Volunteers planning Harmony Day feast

Volunteers preparing to cook for the community on Harmony Day next month are busy planning their menus and are ready to showcase dishes from their homelands of India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Thailand.

Ratna Kumala Ambarsari and Gita Egan, volunteer cooks at Ararat Neighbourhood House, are among the team of locals giving their time to prepare a smorgasbord of dishes for the free community lunch at Ararat Town Hall on Saturday 21 March from 10.30am to 1pm.

Originally from different parts of Java, Gita and Ratna have been working together to plan a blended menu of traditional Indonesian dishes to complement foods also being prepared by members of the local Indian, Filipino, Afghan and Thai communities.

“We’ll be cooking foods that are sweet, sour and spicy,” said Gita. “People can come and try a big variety of Indonesian foods.”

Ratna, who has lived in Ararat for nine months, said she is looking forward to being part of the event and meeting more people from the local area.

“Everyone is very friendly here,” she said. Ratna also cooks each week for the local Muslim community when they gather.

Mayor Cr Bob Sanders said Council’s support services for migrants and refugees played a key role in connecting and supporting new arrivals to the Ararat region.

“Not only does our team help new arrivals settle in our municipality and connect them with other residents from their country, but they also create fantastic opportunities to ensure people feel valued and able to contribute to the local community through events like Harmony Day.”

Event registrations are essential to ensure there is enough food for everyone. Residents can register via the Ararat Town Hall website or in person at the Town Hall Box Office at Ararat Gallery TAMA.