Written and photographed by Russ Benning
@russbenningphotography
One of my favourite things about growing up in Australia would have to be the multiculturalism. I realised by the time I was in high school that I resonated a lot more with the European way of life and culture than the typical country Aussie ‘bloke’.
My hometown of Mildura, Victoria was deeply patch-worked in with many ethnicities from Europe especially, but also the pacific islands and Australasia.
So many elements including style, food and culture were fascinating to me. As much as I loved my own nation, I enjoyed learning more about foreign lands and their people. The language, the culture, the food and the style all played big roles in the man I became.
Sometimes I wonder how much of my personality and desire to travel the world came from the early influences of the mini-melting pot ‘Mildy’.
Originally born in Melbourne and having returned there more frequently recently and with a slightly more sophisticated palette (from overseas travel) than when I was but a wee bairn, I can truly confirm that we have some of the best variety and quality of international food and culture in the world.
The reason for this is of course immigration. The official definition of an immigrant is, “a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.”
Two such persons and their own two tiny persons are who I met with and photographed for this month’s issue, with the theme of immigrants.
Meet the Kedasseri family – the latest owner/operators of the Seabreeze Cafe (Hervey Bay) and creators of Social Boxx meals (Fraser Coast).
I spent the majority of my time chatting with Shami, husband and father of two while Sneha was performing Mum duties with two sick boys. Although I interviewed Shami, he makes it very clear that it’s very much a team effort.
“If my wife wasn’t supportive, I wouldn’t be able to do anything”, says Shami of his wife. I asked if he meant business wise and he clarified that he meant in every aspect of life.
Both of Indian descent, they met in Dubai in somewhat of a star crossed lover situation. They came from different worlds, but their connection was stronger than circumstance or tradition. He tells of the efforts that ensued to make the wedding a reality that may or may not have involved a bribed astrologer to make ‘stars align’. A story which we laughed about as he explained more nuance of the Indian Caste system.
Arriving in Melbourne in 2017, the family was actually still just a couple. Australia was to be their new home as they planned to pursue post graduate studies and establish a life together.
Shami’s engineering credentials were not recognised in Australia, so he had to pursue alternate work to support the duo while Sneha completed her masters. Before too long they purchased a Fitstop franchise which they still own.
Around the same time as Sneha finished her study, they found out they were expecting. It was time to relocate and find somewhere more aligned to them to raise their family.
“We shortlisted Bundaberg and Hervey Bay as where we wanted to live. We came to inspect some businesses and see the towns. Hervey Bay was an obvious choice”, says Shami.
I asked what they preferred about the bay compared to Melbourne. The usual lifestyle and more peaceful living came up and we laughed about how not only is work now only 10 minutes away, almost everything is only 10 minutes away in the bay.
In 2022 the couple declared the Fraser Coast home and shortly after had their first child.
Taking over a cafe when neither had any hospitality experience was a bold choice, but one that carries no regrets. It was a time of steep learning and community integration and one that around 12 months later gave rise to a second business.
Shami explains that with his engineering background he has a “black belt” in systems optimisation. He tells me how little he sleeps and attributes it to having two young children, general business stress as well as a mind that is constantly creating ideas for efficiency and improvement.
One such sleepless night idea gave way to quite a successful business. In 2023, noting a gap in the market, and leveraging the commercial kitchen of the cafe, Social Boxx was born.
Having worked with NDIS previously when they had hired people with a disability to work in the cafe, Shami saw an opportunity to provide high quality meals to people that were unable to cook for themselves.
Mostly the elderly and people with disability, the NDIS could bridge the gap between the customers’ needs and a viable business.
Shami tells me that it’s quite common to have excess meals through the process and in such situations, they choose to gift them to those in need.
Usually, they go to the homeless or the disadvantaged and sometimes they will be donated to victims of environmental impacts such as the recent flooding in the area.
It’s interesting to hear that such a business optimised mind chooses not to take extra profit but to share with the community. I dig a little deeper and we get onto the topic of theology, Shami and Sneha being Hindu.
“I don’t believe in God in that sense but I do believe in Karma.
“I do have a lot of experience [with Karma], what you give, you will get back in one way or another.”
Shami also adds that it feels good to be able to help.
He mentions a little distrust for some organised charities and chooses to cut out the middleman and provide value directly to those in need.
He mentions a system he’s looking to implement something of a ‘pay it forward’ system in the cafe, allowing someone having a great week to shout their mate, for example.
Fast forward to the end of the week and I find it interesting to finally meet Sneha and the kids for the photo shoot and it really all makes sense.
I can see the dynamic at work and that he’s right when he says that nothing works without her. I see that there are elements they each bring to the table to make a functioning, loving family unit.
I allow myself to zoom out for my monthly reflection and see that this is not so dissimilar to the Australian patchwork mentioned in the beginning, with each little influence, indeed each immigrant adding their own spice and flavour to our national dish!