Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Hume council meets in Benalla

By Benalla Ensign

Nov 25, 2022

All smiles: (Back row) Chair of Benalla Migrants Association Cr Punarji Gunaratne, Goulburn Valley Health Shepparton's Dr Herath Watalidayadda, Benalla Migrant Camp Inc's Sabine Smyth, VMC Commissioner and Hume RAC Chair Dr Judy Tang, Greater Shepparton City Councillor Seema Abdullah, VMC Community Engagement and Policy Advisor Yusuf Liban, Deputy Chair Benalla Migrants Association Sam Epage, Multicultural Officer with Victoria Police Leigh Johnson; (Front row) Commissioner and Deputy Chair VMC Bwe Thay, Liaison Officer at Indie College Shepparton Neha Samar, Koorie Cultural Officer at Winton Wetlands Nicole James, Shepparton Ethnic Council member Haroun Kafi. Not pictured: Shepparton Youth and Disability Worker and Amnesty International Ambassador Ali Al Bataat. Photo by Contributed

On Monday, November 21, Benalla hosted the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Hume Region Advisory Council (RAC).

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The meeting was hosted at Benalla Library by local RAC Member Sabine Smyth.

“I found out during the meeting that this was the first time in anyone’s memory that a RAC meeting was held in Benalla,” Ms Smyth said.

“It is great to introduce the VMC staff and other RAC members to Benalla as a beautiful place to visit, and a welcoming and convenient meeting location.

“The meeting was chaired by VMC Hume Region Commissioner Dr Judy Tang and it was lovely that she could meet some local multicultural leaders including Yorta Yorta woman Nicole James who gave a Welcome to Country at the meeting.

“I also invited two members of the Benalla Migrants Association, chair Punarji Gunaratne and vice-chair Sam Epage.

“It was great Punarji and Sam could join us and stay for the meeting.”

Ms Smyth said meetings usually began with a shared dinner and networking.

“We felt privileged that Commissioner Bwe Thay, the deputy chair of the VMC, joined us as well, and got to meet our local leaders,” Ms Smyth said.

“The meetings usually address nominated key priorities for the region and in this instance, the CFA’s Service Delivery Coordinator Darren Viney gave a presentation on emergency response teams with a focus on the upcoming fire season.

“Given the recent emergency events involving fires, lockdowns and floods, members were able to provide constructive input and ideas from their recent lived experience.”

Ms Smyth said that gathering face-to-face and networking brought communities together.

“Getting to know other multicultural groups and individual members from the Hume region is the highlight of (my) role on this advisory board,” she said.

“I was also proud of our library as a venue, with its modern meeting facilities and friendly staff.”

Regional Advisory Councils are a network of passionate community members and representatives across Victoria who work with the VMC to identify and address issues facing culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians.

The Hume council is one of eight, each covering a region of the state.

The function of RACs is to advise the VMC on matters of multicultural affairs, settlement, service delivery and citizenship issues in local communities.