Next Market Stall -Coffs Harbourside 22nd October
A good news story
What others say about offshore detention
Next Roadside Demo - Coffs Hospital Thursday October 12th 2:30pm
Valla Beach market report
The overcast skies seemed to affect the number of market goers at Saturday’s market, but we still had quite a busy time. Our numbers too were restricted, given that several of our usual helpers were otherwise engaged at the Stop Adani protest in Coffs Harbour! We had lots of positive engagement with people and we successfully launched our new petition, the details of which were published in last week’s newsletter.
Our next market will be the Coffs Harbourside market on Sunday 22nd October from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm. If you can help out for an hour or two, then please let Mike know by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com. It would be great to welcome some new supporters to the team.
A good news story to report
Last week a small group of us, all members from our RAR group, hosted an Iranian family of parents and two sons, 13 and 9. Their trip was funded by some of the money raised by our fundraising meals and auctions held at two members’ homes earlier in the year.
We had a wonderful time. The family was delightful. They were so excited to be with us and participated enthusiastically in all our activities. Their days started early with Georgina and Margaret collecting them from Gillian and Alberto’s house at 7 30 am. Then off to Mylestom to walk the beach, swim in the tidal pool or fish off the pool walkway. The boys raced on the beach with Pablo the fox terrier - and lost!
After breakfast on Day One we walked in the rain forest at Dorrigo, had an Aussie BBQ then ice-cream at Bellingen. On Day Two father and sons spent the day with Mike and Marlene, Peter and Lotus at the latters’ property at Valla and later on the beach. The women folk wandered around Bellingen or helped Lisa prepare an Iranian feast. Our guests enjoyed the meal and gave Lisa the thumbs-up.
On Day Three a group of friends joined us for a BBQ at Mylestom. Some young boys of similar ages to our guests taught the finer points of fishing and kicked the soccer ball around.
All the meals were special - Alberto’s paella, Georgina’s Sri Lankan curry feast, Lisa's Iranian meal, Lotus's pizza, Alberto’s kebabs. I think we all gained weight this week!
We were all sad when they left on Saturday but we know that we have made close friends with this very special family who left Iran because of a serious threat to the father’s safety. We learnt of the challenges they have had to face and our hearts have gone out to this brave and deserving family who are still awaiting the outcome of their application for refugee status.
If you want to know more about this small sub-group called Home Among the Gumtrees that organises and fundraises for similar visits in the future please email me, Margaret, at: giorgiemargie@gmail.com.
What others say about our government’s offshore detention regime
Whilst Prime Minister Turnbull and Minister Dutton continue to boast about the effectiveness of our offshore detention regime, insisting that our refugee policies are “the envy of the world”, others paint a much more sobering and accurate picture. Just last week, former Canadian PM Joe Clark described our offshore regime as “horrendous”. The Global Centre for Pluralism went further, slamming what it described as “inhumane policies” and “toxic rhetoric” which are “a threat to inclusive societies”. This criticism is not new, and the UN has repeatedly condemned the Australian government’s refugee policies, labelling the offshore detention regime as “a destructive and dangerous precedent”.
People fleeing danger deserve safety, and to get it, they have to go somewhere. If every country in the world adopted Australia’s single-minded focus on deterrence, then persecuted people would be left with nowhere to flee.
A few refugees have now found safety in the US, but there are still up to 2,000 people being warehoused by our government in offshore camps. 1,783 of them are proven refugees. 169 of them are children. They continue to suffer and to be mistreated. They should be brought to Australia immediately for resettlement. Please keep up thepressure and continue to write to the government and to the Opposition to demand that these refugees are brought here. Email Minister Dutton at: minister@border.gov.au. and Shayne Neumann, the Labor Shadow Minister at: shayne.neumann.MP@aph.gov.au.
Next roadside demonstration: Thursday 12th October, Coffs Harbour, 2.30 until 4.00 pm
Our next roadside demonstration is on Thursday of this week in Coffs Harbour. You will find us by the Pacific Highway, opposite the Base hospital, from 2.30 pm until 4.00 pm. We have lots of banners and placards to share, so why not come and join us to show your solidarity with all Australia’s refugees, both in Australia and in offshore detention. They need to know that there are many Australians who support them and who will continue to advocate for their freedom.
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