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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Dellaram Vreeland

Regional Australia has welcomed Iranian Bahá’ís with open arms. Back home, we’d be persecuted

A gathering organised by the Baha'i community in Ballarat, Victoria.
A gathering organised by the Baha'i community in Ballarat, Victoria. Photograph: Dellaram Vreeland/The Guardian

It’s a Saturday morning in Ballarat, 100km west of Melbourne. A group of about 60 people are gathering at a local primary school, enjoying a potluck breakfast spread of eggs, bacon, bread, cereals and freshly cooked dishes served up by local teenagers.

They’re all ages, from all cultures and faith backgrounds. Soon, they’ll break off into a series of activities aimed at promoting unity and encouraging them to give back to their neighbourhood – through raising funds for the local soup kitchen, planting trees at a nearby farm, teaching children music or working at a community garden.

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