Located more than 30 kilometres west of Sydney's central business district, Fairfield is one of Australia's most multicultural government areas with 53.9 per cent of its residents born overseas, compared with 36.7 per cent in Greater Sydney.
Almost 68 per cent of its residents speak a language other than English at home, which is close to double the rate of Greater Sydney.
To celebrate this melting pot of cultures, Fairfield City Council unveiled The People's Globe in June.
The large granite sphere features an engraved world map that rotates over a water feature, with a ceramic tile wall listing the countries of origin of the area's residents, as well as bronze plaques bearing the names of immigrants who have left their mark.
Chilean migrant Nadia Rivera has lived in Fairfield for more than four decades and is “extremely proud” to have had the opportunity to engrave her family's name on the monument.
Mayor of Fairfield Frank Carbone unveiling The People's Globe. Source: Fairfield Council
“The name of the Rivera family will stay there forever… and later, when the grandchildren and great-grandchildren are adults, they will arrive at the Fairfield Showground, and they will say 'here is a tile with the names of our grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents'.
"The South American community always lived in this area. Fairfield is the name but the area is huge, we have suburbs up to the border with Blacktown."
For Ms Rivera, the monument is a reminder that the suburb has an identity greater than its current label as a COVID-19 hotspot.
Fairfield is among a handful of LGAs in southwest and western Sydney under strict lockdown, as health authorities try to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Earlier this week, hundreds of Australian Defence Force personnel were deployed across Sydney to enforce the lockdown and many are providing assistance in Fairfield.
Ms Rivera believes the strength of the community will help the area overcome the current crisis.
"South Americans usually comply with laws because we come from countries where we lived through very tough times, so those of us who arrived here around 1974, 1975 until the 80s, during the first South American migration wave," Ms Rivera says.
"Deep down we have another way of thinking and we see ourselves fully integrated into this country.
"That is why I believe that we will overcome this problem in Fairfield, together with the mayor, who is a great man who cares about the community and who is always on our side."
Amid the crisis, Ms Rivera believes it's important the wider community is reminded that Fairfield is a “home of multiculturalism”.
Australian Defence Force personnel and NSW police are seen at Fairfield in the southwest suburb of Sydney. Source: AAP
“All the languages and dialects of the world are spoken here.
We understand people's differences and truly celebrate diversity, which is why Fairfield is so successful.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone tells SBS Spanish the globe monument is a symbol of recognition for the sacrifices made by immigrants who left their countries to build new lives in Australia.
He says although the people of Fairfield are doing it tough during the lockdown, their "resilience" will shine through.
"A lot of people can't get to work, they can't see their families, so that brings mental health issues, but also financial issues.
"People are concerned obviously about the virus as well, but we are a tough resilient community. Being a multicultural community, there are a lot of things that we've faced in our lives, and we've always come through it.
"Fairfield is doing well, it's important to remember that the virus isn't just in Fairfield, it's really across the whole of Sydney, but residents in Fairfield are doing a great job."
Born in Chile, Ms Rivera arrived in Australia with her family 44 years ago, but today the Riveras have grown to 26 members.
“In our family in Australia we have a third-generation... with great-grandchildren. We were just six when we arrived here and now we are 26."
In addition to being culturally diverse, Fairfield is also known for having a community dedicated to volunteer work, she says.
Like many other migrants of her generation, Ms Rivera volunteered for the Fairfield Hispanic community during the '70s and '80s and understands the working class ethos of the area.
"The largest workforce in Sydney is in Fairfield because construction workers live here... there are a lot of them and right now everyone is suffering from this lockdown.
"Even though their employers have buildings in Double Bay, they (workers) live in Fairfield, and can't go to work. So, I think the local authorities must discuss this problem with state authorities, and with the construction chamber, and the unions, so that there's better understanding (about the impact of lockdowns).
"We are going to get through this, and we are going to succeed. We hope that we overcome this in a few weeks and that the number of infected people in Fairfield decreases promptly."
Mr Carbone is encouraging his community to "stay strong and proud" during the lockdown.
"We know it’s a difficult time, but together we will get through this. We're all very proud of everybody.
"Just keep on doing what you're doing, do the right thing. This virus is very contagious, it's not just about Fairfield, this virus is a world problem, not a Fairfield problem, but we all have a responsibility to work together, even here in Fairfield."
