Next Roadside Demo -
Toormina, Thursday 31st May 2:30pm
Next market stall -
Valla Beach Sat 2nd June
Responses from
politicians
Fundraiser Sunday
10th June 2pm
Newsflash
Roadside
demonstration report
Due to the absence on
holiday of quite a number of our regular supporters, we had a somewhat
depleted, though no less enthusiastic group of people for our demonstration
opposite the Base hospital in Coffs Harbour last week. Lots of support from
passing motorists, as always, with just a tiny minority of dissenters. Those of
us participating in these regular demos are convinced that they provide a
really positive way of getting the message across about the cruelty and
inhumanity of our government’s asylum and refugee policy. Advertising does
work, which is why companies spend billions of dollars promoting their brands.
Our advertising is free, but no less powerful! And, like advertising, it is our
persistence that makes our message stick.
Our next roadside
demonstration will be on Thursday 31st May on Hogbin Drive, Toormina
from 2.30 to 4.00 pm. You will find us near to what used to be the Sawtell
Nursery. Please join us if you can.
Bellingen market
report
We had a great market
in Bellingen on Saturday. The sun shone, the crowds came, and we had lots
of positive and interesting conversations with market-goers. Some 200 people
signed our new open letter, which is addressed to the participants at the Labor
Party conference, to be held at the end of July. The conference will
determine the Party’s asylum policy for the Federal election, so it is really
important that the voices of the people are heard. Our open letter has been
sent to all other RAR groups in Australia, and completed forms are beginning to
arrive in the mail.
It is always
interesting to learn from people who have had direct experience of working on
Nauru or Manus, whether they be medical staff, social workers or teachers. One
person who visited our stall on Saturday and who had worked on Manus,
told us that the one thing that gave the men on Manus hope was to see groups
like ours advocating passionately for the closure of these torture camps.
Our next market will
be at Valla Beach on Saturday 2nd June from 9.00 am until
1.30 pm. If you can help out for an hour our two, then please let Mike know be
emailing him at:mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.
Responses from
politicians
About a month ago,
Mike posted 45 letters to Federal Labor MPs and Senators who are listed as
being on the left of the party. Accompanying the letters were copies of our
open letter and personal letter to Bill Shorten. To date, we have received one
letter in response, from Ross Hart MP, the member for Bass. Whilst
repeating the party line that refugees and Manus must be resettled in third
countries (and therefore not in Australia), he does state that: “It is, or
should be to the eternal shame of the Australian public that refugees and
asylum seekers have been used as political tools.” He ends by saying “Please
maintain your efforts in changing public attitude to indefinite detention.” You
can read the correspondence on our blog.
Much less encouraging
were the views of the Labor Party candidate for Cowper, Andrew Woodward, who
attended the Bellingen market at the weekend. He had no interest in our
call to end offshore detention, and repeatedly and confidently asserted that
the Labor party policy on this issue would not change this side of the Federal
election. He claims that the Party is following the wishes of the Australian
people, that the Party wants to win the next election, and that supporting
asylum seekers is a vote loser. Sadly, yet another illustration of how
political calculation trumps principle and compassion.
The message from both
these politicians is that we should not expect any principled leadership in
bringing to an end the pain and suffering of refugees languishing for
almost five years on Manus and Nauru. Change will only happen if enough of us
demand it, which is why our work is so important.
Fundraising
concert : Sunday 10th June at 2.00 pm
A reminder that our
fundraising concert will take place at the Nambucca Community and Arts Centre
on 10th June, commencing at 2.00 pm. Tickets are on sale at The
Alternative Bookshop in Bellingen and Helloworld Travel in Nambucca Heads.
Alternatively you can reserve your tickets for collection at the front desk by
phoning Marlene on 6569 5419. We have a great programme of classical music and
some jazz by well known local pianist Heather Rose, and a short set by the
indomitable Wild Women of Anywhere Beach. Please buy your tickets soon.
If you would like to
donate a raffle prize, then please email Marlene at: marlene.griffin46@bigpond.com.
A poster of the event
is attached to this newsletter. If you could print it off and display it in
your local area, your place of work or your community centre, that would be
greatly appreciated. We hope to raise a four-figure sum to support the Asylum
Seekers Centre in Newtown. They are under huge pressure at present as a result
of the government’s recent cruel decision to abolish financial support
for asylum seekers living in our cities as they wait for a resolution to their
claims for protection.
Newsflash!
We have just learned
that Wendy Sharpe, one of Australia’s most awarded artists, has agreed to
donate an art work for us to sell at the concert. Wendy has been awarded the
Suleman Prize, the Portia Geach Memorial Prize (twice) the Archibald Prize, and
many others. She has held some 60 solo exhibitions around Australia and
internationally. In 2014 she created a series of portraits of asylum
seekers in Australia entitled “Seeking humanity: Portraits and stories of
asylum seekers and refugees.” In 2015, she became Ambassador for the Asylum
Seekers Centre.
Wendy has a studio in
inner Sydney, and is asking if someone could collect the painting from
her. So, an urgent message. Is there anyone out there who will be
travelling to Sydney in the next week or so and who would be willing to
collect the work for us? Please get in contact with Marlene urgently
either by phone or email if you can help.
A huge that you to
Wendy Sharpe for her generosity, and to Marlene for making this happen.
Check out the index of subjects on our blog http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au
It includes
articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers.
This newsletter is
sent to >580 recipients
Our Face book
is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/
(482 likes)
Twitter
Account @RARBellingenNam
Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com
The National RAR
web site is at www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au
The National RAR
facebook site is at RAR Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment