DESPITE the smorgasbord of choice when it came to picking a World Cup team to barrack for, Adnan Issa and Taniqa Khoury could not see past the Socceroos.
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The home team's multicultural make-up almost reflects their school, Hannans Road Public School, Riverwood, which has students from 50 cultural backgrounds.
So it is no surprise their school was chosen by Banks MP David Coleman and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, to celebrate the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup and the release of Harmony Game school packs.
Harmony Game is a resource pack for 7900 primary schools devised by the federal government, SBS and Football Federation Australia to use the power of the World Cup to encourage students to learn about and celebrate Australia's cultural diversity.
"It was great to talk to the students. They are excited about the Cup and the opportunity to learn about all the different cultures participating in it," Mr Coleman said.
Senator Fierravanti-Wells said the pack was an opportunity to strengthen the spirit of Harmony Day.
"Like the World Cup, we represent the diversity of nations in Australia," she said.
"At least 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia since 1945 and today around 45 per cent of Australians were born overseas or have a parent who was."
The school's relieving principal Cheryl Butler said it contained activities and information that were a great basis for discussion about cultural diversity.
"As a school community we have an expectation of respect — respect for self, each other and the school. Our students demonstrate this every day through team-work, co-operation and support of each other," she said.
