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Spotlight on Racism

Musicians

Matt Thomas - The Mavis's

Matt x

What do you do?

Write songs, sing, play guitar in bands the Mavis's and Pluto.

How old are you?

30 years old.

Where were you born?

Born in Torquay near Geelong in Victoria.

Where did you grow up?

Grew up in Ballarat, Clunes and Melbourne.

Describe your cultural/religious/ethnic family background

My parents are both Australian and I have a mixture of English, German, French and Welsh in my background. I am not religious but I have strong spiritual beliefs.

Do you know any other languages? If so what are they?

I speak only English and a little Greek.

What is your favourite place in the world and why?

My favourite places in the world are Australia and New York City. I love them both for the big mixture of cultures and arts.

Have you ever experienced or witnessed racism? How did it make you feel?

I have not experienced any racism directly but I have through friends as I was growing up. It made me feel angry, sad and confused as I was brought up to believe everyone was equal and that I could learn exciting things from other cultures. My parents always had friends from many different cultural backgrounds.

What advice would you give kids experiencing racism?

I would say to any kids experiencing racism...you must realise that some people are scared of others' differences and it makes them feel insecure. There is nothing wrong with YOU. There will always be someone else feeling alienated too, so you are not alone. Stand up for yourself and never feel you have to change. Feel proud of your culture and also remember that we are all the same inside the world over.

What kind of Australia would you like to see for our children?

The kind of Australia I hope for our children is one where we can be proud of our mixture of many cultures. An exciting place where we can set an example to the world.