Hundreds of cultures represented by almost 400,000 people.
And we’re still growing, faster than everywhere else.
Logan City is a pillar of diversity – whether it’s television programs like The Swap or community staples such as The Global Food Market, religious, cultural and ethnic diversity is imbedded in our lives.
Now another event can be added to the list: a “multi-faith” breakfast designed to foster understanding and appreciation for one another.
The first of possibly many breakfasts was held last Thursday, welcoming 300 community members who discussed the role faith plays in our city.
One of those was local Hindu leader Umesh Chandra, who in 2020 was awarded The Medal of the Order of Australia for his dedication to multiculturalism.
Ironically, his speech on the day explored the importance and need to “break bread” with each other.
“A family that eats together, stays together,” Mr Chandra said.
“If we all get together… we can break down the barriers – the differences that are perceived.
“People perceive all kind of differences, so it is very good that we can all come together, share our meal and have an open discussion.”
While the people of Logan are generally accepting of different cultures and faiths, Mr Chandra said there was always room for improvement.
“This [breakfast] is a very good example of how it can be done,” he said.
He encouraged locals who couldn’t make it to the sold-out event to get out and interact with people of different cultures.
“Some people just dislike others… and they don’t even know why – they haven’t even sat down with them, just because they might look different.
“When people get together, and they talk and interact with other faiths, they find that ‘they’re not too much different from us anyway’.”
Mayor Jon Raven, who hosted the breakfast, said it was easy to focus on the differences between and within each faith.
“But today we celebrated what we have in common – devotion to our faith, our community and the universal truths that are the ethical building blocks of our society,” he said.
“The event recognised that, by working together, people of all faiths can do so much to make the world a better place.”
The event featured a panel discussion providing a call to action to all those present, and those in the wider community, to consider how they can unite to support the most vulnerable Logan citizens.
Guests also heard from keynote speakers Ilham Sabry Ahamed and Justin Geange, who shared their insights into how faith has shaped their lives and success.
“Every day, and especially during disasters, faith groups step up – helping strangers by cooking meals, delivering supplies and providing comfort,” Mayor Raven said.
“The panel discussion was a great reminder about the role we all play in supporting others in our community, no matter what our faith.”
Cr Raven said he is looking forward to holding more multifaith events in the future.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates Logan’s population to be more than 392,000 – a 3.9% growth in a year.
“As the fastest growing local government area in Queensland, we know this brings greater diversity to our city, which we want to embrace and nurture,” Cr Raven said.
“Logan has also topped the internal migration figure for Queensland in 2024, and second nationally, as word spreads about what an amazing city this is to live, work, and invest in.
“As this growth continues over the coming decades, we’ll celebrate the unique attributes of each faith and cultural background and build a city we’re proud of.”
