Mum and Her Children Excluded from Playgroup as They Weren’t “Multicultural” Enough
Mother of two, Tara Coverdale, has reported to The Daily Telegraph she was turned away from a ‘multicultural’ playgroup in Sydney’s inner city because she was “too white!”
The fourth-generation Australian was invited to the playgroup in Alexandria Park Community Centre by her Russian born friend. However when she arrived with her four year old son and baby she was questioned by staff on her ethnic ‘background.’
”Can I ask what your cultural background is?” a staff member asked.
Tara, who has red-haired children and blonde hair herself, replied “I’m Australian”.
According to an account of events Tara provided to the NSW Department of Education, the staff member then went on to say:
“I’m sorry, you can’t come here. It’s for multicultural families and people who speak languages other than English at home.”
Tara’s responded: “I said ‘I’m not leaving.’ My kids were playing. My older son was having such a good time with his buddy, and I thought, ‘Why should I leave?’”
The centre’s manager then questioned: “Can I just ask what your cultural background is?”
When Tara explained that she was fourth-generation Australian, the manager replied: “I’m sorry you can’t come here. It’s a multicultural playgroup.”
She was then advised she would need to go to Erskineville or Newtown to find a suitable playgroup.
Mother Tara Coverdale asked to leave playgroup
“We’re in a pretty progressive area,” Tara said. “It’s very accepting of all people. But I feel like I’m excluded.”
“How does that help Australia help people to integrate speak English and build a life…
“I pay a lot of tax. I pay my rates. To think I’m actually not welcome is unfair,” she said.
Tara and her children were forced to leave the playgroup! You can hear the ruffling of feathers in an already tense community bombarded by multicultural negativity!
Education Minister Rob Stokes responded to Tara’s complaint and has since instructed the centre’s manager to allow all families to attend the playgroup.
“I was disappointed to hear that a mum and her young child felt they were not welcome… This is not acceptable. Everyone, regardless of their background, should feel included in these wonderful community activities,” he said.
I’m not about to set a fire under an already burning and contentious issue. Perhaps there is more to this story or perhaps we leave it that choices had been misguided in misinformation. At the end of the day we need to be mindful that we are blurring a line that should not exist. Forget multicultural, this is our one and only mixed and muddled up cultural beautiful in its rainbow. We are one culture and one community and fully and whole heartedly embracing!
