By RUTH FLUHR
EUROA recently played host to a returning community group committed to bringing people together in a gentle way.
Picnics 4 Peace, co-founded by Shepparton’s Liz Arcus, have been popping up around northeast Victoria for over a decade.
The Strathbogie Shire has been a favourite destination for such gatherings – in particular the beautiful hills and waterholes on the Strathbogie Tableland and the attractions of Mt Buller and Mt Stirling.
On Sunday 12 June, around 30 people made their way to Euroa’s Arboretum, where a roaring fire in the pit soon had everyone smiling and mingling.
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A family group leapt into the making of a very large pot of delicious Nepalese chiya and, as the coals reddened, potatoes in jackets were warming for the very tasty addition of sour cream, butter, and chives.
Damper rolls on sticks and toasted marshmallows added to the delights of campfire cooking, with many trying these for the first time.
Some picnickers took the opportunity to explore the treasures of one of Euroa’s true gems – the Arboretum.
Others enjoyed conversations around the fire; tables of food soon appeared and – bon appetit!
These gatherings are not only heart-warming, but a salient reminder that living together in harmony is a privilege and a right to be protected.
Eight (possibly nine) nationalities were represented in the group, and Buddha and Saraswati, visiting from Nepal, enlightened some of us about the faith composition of Nepal’s population – Islam, Buddhism, Bon (which pre-dates Buddhism), Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity, Hinduism, and the animistic faith of Nepal’s indigenous peoples, Kiratism, which is a great symbol of peaceful coexistence.
We reflected on the good fortune a large proportion of us enjoy in Australia where, despite the distance we still have to go in achieving social parity for First Nation’s people, the social climate remains peaceful and protected by Australia’s anti-discrimination laws.
Leading into Refugee Week (16-22 June), this gathering also recognised the courageous journeys that refugees everywhere have taken to build new lives, connections, and community.
A Picnic 4 Peace is a simple, yet powerful way to bind people together and counter ideologies that separate us.
