Shepparton floods: Azem Elmaz, People Supporting People dish out thousands of meals

With Shepparton battered by floods, a familiar face and his team have been cooking up thousands of meals for those on the frontline.

Azem Elmaz, owner of Shepparton’s Lutfiyes Shish Kebab, and his volunteers prepare food for emergency workers and people affected by the floods. Picture: David Crosling

If there’s one man Shepparton can rely on in its toughest times, it’s Azem Elmaz.

Mr Elmaz, who came to Australia with $20 in his pocket, has given away tens of thousands of free meals to the homeless and the needy while running his Lutfiyes Shish Kebab restaurant in Wyndham St with wife Jeihan for more than 30 years.

He dished out more than 13,000 meals in two weeks to Shepparton residents when the city was brought to its knees during the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

When a fire, flood or other weather disaster hits, he shuts his shop in Wyndham St and cooks up a storm with helpers from his charity People Supporting People for emergency services workers and volunteers on the frontline.

After working tirelessly through the flood-soaked weekend, he and his team were back at it again on Monday, pumping out curries, stir fries, grilled chicken and beef biryanis and other hearty home-cooked meals to keep everyone’s spirits high.

“We’re doing breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s been totally flat out,” Mr Elmaz said.

“We are blessed in this country… why should people go hungry and without meals?

“I love helping people and Shepparton is the best town in Australia, and we’ll do whatever we can to help.