Elissa Jenkins, Greens Candidate for Moreton, left, with Harmony Day supporters at Yeshi Buno. Turns out Yeshil with an ‘l’ means ‘green’ in Turkish! Well, there you go.

Tonight I enjoyed a lovely Harmony Day dinner at Yoshi Buna, a relatively new Ethio African restaurant at Moorooka.

It was a lovely evening with a diverse group of folk who support Harmony Day’s ethos that ‘Everyone belongs’.

Harmony Day is managed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This year’s theme is ‘Many stories, one Australia’.

At dinner I had a great chat about Turkey with a local Turkish born Australian who shared all sorts of interesting info about Turkish history and culture – much of it completely news to me. I haven’t visited Turkey before, but it’s sure on my list of places to go. It was lovely to be able to enjoy the company of someone of Turkish heritage in Australia!

I loved Yeshi Buna because, upon serving a delicious buffet of injera and tasty stews, they don’t offer you a knife and fork – it’s only available upon request! This meant everyone was inspired to eat the meal like it was meant to be eaten. Having eaten many an African meal in my time (that’s what it means to be a Moorooka local), I was pretty comfortable with this practice. It was just great to see others at the table accept it as the norm and go with the flow!

I love Moreton. It’s a global village right on my doorstep. I don’t have to go far to enjoy the likes of African, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese or Italian cuisine (the list is endless!). Food brings people together. My parents are both migrants which makes me a first generation Australian. My mother has Sicilian heritage and is the most amazing cook.

Today’s pasta is tomorrow’s injera!

I am so lucky to live in multicultural Australia and enjoy a peaceful and prosperous life. Oh – and I absolutely love living in Moorooka. When I was looking at buying a house here seven years ago, I was a bit hesitant at first and then I visited Beaudesert Rd, saw the diversity and thought ‘I’m home’.

Thanks to everyone who came along tonight. Nights like these warm the cockles of my heart. Maybe below the cockles. Maybe in the sub cockle area…