Wanderers are working with a number of Western Sydney resettlement and migrant advocacy groups to distribute 1000 memberships as part of a pilot program supported by Blacktown City Council.
The membership on offer gives the groups, made up of new arrivals and migrants across Western Sydney, access to the Wanderers’ final two matches of the season at ANZ Stadium and also includes a membership hat, scarf and free train travel to and from the matches.
Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said that the pilot program is part of the club’s commitment to creating an inclusive community in Western Sydney.
“The role football can play in creating a socially inclusive society is profound,” said Tsatsimas.
“The capacity for football to engender social capital and create community is enormous and we are committed to continuing to play our part by creating strong relationships with these groups in a sport that they are familiar with in an environment that is and will always be one of inclusivity.
“The simple opportunity of coming to a match and creating a wider sense of social inclusion within the community is compelling.”
With a large proportion of the memberships being directed to the Blacktown, Fairfield and Liverpool LGAs the program will help support the large numbers of new arrivals settling in Western Sydney’s heartland.
The Mayor of Blacktown City, Stephen Bali MP said the offer to Blacktown showed the strength of the relationship the Wanderers have with their home base.
“We have been partners with the Wanderers since day one and this is just another example of why they are so rightly called Western Sydney’s community club,” said Mayor Bali.
“The integration and support Council provides through our CALD (Culturally And Linguistically Diverse) community programs is hugely important for our City.
“Having this opportunity to bring groups together for the amazing match day experience that only the Wanderers can deliver is a great initiative and fully complements our plans for building a cohesive and harmonious community.”