Message from the Prime Minister of Australia, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP 
It is a pleasure to provide this message for the Townsville Cultural Fest being held from 13 to 17 August 2008. Now in its 14th year, Cultural Fest makes a valuable contribution to the life of the region and has established itself as a key event on the Queensland calendar.
With hundreds of performers, exhibitors and stall-holders taking part the festival showcases cultural traditions from across Australia and around the world. Through a remarkable range of performances and activities visitors of all ages can experience live music and dance, traditional crafts and international cuisine in a spirit of friendship and harmony.
The festival theme – ‘Unity in Diversity’ – reflects our robust and cohesive society which embraces a wide range of cultural traditions. Those who have migrated to this country and have become Australians by choice have played a key role in the development of our nation. All Australians can take pride in our rich heritage, democratic traditions and respect for diversity. And all Australians – whether Australian by birth or by choice – should take pride in their and their communities’ contribution to the fabric of our modern nation.
I commend the Migrant Resource Centre Townsville Thuringowa for organising Cultural Fest 2008 and send my best wishes to all those participating in the absorbing program of events.
Message from the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh MP 
With a focus on Indigenous and Pacific arts and entertainment, and an engagement of over 250 community groups, the Townsville Cultural Festival truly inspires ‘Unity in Diversity’.
Popular with locals and tourists alike, last year thousands of people were drawn to the five-day celebration of food and entertainment.
Showcasing an amazing array of activities and entertainment, the Festival includes a Bollywood Night, Tropigo Carnival, Cultural Fest Idol and Global Village.
The Townsville Cultural Fest is proudly supported by my Government through the Queensland Events Regional Development Program.
Regional events deliver an enormous boost to local economies – bringing in business, creating jobs, attracting tourists and fuelling growth, prosperity and a tremendous sense of pride for the host communities.
Already, the funding program has provided more than $10 million to over 500 regional events since it started as a world-first initiative in 2001.
Across the State, thousands of individuals, community groups, local councils and in some cases entire towns, put countless hours into ensuring their events are a success.
The Queensland Government is proud to share the passion and the achievements of the State’s regions through this program. Enjoy the Festival and I hope you will have an opportunity to discover more of Queensland’s great events in the coming year.
Message from the Mayor of Townsville, Cr Les Tyrell
Cultural Fest 2008 is the north’s biggest multi-cultural event.
For 14 years the Cultural Fest has celebrated the rich and diverse cultural heritage of our community.
Townsville City Council has been a major sponsor of the Cultural Fest since its first year in 1995. We have been a proudpartner in an event that promotes harmony and fun. Dance, music, food and laughter – the ingredients that build a stronger community.
Special thanks must go to the Migrant Resource Centre and local ethnic groups who contribute so much of their own volunteer time and effort into making the event a roaring success.
This year there is even more work involved with the inaugural Unity in Diversity Conference, bringing together national and international delegates to consider issues of importance. I hope the regional community turn our on mass to this year’s event and make it the biggest and best yet. I am certainly lookingforward to it.
Message from The Hon Lindy Nelson-Carr MP 
Minister for Communities, Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
Cultural diversity is one of the great strengths of the Smart State - culturally, socially and economically. An inclusive community celebration such as “Cultural Fest 2008” plays an important role in helping to create an environment of mutual understanding and harmony. Cultural Fest is one of the largest and longest running event of its kind in Australia. It is a festival where people from all backgrounds come together to share in a program of special events, food and arts featuring over 250 groups from the North Queensland region.
For 13 years this festival has captured the imagination of people from the Townsville region as well as the many visitors to North Queensland. This year will be bigger and better than ever. I congratulate the Migrant Resource Centre Townsville-Thuringowa Ltd for your contribution to multiculturalism in Queensland.
Message from The Hon Peter Lindsay MP, Member for Herbert 
It’s Cultural Fest time again, and the people of North Queensland – along with visitors and tourists – will again have the opportunity to be part of our annual multicultural community festival.
North Queensland is proud of its cultural diversity, and the Cultural Fest brings together people from a huge range of cultural backgrounds and walks of life for a celebration of music and entertainment, food and fine dining and arts and crafts.
This year’s Cultural Fest has something for every member of the family, and will again capture the North Queensland spirit of warmth and friendship. Bringing together people of world-wide origin in a spirit of fun and cohesion is a magical feeling, and this year coincides with the International Unity in Diversity Conference being held at the same time at Jupiters Casino and Hotel.
On behalf of the Australian Government I congratulate all the organisers and contributors - and in particular the Migrant Resource Centre - on another marvellous five day event – Townsville Cultural Fest 2008.
Message from the Event Organiser, Dr Farvardin Daliri
Welcome to the Cultural Fest 08 catalogue. It is indeed a very proud occasion for the Migrant Resource Centre team and the hardworking cadre of over 250 affiliated organisations to stage this unique show which will dazzle spectators eyes, touch their hearts and tease their taste buds with food, fun, friendship and festivities. We have it all on offer and thanks to our supporters and major sponsors, in particular our festival partner, Townsville City Council. Please take your time to look through the catalogue with activities and highlights running from Wednesday 15th August through to Sunday evening 19th August and make sure that you don’t miss any of your favourites.
Cultural Fest is about the celebration of Australia with all its wonderful diversity within the framework of national cohesion and unity. It provides a vision of Australia’s future when multiculturalism is no more seen as a controversial topic, rather a celebration of different traditions and cultural niceties that becomes our way of life as Aussies. Cultural Fest has one simple message and that is ‘coexistence, peace and harmony is not a farfetched dream but is in our hands, let’s experience it and live it to the full. Cultural Fest provides an avenue for Indigenous communities to present the best of their art and cultural traditions to thousands of local residents and visitors who would have otherwise not had the opportunity to experience the richness of cultures of the first people of this land.
Cultural Fest provides an opportunity for North Queensland to elevate its position on the map as a place with social and cultural richness and as a destination for human resources and capital which is much needed for our fast developing infrastructures of major industries. Cultural Fest is a giant catalyst which brings cultural groups, mainstream agencies and communities together under the Australian flag beating their drum and dancing their steps, hence feeling as one people. Cultural Fest has a message for the world saying ‘hey folks…we have done it, why can’t you?’ Let us hope and pray that our message which emanates from our action will be taken to heart by those who have lost hope on global peace and harmony.