Melbourne’s Highpoint Shopping Centre will be the site of a large community dinner this Wednesday 24th February as the first ever for non-profit initiative The Welcome Dinner Project, part of grass-roots movement joiningthedots aimed at connecting newly arrived Australians with established local residents over a shared feast. This comes after Highpoint was announced as a year-long major sponsor of the initiative.
The Welcome Dinner Project was first held in Sydney in 2013, going on the host over 170 events across Australia. This Western Melbourne dinner will be a major focus for the project as it expands to Victoria.
“Highpoint is honoured to be a part of such a powerful and significant social movement happening right on our doorstep. Reinforcing the importance of creating new friendships, connections and a sense of belonging in the community is a vision that Highpoint shares with joiningthedots, and we’re excited to help expand The Welcome Dinner Project in Melbourne’s West,” said Ryan Ling, Centre Manager of Highpoint Shopping Centre.
The dinner this Wednesday will be for 100 guests, while following welcome dinners throughout the west will be announced at a later date, including one more in the centre later this year.
“The support we’ve received from Highpoint has been extremely beneficial in creating a presence in Melbourne’s West – not only as a community hub but a prompter for a wider discussion around the need for a greater understanding and connection with our neighbours,” said Meagan Williams, Victorian Coordinator of The Welcome Dinner Project.
This first dinner will encourage guests to each bring a dish from their culture to share, as a comfortable and friendly introduction to themselves and their heritage. Highpoint will provide a variety of other dishes prepared by local organic enterprise Kinfolk, using produce from the shopping centre’s fresh food retailers like Rainbow Meats, Yahweh Asian Grocery, and Gourmet Deli House.
The Welcome Dinner Project and Highpoint encourage newly arrived Australians, along with established residents of Melbourne’s West, to join in the fun and share in this momentous occasion. To register for Highpoint’s ‘Welcome to the West’ community Welcome Dinner, visit: highpoint.com.au.
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