AT the Flagstaff Gardens in Melbourne yesterday, two randomly formed tug-of-war sides were huffing and puffing, digging in their heels to get the opposing side across the line.

Other students kicked the ball around in games such as sepak raga and football.

It was all raucous fun at the now-annual Malaysian BBQ that student organisations in Melbourne put on each year for the orientation of the new intake of students from “tanah air”.

For the freshies in their new environment, finding their away around campus, using the university facilities and learning to use the city public transport are life lessons.

Co-organiser Mohd Emil Abidin Mohamad Emla, from Ehsan Victoria, defines it in one word: Inclusiveness.

The Malaysian BBQ was initiated by EHSAN and Kelab Umno Australia Melbourne (Kuam) five years ago, Broader student organisations were invited to participate.

“We MSOs  (Malaysian student organisations) are always there to help each other,” said Kuam president Nurin Fatimah Hamshi Mohamad.

“Whatever roles we MSOs map out for ourselves, we see ourselves as Malaysians first,” said Winson Tan, president of Masca Victoria.

Malaysians of Melbourne University, RMIT University Malaysian Association, Malaysians at Swinburne University, Monash University Malaysian Students Union, and Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia were also represented at the event. – March 18, 2018.