PENINSULA residents will have the opportunity to hear stories from refugees at an upcoming event in Rosebud.
New Peninsula Community Caring and migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia are collaborating for their fourth Sharing Food and Stories community lunch on 12 September.
The event is aimed at connecting people who don’t often get a chance to meet over a lunch prepared by local chefs.
New Peninsula Community Caring General Manager Andrew Taylor said the idea stemmed from wanting to see a more multicultural peninsula.
“We want to provide a welcoming place of acceptance, a place of belonging, where [refugees] can call it their home,” said Taylor. “We’re a big believer that diversity makes a place better and we want to break down the fear associated with difference as well.”
Speakers at the event will include Myanmar refugee Travis, who has helped free almost a thousand victims tricked into effective slavery by criminal gangs, and Olivia Toma, who fled to Australia from Iraq at 16 years old.
“The idea is for locals to purchase a ticket, come to the lunch and get to meet and understand the plight of refugees and break down those barriers of difference,” said Taylor.
“We don’t see the Mornington Peninsula as terribly culturally diverse, so we’d love to see that more in the future.”
Suan Lee, who helped organise the event, said recent refugees bring professional and trade and farming skills, as well as life experiences and cultural diversity.
“Our vision is to foster intercultural connections and showcase the beauty and viability of the peninsula as a location for education, employment and settlement,” said Lee.
The event will take place at New Peninsula Baptist Church from 12pm on 12 September.
“We encourage connection and understanding between the local community and refugees by creating a safe and welcoming space to chat and share stories around the lunch table,” said Lee.
Any money raised will go towards supporting refugees and local disadvantaged families.
You can find more information and purchase tickets at: events.humanitix.com/sharing-food-and-stories-community-lunch.
First published in the Mornington News – 4 August 2026
