Bunbury Multicultural Group committee member Ati Sadeghi is proud to call Bunbury home after moving to Australia from Iran four years ago.
Mrs Sadeghi and her husband decided to leave Iran so her husband could study a course in Perth that was not offered in their home city of Tehran.
Mrs Sadeghi was a lawyer in Iran but was forced to look into other work options as her qualifications are not recognised in Australia.
However, this change in employment has led her to open and manage a beauty business in the Bunbury Forum Shopping Centre.
The pair moved to Bunbury after the opportunity to manage a business was too good for Mrs Sadeghi to refuse.
“When I first saw Bunbury and its beaches I fell in love,” she said.
Mrs Sadeghi has also been able to build the business up to be successful with increasing clientele from all over the South West.
She also hopes to become a permanent resident and then citizen to buy the business herself.
It was through her business that Mrs Sadeghi became involved with the Bunbury Multicultural Group.
She said she loves meeting new people and gaining new friends and the group was a great way to do that.
Mrs Sadeghi said the group was also helpful for new immigrants finding their way around a new country.
“When immigrants arrive here they don’t know much about the health or education system and the Bunbury Multicultural Group helps provide that kind of information,” she said.
This year will be Mrs Sadeghi’s first as a volunteer for the Act Belong Commit South West Multicultural Festival on Saturday, February 23. She said she loved the event because it was great way to see her and other cultures highlighted to residents.
“I love this country so much and to see other people learn and celebrate my culture makes me feel more at home,” she said.
Mrs Sadeghi said Iranian people were kind, had a great sense of humour and loved to help people out in need. She said it was easy to feel at home here because everyone accepted her rather than criticising for being different.
The event will showcase Iranian food and Mrs Sadeghi will be demonstrating eyebrow threading to interested spectators. She said the festival was inclusive for everyone because it was free and people can enjoy all the dancing, colour and activities of cultures from around the world.
The South West Multicultural Festival will start at Bicentennial Square from 3pm. The day will include a flag parade at 5.30pm to highlight the different nationalities in the region.