Flower of the Month

Daffodil

By Anna & Bibi

Daffodil

It is the common name for all plants that belonging to the genus Narcissus. While Cancer Council ‘picked’ Daffodil for their campaign. Daffodil holds special symbolic meaning Lunar New Year. The Narcissus tazetta, commonly known as the Chinese shuǐxiān huā represents good luck, wealth, and prosperity.

Daffodils are hardy, spring-flowering perennial bulbs belonging to the genus Narcissus, most famous for their iconic trumpet-shaped central cups and surrounding petals. Native to Europe and North Africa, these resilient plants typically feature bright yellow or white blooms that signal the arrival of spring and are avoided by pests due to their toxic sap.

For a limited time only, ‘Pregnant Onion’ is available for sale at the CFS Flower Shop

Plant of the Month

Prickly Lily

By Bibi

Euryale ferox (Prickly Lily) Gorgon nut (芡實, Euryale ferox), also known as fox nut, is a fascinating aquatic plant native to China, India, and other parts of Asia. A close relative of the water lily, it grows in shallow ponds and lakes, producing enormous floating leaves covered with tiny prickles. In late summer, the plant bears striking purple flowers followed by large, spiny fruits. Hidden inside these thorn-covered fruits are the seeds that have been treasured for centuries in Chinese herbal soups, congee, and desserts.

Harvesting gorgon nuts is anything but easy. Farmers often work chest-deep in muddy ponds, carefully collecting the fiercely thorny fruits by hand. Once harvested, each seed is dried, roasted, tempered, and skilfully struck with a wooden mallet to “pop” into the white puffed snack known in India as makhana. The process requires years of experience, making every handful of seeds a testament to remarkable craftsmanship and patience.

If you are growing Euryale ferox, choose a sunny location with still or slow-moving water and nutrient-rich mud. Keep the water level consistent throughout the growing season, as the plant dislikes drying out. Mature seeds can be harvested in late summer and dried for storage. For cooking, dried gorgon nuts should be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Soaking them for 30–60 minutes before cooking helps soften their texture, allowing them to absorb the rich flavours of soups and broths.

One of the most interesting stories about gorgon nuts has unfolded only in recent years. In India, roasted makhana has been enthusiastically promoted by celebrities, athletes, and social media influencers as a nutritious “superfood” snack. Combined with growing interest in healthy eating, this publicity has dramatically increased demand, and prices have risen accordingly. Yet the plant itself has not changed—only our perception of it has.

This raises an interesting question for all of us, especially young people growing up in the age of social media. How much of what we choose to eat, wear, or buy is shaped by careful evidence, and how much is influenced by trends, celebrity endorsements, and online algorithms? While makhana is undoubtedly nutritious, it is also a reminder that social media has the power to transform an ancient, humble food into a fashionable global product almost overnight.

Perhaps the greatest lesson from gorgon nuts is not simply that they are healthy, but that behind every “new” trend often lies an old story—one of traditional knowledge, skilled farmers, and generations of people who valued something long before it became popular online.

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Play Review by Teresa Lam.

‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ – theatre production by Anthony Drew

It took us 12 months to gather again for our second CFS Book Club, and it was well worth the wait.

Following the format of our inaugural meeting, each attendee brought along a couple of their favourite books and shared what they loved about them and why these titles had made such an impact on their lives.

When promoting the event on several community Facebook pages, I gave it the catchy title “Book Club with a Twist“ The twist was simple but important: participants didn’t need to read a pre-selected book before attending. This removed the pressure of having to finish a book within a fixed timeframe and made the gathering much more welcoming and accessible.

Our eight participants, ranging in age from 14 to 70, shared an incredibly diverse collection of books. The discussion spanned a wide range of genres and cultures, featuring works by British, American, Korean and Singaporean authors. We were also honoured to welcome a budding Indonesian-Australian author, Ratu Rida, who shared her deeply personal journey of escaping domestic violence and transforming her painful experiences into a force for good. Through her social enterprise, Women’s Lantern, she now supports migrant women experiencing domestic and family violence.

I had finished reading Ratu’s memoir, Homecoming – The Art and Practice of Trauma Recovery , the day before our book club meeting. It was a real page-turner for me, and I found myself resonating with her story on many levels.

As the moderator, I conducted a brief Q&A with Ratu. I asked what gave her the courage to share such deeply personal experiences. Her response was both powerful and memorable:

“When you have lost literally everything, you become fearless.”

She hopes that by sharing her story, she can inspire other women who feel as though they are ‘sinking in the same boat’ to believe that there is hope and a way forward.

We also discussed the cultural expectations placed on many Asian women to obey their parents before marriage and their husbands afterwards. This expectation of unquestioning obedience remains deeply embedded in many Asian cultures and can make it even more difficult for women experiencing domestic violence to seek help.

Read full article HERE.

Click HERE to check out the book recommendations of each member (Bibi, Bernard, Caroline, Geoff, Karen, Ryan, Sarah). 

Recipe of the Month

Papaya & Coconut Soup by Wing C.

This traditional Chinese herbal soup recipe is one of my mum’s favourite comfort foods. Highly regarded in traditional Chinese wellness for its deep body-nourishing properties, this comforting pork herbal soup makes an excellent, warming recipe for winter.

Ingredients:

Papaya: 1 medium (approx. 400 g), peeled, deseeded, and cut into small cubes;

Coconut flesh: Flesh from 1 small fresh coconut, cut into small cubes

Carrot: 1 small (60–70 g), peeled and cut into small cubes

Pork shoulder: ½ portion (350–400 g)

Water to cover the ingredients.

Traditional Chinese Herbal Elements (2 tbsp approx. 20 – 25 g)

茨實 (Ground Fox Nut): 2 tbsp

南杏乾 (Dried South Almond): 2 tbsp

龍眼肉 (Dried Longan Pulp): 2 tbsp

開邊湘蓮 (Ground Lotus Seed): 2 tbsp

淮山 (Blanched Yam): 4–5 dry slices

薏米 (Barley): 2 tbsp

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Place the pork shoulder into a small pot and submerge it in cold water. Bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Let it cook for 5 minutes. This crucial step removes surface impurities, ensuring your herbal broth looks beautifully clear and golden. Drain and rinse the meat thoroughly under cold running water, then set it aside.

Step 2: Place the Ground Fox Nut, South Almond, Longan Pulp, Lotus Seed, Blanched Yam, and Barley into a fine-mesh strainer. Give them a quick rinse under cold running water to remove any packaging dust.

Step 3: In a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot, arrange the blanched pork shoulder, cubed papaya, fresh coconut flesh, and carrot cubes. Scatter the rinsed herbal ingredients evenly over the top.

Step 4: Pour cold water into the pot until the waterline rests approximately 1 cm below the rim.

Step 5: Simmer the Broth.Place the pot over high heat and bring it to a vigorous boil. Once bubbling rapidly, reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot securely with its lid and let it simmer undisturbed for 2 hours.

Step 6: Turn off the heat. Skim off any excess oil from the surface if desired. Taste the broth—the longan, papaya, and coconut infuse it with a delicate, natural sweetness. Add a pinch of salt to enhance the savoury depth, ladle into bowls, and serve piping hot.

From the Desk of Bibi

Reflections on playing cards ’U Shape Us’

By Dr Bibiana Chan

During my recent visit to Canberra, I arranged to meet Fiona again. We spent hours talking about our shared experiences and challenges as founders of social enterprises. Although U Shape Us and Community Flower Studio (CFS) operate in different spaces, we both share a strong belief in using meaningful activities to bring people together, build connections, and create positive social impact.

Like many social entrepreneurs, we both have a clear vision and mission of what we hope to achieve. The challenge is always the same: how do we scale our ideas while keeping the original spirit and authenticity alive?

My experience with U Shape Us reminded me that connection does not always require complicated programs or technology. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple prompt, a willingness to share, and the courage to listen to someone else’s story.

Interestingly, this conversation with Fiona came at a perfect time. Community Flower Studio recently received a small community grant to host three “Cha, Chai and Coffee Chats” during Mental Health Month. This year’s theme is “A little connection goes a long way” — a message that perfectly reflects the purpose behind U Shape Us.

I shared with Fiona my idea of setting up three tables at each coffee chat, with a set of U Shape Us cards placed in the familiar 4 x 4 format. I will also make an effort to invite some high school students to join the conversations. With free hot or cold drinks, plus yummy muffins and croissants as refreshments, I am sure we will attract a handful of intergenerational participants who are willing to sit down, play, and share their stories.

Perhaps these simple conversations will create moments of surprise, laughter, and connection — a young person discovering a cassette tape for the first time, a senior sharing a forgotten childhood game, or strangers realising they have more in common than they expected.

I invited Fiona to let me know when she next plans to visit Sydney. I hope we can continue our conversation — and perhaps create more opportunities for people of different generations and backgrounds to connect through stories, memories, and shared laughter.

Click HERE to learn Fiona and her daughter’s journey in developing these cards.

Subscriber’s Corner

Mental health – When do I need to
seek professional help?

By Thea Y.

We all talk about mental health, such as depression, anxiety, fears, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Society and our communities continue to promote awareness of mental health issues. With greater awareness, you might recognise or even self-diagnose one or more symptoms. But what comes next?

I believe most people stop there, thinking: “Maybe my situation is not that bad.” 

“Maybe my situation is not that bad.”

“I’m just feeling a bit unhappy or blue.”

“It’s not a big deal. These feelings will go away.”

That was me. I thought those negative thoughts were simply “feelings”. My time was filled with busyness, so I convinced myself that I was OK.

But the reality was that I couldn’t control these “feelings”, and they didn’t go away naturally. Worse still, they were hiding somewhere inside me, quietly accumulating until they suddenly burst out all at once.

I have known Bibi and been part of Community Flower Studio (CFS) since 2023, but I never talked about my struggles. Honestly, I felt a bit ashamed to talk about them. Sometimes I even convinced myself not to magnify my feelings and emotions. However, I didn’t realise that the negative energy had been building up. Two months ago, I became overwhelmed by it and was almost struck down.

I finally decided to talk to Bibi and ask for her opinion about whether I should see a counsellor. We then went through a couple of assessments, and the answer was a clear “Yes”—with no surprise.

After chatting with Bibi, I realised I had been hiding and carrying my burdens for far too long. I shouldn’t be ashamed of my feelings and emotions. In fact, talking to a professional can be life-changing because you may not realise how significant your struggles have become.
Therefore, I encourage our members: if you sense that you are feeling down, talk to Bibi or another trusted professional. Don’t carry your burdens alone. Reaching out for support may be the first step towards healing.

Notes from Bibi

At Community Flower Studio (CFS), we take a strengths-based, non-judgemental approach to supporting young people. Rather than focusing on what is “wrong”, we recognise each person’s unique talents and strengths. Thea is incredibly creative and talented. She has designed many stunning event posters for CFS, including the two featured above.

One strength of our Youth Mentoring Program is that it is free for young people aged 12–25. There is no pressure to book another appointment or commit to ongoing sessions. Instead, we focus on building trust and providing a safe space where young people can talk openly, at their own pace.

As a mentor with lived experience, I believe each person’s journey is different. Sometimes, as in Thea’s case, it can take years before someone feels ready to seek professional mental health support. My role is not to rush that decision, but to walk alongside them, listen without judgement, and encourage them to take the next step when they feel ready.