It started with a snake at the door and dumpling making sessions, an indication that a local group’s decision to welcome a refugee family into their community would be nothing short of adventurous.
The group of six volunteers, many of whom met through their local primary school, formed the Warrandyte Refugee Support Group. They are all residents of Warrandyte, city of Manningham, 24 kilometres north-west of Melbourne’s CBD.
“The Warrandyte community is known for their love of the environment as we live on the Yarra River. We’re surrounded by state parks, and people are very open and friendly,” said support group co-ordinator Hanh Truong.
Hahn, a former Vietnamese refugee who now owns a thriving sauce making business, said right from the start that she thought “the whole community would wrap around a refugee household with love and support.”