Culture Mix is a yearly one day festival organised by Wollongong City Council to celebrate the vibrant and diverse cultures which make up our community. Wollongong Library holds events as part of the festival including exhibitions, workshops and displays.
In 2025 we conducted short interviews with participants to record people’s stories and sense of connection to the Illawarra area.
Listen to their stories.
Akina Yamamoto
from Brazil/Japan
Akina came for work and loves the beauty of the local area.
Listen to Akina’s interview
Akina’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Allan Wachira
from Nairobi, Kenya
Allan and his wife came from Kenya and has found Wollongong to be a beautiful multicultural place to raise their family.
Listen to Allan’s interview
Allan’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Aruua Lakmal
from Sri Lanka
Aruua and family feel welcomed to Wollongong.
Listen to Aruua’s story
Aruua’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Catherine Waerner
from Ireland & England
Catherine enjoys being part of a multi-cultural community and wants to learn more about the traditional custodians.
Listen to Catherine’s story
Catherine’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Chandra Nath Adhikari
from Kolkata, India
Chandra’s dream had always been to visit Australia, and he had only arrived the day prior and reunited with his wife.
Listen to Chandra’s story
Chandra’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Ebi Ramezani
from Iran
Ebi came to live in Wollongong to be with his family, and has continued to love the city for its good weather, beaches, and kind people.
Listen to Ebi’s story
Ebi’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Harvey Tjoe
from Hong Kong
Harvey has lived, studied, and worked in Wollongong since 2000 and doesn’t see himself leaving any time soon.
Listen to Harvey’s story
Harvey’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Varsha Vaghese & Jasmin John
from Kerala South India
Varsha & Jasmin came to Wollongong to study and today performed a Tamil Kuthu dance and ran a dance workshop.
Listen to Varsha & Jasmin’s story
Varsha & Jasmin’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Joan Zealey
from Scotland
Joan came from Scotland and loves Wollongong’s beaches.
Listen to Joan’s story
Joan’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Kay Yasngi & Young Kyu Kwon
from South Korea
Kay & Young Kyu presented a shadow puppet show and made puppets with children.
Listen to Kay & Young Kyu’s story
Kay & Young Kyu’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Manish Shandilya
from India
Manish and his family love the natural environment and quieter life in the area.
Listen to Manish’s story
Manish’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Natasha Chellan
from Indian South Africa
Natasha and her son wrote a book called ‘Now my life is new’.
Listen to Natasha’s story
Natasha’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Phanindra Regala
from Hyderabad, India
Phanindra says it was “love at first sight” when he moved to Wollongong six months ago. He’s enjoying the slower pace of life, as well as the many beaches.
Listen to Phanindra’s story
Phanindra’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Priya Singh
from Suva, Fiji
Priya was born in Fiji and moved to Australia when she was 2. After recently moving to Wollongong, Priya loves the beaches and slower pace of life.
Listen to Priya’s story
Priya’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Shreyasi Bardyopadhyay
from Kolkata, India
Shreyasi came to Wollongong to study three years ago and has continued to build a life here, enjoying the beaches and social life Wollongong has to offer.
Listen to Shreyasi’s story
Shreyasi’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Smriti Jaiswal
from India
Smriti came to study and stayed on to work. She feels like she belongs.
Listen to Smriti’s story
Smriti’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
Vish Indran
from Sri Lanka and New Zealand
Vish was born in Sri Lanka but left when he was 9 months old. His family lived in New Zealand until he was 4 before moving to Australia. Now settled in Wollongong, Vish is enjoying the fitness community and slower pace of life.
Listen to Vish’s story
Vish’s audio interview can be downloaded here.
William ‘Bill’ Zealey
from Scotland
Bill was born in Scotland and, after his marriage, travelled the world with his wife. He was employed at the University of Wollongong, teaching physics, and has been here ever since.
Listen to Bill’s story
Bill’s audio interview can be downloaded here.