5 Year Anniversary Afternoon Tea Party - August 11, 2014

It was 5 years ago, on 3rd August 2009, that The Couch was opened as a joint initiative between the Salvation Army, the City of Melbourne, and AFIS.

Yep, that's The Couch cake!

It seems incredible that it was only 5 years ago as, since opening, so many people have passed through those doors, shared a meal, joined a class, had a coffee, and found a place they could always come and relax. So, although The Couch may only be 5 years old, it has already generated a lifetime of memories.

'Volunteers don't get paid because they're priceless.'

Volunteers arrived early, and decorated The Couch’s ceiling and walls with balloons – using a combination of tape and our now old technique of static electricity. Meanwhile, Leah worked like a machine in the kitchen, churning out coffees as quickly as Isabella could take orders and deliver.

After the guests had all arrived, the Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Major Brendan Nottle started proceedings by telling everyone about the history of The Couch. Five years ago, Melbourne was witness to some ugly scenes of violence against international students from India. Major Nottle told us all about meeting a young man from Mauritius, who had been beaten, but felt too ashamed to tell his family back home about the difficulties he was facing here. It was the result of meeting this young man, and later his friends, which led Major Nottle to realising that International Students needed support while away from home. He approached The Lord Mayor and, working together with AFIS, The Couch was born.

It was then that The Lord Mayor thanked everyone for all their commitment to making The Couch the success it was, and that plaques were handed out to all our partner organisations - symbolising the bonds that grow stronger and stronger over time.

Nam receiving our thanks on behalf of AFIS.

The Major also told us a joke he had recently heard. Someone asked why volunteers aren’t paid a salary, with the reply being that they're worthless. "But, I think the reason volunteers don't get paid isn't because they're worthless, but because they're priceless," he said.

Well, mostly priceless*

Gary Lee, another huge supporter of The Couch since its inception, had arranged for a huge cake in the shape of our red couch! It was almost a shame to have to cut it up, but the taste was worth it.

Peter Hichaaba concluded the event by thanking all the stakeholders and volunteers who attended, telling us how everyday he feels so lucky to have a job like this. What were Peter’s final words? "Looking forward to the next 5 years!" he exclaimed.

*We kid! Robin is, indeed, priceless.

More photos in the album.