IN A small room just a few minutes from the centre of Tamworth, women from just about every continent were represented.
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It was a rich tapestry of nationalities, language, culture and cuisine with a common thread binding those present.
Their stories.
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Migrant stories bringing them to Tamworth and the challenges, quirks and fortunes which followed.
While the stories are inherently unique and what drove them to seek a new life in Australia distinct, there is a shared experience which has traversed the globe and found its way to the C3 church on the Duri Road.
It was the second time Multicultural Tamworth has hosted a women's afternoon for the city's migrant women; an event about sharing and learning.
If you were there to listen, there was a lot to be learnt with PhD candidates rubbing shoulders with some of newest arrivals and longer-term multicultural Tamworthians.
They each brought something special Multicultural Tamworth vice-chair, Shalini Pratap, said.
"It's just learning how each other's journey into Australia has been and all of the strengths they have ... It's quite amazing," she said.
She has lived in the city for about 17 years and said it was important for migrants to know there were people willing to help in the community where familial connections mightn't be existent.
"I used to have neighbours, we were only neighbours for six or eight months, and they used to bring us dinner and I would sit and wonder 'how could somebody do something like that', because I was never used to that," she said.
"I think a lot of women are learning a lot of those things as well."
"The voluntary work that people in Australia do, a lot of people from different cultures are not aware of that sort of stuff."
The volunteer spirit and community-mindedness which crosses borders in the migrant community. and sees people working together to overcome things like language barriers when applying for jobs or going about day-to-day activities.
It's a far cry from gobsmacking experience of Ms Pratap's early days in Tamworth.
"I had so many people write stuff and put it in our post box, stuff like 'go back to your country' or 'catch the boat back'," she said.
"I'm like 'you don't even know how I have come, I am legitimate visa holder in Australia and I am permanent resident and a citizen now.
"But I think things have really changed now, people are really understanding.
"It is amazing how much people learn through other's cultures and ... the more exposure you get, the more accepting people become."
She said Fiesta La Peel, an annual event which showcases foreign food, and its ever-growing support and attendance spoke for itself.