Free takeaway curries outside Rockpool

By Rhonda Dredge

It’s a pleasant change to be working outside with a table of free food to support those without incomes.

Diana Montenegro is the manager at Spice Temple but she’s now supervising Hope Delivery.

“A lot of international students have lost their jobs,” she said.

“They’re here on a working holiday and staying at backpackers and we’re trying to feed them.”

The table has become a familiar sight outside Rockpool, a classy diner near the casino.

Diana said they were giving away more than 600 meals a day, packaged for reheating at home.

Beef kofta and vegetable curry were on the menu when Southbank News visited.

“We initially gave the food to those who worked around but we want to reach people in need. You don’t know their circumstances,” she said.

“My partner works with international students and every individual student is trying to survive.”

She said there were usually 25 people on the Spice Temple roster as the front of house team. “Now I count 10. Everyone else has gone back home.”

Hope Delivery started in May under the umbrella of the Rockpool Foundation and will continue until the end of August •