By Kath Gannaway
Food and soccer will come together at Toolangi on Anzac Day to provide a unique multicultural experience for local and inner city youth.
Soccer on the Hill is a project of the Toolangi-Castella Community House that will bring young migrants and their families up the mountain for a multicultural picnic, community soccer and other games and activities.
Raenor Priest of TCCH said the idea was sparked at a lecture she attended at which refugee advocate Julian Burnside, a Ugandan refugee, and a teacher who had worked on Manus Island were guest speakers.
When Raenor asked Mr Burnside what a small community such as Toolangi could do to help people’s understanding of refugees, the answer was simple – breaking bread together.
“I thought Toolangi was a bit far for a dinner, but why not a multicultural picnic,” Raenor said.
Toolangi has the perfect venue, Teamsters Hill, the former home of the late Alec Sewell, who bequeathed the property, complete with a sports ground, to benefit young people.
Raenor found TASC (Toolangi Adventure Soccer Camp), a project which connects young people from the urban environment they call home with the wider world, in this case youth from around Toolangi, Kinglake and Healesville.
Soccer on the Hill recognises that young people in smaller communities are isolated in their experience of other cultures and lack the opportunities to meet their peers from different backgrounds, but that in many ways they share the same interests and challenges.
Soccer and food are a great example.
Members of Healesville Soccer Club have been invited to kick the round ball around, and run some clinics on the day.
Tamsin Reed from the club said they are looking forward to the day.
“We have a lot of people from different backgrounds in the club but still in Healesville there is not so much diversity, so it’s a great opportunity for our kids.”
A $1488 grant from Murrindindi Council has helped push things along and Raenor said they are looking forward to providing an opportunity for better understanding, and fun.
Activities will start around 11.30am with skills training and bubble soccer followed by an Halal picnic lunch – food and drinks provided – from 1.30pm to 2.30pm.
“We are hoping it brings people together and sparks some thought among others about how they might engage more with other cultures for cultural understanding,” Raenor said.
For more information phone Raenor on 0438 629 419.
