Spirits high at the Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome

DESPITE strong winds and pouring rain, the Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome this year was a roaring success. Rebecca Di Nuzzo brings you the action from last Saturday’s event.

Meld editor-in-chief Karen Poh and reporter Diane Leow were all-smiles at this year’s Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome. Photo: Rebecca Di Nuzzo

On August 3 Meld hosted a stall at the Lord Mayor’s International Student Welcome 2013.

The event recognises Melbourne’s diverse population, celebrating their contribution to our multicultural society through a range of cultural performances, fashion parades, music and give aways.

The event is a valuable way for international students to mingle and find out about the various local services available to them while living in Melbourne. In 2009, it was awarded an IEAA (International Education Association Australia) Excellence Award for Best Practice/ Innovation.

Though it was a typically cold and rainy August day, a large crowd of international students and interested passersby were in attendance. And despite the grey weather, the volunteers maintained a cheerful spirit.

Signups galore at Meld’s stall! Photo: Rebecca Di Nuzzo

At the Meldstand, we had a constant stream of students dropping in to find out about our work, picking up showbags and signing up for our weekly online newsletter.

In the face of poor weather conditions and the downpour, the afternoon was a lot of fun and a huge success.

Meld is looking forward to meeting and greeting more new students at the next Student Welcome in 2014.

Information on local services and future social events in Melbourne can be found at the City of Melbourne website.