Local leader named on honour roll

FROM the back of Bourke to one of Bendigo’s most important community spaces, Rosita Vincent has had her work connecting people from all walks of life recognised by the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

In late May, Ms Vincent was one of 29 people named on the first Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll.

Ms Vincent is the co-founder of Neighbourhood Collective Australia, which manages the Old Church on the Hill in Quarry Hill, where members of different communities have been connecting for over 10 years.

“It’s something I never imagined would happen,” she said. “It started as a little community garden and grew into a community space and then grew bigger and bigger and we started helping other groups and organisations.”

The Old Church provides a space for groups to host events, and is also used for live music, art exhibitions and many other activities.

Ms Vincent said Neighbourhood Collective Australia, which was incorporated at the start of last year, prides itself on not just connecting people to each other, but services and governments to communities.

“We’re passionate about helping organisations get back into ways of working with community that keeps community at the centre, rather than the service at the centre and the community broken up into clients,” she said

“There are 30 different partnerships with community groups, all grassroots, community-led organisations. I think that brings a lot of energy and life to the place.

“I see myself as a curator of a community space… human things like music, art, food and gardens. Those things that we all share, the things that hold us together.”

Ms Vincent and her parents migrated to Bourke from Mexico in 1972, at a time when there were few Mexicans living in Australia.

Soon after more family members arrived, and a small Mexican community was established in rural New South Wales.

Thirteen years ago, Ms Vincent, along with her husband and children, moved to Quarry Hill.

She said the first people they met were Karen refugees who had been in Bendigo for six months.

“Now I see some of those people who came out in those first few years who were just finding their feet, the language and good health, who are now the community leaders,” she said.

Ms Vincent said it’s community spaces like the Old Church and others like the Cultural Exchange and Golden Square Pool that are so important for social cohesion.

The community leader said it’s the people she’s surrounded herself with that have inspired her.

“I’ve been in this space for a long time, and I meet so many amazing community members in my role and I know there are a lot of people out there at the grassroots, chipping away,” she said.

“There are so many people sharing in my happiness, and it’s been an opportunity to tell people what they mean to me; I am who I am because of their influence.”

As well as being the CEO of Neighbourhood Collective Australia, Ms Vincent is also the director of regional affairs at Ethnic Community Council Victoria.