New Community Event Hungry to Celebrate the Hunter's Multiculturalism

BY EMILY WILLIAMS

Local community organisation Centre for Hope has launched a new monthly event, Flavoursome Friday's, with hopes of celebrating the cultural diversity of the Hunter.

On the first Friday of each month, a different cultural group in the area will prepare and serve a two-course meal to the local community for a small cost. 

Shari Bonnette, manager of the youth organisation behind the event, believes the event is a great way to bring people of different backgrounds together.

"What a fabulous way to learn about culture via food and through the sharing of a meal with our established and emerging multicultural communities in our local area," she said.

The meal comes at the cost of $5 for adults and $2 for children and students. However, diners are encouraged to make an additional donation to support the ongoing event.

"Paying it forward means that the next community group can also make a meal and then we can spread some more of this social inclusion and community connection a bit further," said Ms Bonnette.

You can find more information about Flavoursome Fridays here.

Volunteers from the Australian Iranian community with a Persian feast at the first Flavoursome Friday earlier in August.

Newcastle to celebrate cultural diversity in weekend festival

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Newcastle residents are invited to celebrate the region's rich cultural diversity this weekend. 

The seventh annual Newcastle: Unity in Diversity Festival will take place from 11am-4pm at Foreshore Park on Saturday. 

Each year, the festival marks the end of Refugee Week, and event organisers Unity in Diversity and STARTTS, said the event has gained more support from the community each year. 

"It started as very small festival in Civic Park. I think there were probably 100 people who came to the first festival," said event coordinator Jo McGregor of STARTTS. 

"This was designed to create a wonderful celebration of inclusivity in terms of cultural diversity in Newcastle, and every year it's grown and grown and grown," she said. 

This year's event will feature over 20 cultural performances and workshops, including Tibetan throat singing and Latin and Congolese dance. 

As usual, the event will also host a plethora of international food stalls, with a special focus this year on Ukrainian food and culture, namely "Yuri's Ukrainian Food". 

"Yuri is newly arrived to Newcastle and is very excited to share his Ukrainian food with people," Ms McGregor said. 

"There is conflict occurring globally around the world and I think it's a really great way to welcome Ukrainian community members here in Newcastle, as well as anyone who is part of the Newcastle community. We do have a traditional welcoming here in Newcastle, and this festival is a really wonderful sign of that unity in diversity."

The community is encouraged to meet at Newcastle Foreshore near the Tramsheds at the festival's opening, to take part in the Welcome Walk, Indigenous welcome and smoke ceremony. 

The Newcastle: Unity in Diversity Festival will take place at Foreshore Park on Saturday.