Rural Australians for Refugees member Jane O’Beirne said the event was a chance to help new residents become more involved and feel part of the community.

“It certainly is a real necessity, we are becoming more multicultural and it can be hard in small communities to feel welcome,” she said. “It’s a chance to break down barriers and see that we have good people coming here.”

Ms O’Beirne said in the past community members had been allocated a newly arrived family to help settle in and this was another way to establish those connections.

“It was help with little things, like a broken down car or using a credit card,” she said.

Ms O’Beirne said the afternoon tea was also an opportunity to help people new to the area network with other members of the community. “I think we’ll get a few along,” she said.

The afternoon tea will begin at 2pm and finish at 4pm at the Wangoom Community Hall on the Wangoom-Warrumyea Road.

Tea and coffee will be supplied and people are welcome to bring food to share.

For more information phone Jane on 0437 671 228 or Katherine on 0459 615 564.