Moving feast to celebrate diversity

IF you like delicious food from around the world, head to Long Gully Splash Park next Friday for a Moving Feast put on by Regional Victorians of Colour.

There will be a range of cultural performances, as well as the option to participate in sports, games, and a free dinner!

Last year, director of community engagement at RVC Linto Thomas said they expected about 50 people, though were pleasantly surprised when over 250 arrived to see what was on offer.

After that success, the group is getting ready to welcome an expected several hundred people from across the region.

As well as food, fun, and games, there will be a short speaking segment including an address by Victorian Multicultural Commissioner Nyangak ‘Lizzy’ Kuoth, and three other young professionals from multicultural and refugee communities in Bendigo.

“The idea was that the event will be led by people of colour, especially young people,” Mr Thomas said.

He also said relationships between refugee communities and the wider community had improved since the last event, and newer residents felt more at home in their new city.

“The community definitely got the idea, the community came together,” said Mr Thomas.

Mr Thomas said they wanted to start the moving feast to bring locals together to enjoy each other’s company and strengthen networks.

As part of the event Regional Victorians of Colour have partnered with nine organisations and two businesses to bring this year’s event to life, and he said he’s grateful to Champions Fresh IGA Long Gully for providing the food, and Bendigo Cleaning Company for covering advertising costs.

“We really wanted local support, so that’s another success of what we have been doing; really an acceptance of the community,” Mr Thomas said.

Set for the last weekend Long Gully Splash Park is open this season, the Moving Feast goes from 6pm on Friday, 24 March.