On Sunday, 27 May, 120 women gathered at Melbourne Town Hall to share a meal and a conversation to build community understanding.

The Reach Out, Don’t Retreat Women’s Lunch challenged women to ‘test drive their views’ by leaving their assumptions at the door and interacting, woman-to-woman.

Participants were encouraged to share their personal stories, their hopes and fears, and their vision for the community.

The day began with talks from Manar Chelebi and Sonya Davies. Sonya and Manar shared their very personal story of friendship and how their families have come to know each other and to realise that, although one family is Muslim and the other is not, they're really not so different.

Both Sonya and Manar own their own businesses, they each have children of a similar age, they both have exceptionally packed daily schedules and they love a good laugh and a well-made coffee. 'It’s not until you put yourself out there and actually talk to other women, no matter what their background, that you realise we all have so much in common’, said event co-host Sonya Davies. ‘And that’s what “Reach Out” is all about.’

Participants at the lunch said:

'Thank you for a great day. You gave me the chance to meet beautiful women'.

'Women were a lot more open than I thought. There are many different women wanting to be involved in Australia's way of life'.

'This event reinforced my understanding of diversity amongst Muslim women'.

'[I attended because] I have a desire to connect with other women across different cultures and I am angered with women's treatment by our government and culture'.

At the close of the lunch, participants were asked to make a commitment to themselves to go out into their local community over the next four months and make a connection to women with whom they would not normally come into contact. This connection could be anything - from a cup of tea with a neighbour not usually spoken to or a major event with hundreds of women.

Each participant wrote herself a 'red letter' outlining her commitment. In four months time, the letter will arrive in her postbox. This 'red letter day' will serve as a reminder of that commitment and will offer a chance to reflect on the community connections made.

The Reach Out, Don't Retreat Women's lunch was made possible with the support of City of Melbourne. We hope to take the Reach Out message across Victoria, encouraging women to reach beyond their usual networks and build community connections.