By Greg Sugden
They may not always be partcularly visible on our streets but the members of the multicultural community greatly enrich the Eurobodalla and they sure know how to ‘bring a plate’ and stage a vibrant event.
Jan Frikken, the proprietor of JJJ Oriental Supermarket in Batemans Bay, and her loyal team staged a wonderful Harmony Day event at The Red Door in Moruya last Tuesday night. It was a celebration of cultural diversity in our area.
Jan spoke of the need for a fulltime, paid position for a multicultural facilitator and advocate for migrants and refugees in our shire. It is hoped that Mayor Hatcher and the 3 other councillors present will take note of this need and help lobby for it. The mayor said he would invite Jan to meet with the council.
The gathering was peppered with women in national costume and featured a fabulous banquet with a sign identifying each dish by its ingredients and culture.
It was a fun evening for young and old, shared with folk we are so lucky to have as part of our community. There was music and dancing with Matt Hatcher joining in with some less-than-fluid, Thai-style hand movements in a brave attempt to imitate the experts gliding around him on the dance-floor.
Keep an eye out for Harmony Day next year which will be held at the BAS.
