Home-away-from-home dinner hits the spot

Home-away-from-home dinner hits the spot

By Monisha Iswaran

Local international students gathered in Docklands for a home-away-from-home dinner last month as part of the Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival.

The event, which included light installations, performances, traditional food and drink, as well as a few official speeches, was held on February 10 at Harbour Esplanade.

It was organised by Study Melbourne, City of Melbourne and Places Victoria and targeted Melbourne’s international students, bringing about 120 of them together for the night.

Public relations executive and former Melbourne city councillor, Beverley Pinder, addressed the dinner.

She said: “The Year of the Rooster is an apt one in which to acknowledge international students: the rooster is punctual; it is hardworking; it likes a dash of fun.”

She noted that the event was organised in response to student complaints about feeling lonely being away from their families during the period of festivities.

Chinese New Year celebrations in Docklands this year comprised of food trucks, a light show at 888 Collins St, a Melbourne Star LED light show and dragon boating sessions.

The co-ordination of events demonstrates the effort being made to engage with the culture and interests of international students, a thriving segment of the community.

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