Refugees thriving in Nihl Victoria

Karen people from the Thai-Myanmar border have moved into the community in Victoria's Wimmera region, keeping the job sector healthy.

From refugees camps to the streets of Nhill, the Karen people thriving in regional Victoria.

More than 100 refugees have found a home in the farming town, including Plawtapoe Ganemy-Kunoo.

ABC Open: Read profiles of Karen refugees who've made Nhill their home

"We're very blessed to be here, we're very lucky," she said.

"Many Karen people they call Australia heaven compared to other countries." 

Ms Plawtapoe Ganemy-Kunoo moved to Australia when she was seven, but only arrived in Nhill 12 months ago. 

"The community here are very friendly, tight-knit and supportive or each other," she said.

"You don't find that in a larger community."

Her story is featured in this exhibition at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne. 

The photographer is Melissa Powell, who is based at Natimuk in the Wimmera.

"The image I shot of her and her husband, I really wanted to show new love in the Wimmera as it could be for anyone else, for any the locals," she said.

The refugees say they feel safe in Australia and are putting their agricultural skills to use on the region's farms. 

They are dotted around regional Victoria and also live at Horsham and Bendigo, but about half of the Karen population in Nhill work at the Luv-a-duck meat processing factory. 

The Wimmera Development Association has credited the refugees for boosting the poultry business and allowing the company to increase its production levels. 

"With the employment comes families," said the association's Jo Bourke. 

"We have a number of children at kindergarten and Karen people have become an important part of the community," 

"Apart from the economic benefit to business, it's created a quite a bit of new work so we've got 20 students at the secondary college so that supports the activities there."

The exhibition leaves Melbourne on Sunday, but the local council is pushing for the photos to go on show at Parliament House in Canberra before the end of the year.

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  Cho Lay Nwe’s family fled their village in Burma when Cho Lay was just one (Supplied: Melissa Powell Photography)
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  Seeking Refuge in Nhill celebrates the contribution of Karen refugees to the Victorian farming community (Melissa Powell Photography)
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  It was love that brought Plaw to Nhill and now she couldn’t imagine living elsewhere. (Supplied: Melissa Powell Photography)
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  Camp of Karen State (Supplied: Melissa Powell Photography)
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  Ku Pow is featured in a series of photographs celebrating Karen contributions to Nhill (Melissa Powell Photography)
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  Moo Moo is the matriarch of the Nhill Karen community (Melissa Powell Photography)
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  Kaw Doh and his wife Ehthadah Paw live in Nhill with their three children (Melissa Powell Photography)
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GALLERY: Seeking refuge in Nhill

Topics: photography, refugees, rural, nhill-3418, melbourne-3000, burma, asia

Newsletter for 22 April 2015

Newsletter for 22 April 2015

Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

Hi everyone


Cost of Government Secrecy

We now know that Asylum Seekers have been returned to Vietnam, and it would appear that it cost $1.4 million to do it
see http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-17/reports-navy-seeking-to-return-asylum-seekers/6402048

The Government has paid $40 million to Cambodia to accept rejected asylum seekers from Nauru - no one appears to have agreed to go.

It costs $400,000 a year to keep an asylum seeker in an offshore detention centre.
see http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/costs-of-detaining-asylum-seekers-in.html

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Friends of Refugees trying to buy a truck

We have received this email from Ealiane Smith via the National RAR.

Elaine will be known to many of your for her tireless support of asylum seekers when she lived in Port Macquarie. She moved to Victoria to continue her work with refugees.

From: elaine.m.smith@bigpond.com

Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 11:30 PM

Subject: Friends of Refugees Emergency Relief Truck

Hi

Can you forward this to your networks please!

At the moment we are trying to buy a truck to deliver bedding, food, kitchen goods to asylum seeker families with nothing.

People are found in bare houses, cold, frightened and hungry. Unbelievable for Australia!

There are generous people who want to give necessary blankets, and food, but we need the truck to collect goods and deliver them.

We need small........ or........... large amounts of money. Whatever you can afford. I have already donated, hope you can too!!

If you are in Melbourne you may want to get involved personally as well.

Dear Elaine,

Please check out our Friends of Refugees crowd funding campaign to buy a truck . This campaign has just been "launched".  

In Australia nobody should be sleeping on cold floors or go hungry without enough food.

Please help us by donating to the campaign to raise money to buy a truck to continue our emergency relief work.https://chuffed.org/project/friends-of-refugees-truck/

You can check out the Friends of Refugees website for more information on the services we provide for asylum seekers in need.

www.friendsofrefugees.org.au

Regards

Sri 

Good News Story - Graduation Day for Asylum Seeker

Sydney Morning Herald  article April 16

Graduation day for former Christmas Island refugee Hadi Hosseini

Date

April 15, 2015

• 

Lucy Cormack

Hadi Hosseini, a refugee from Afghanistan, taught himself English when he arrived on Christmas Island and is now an accounting graduate. Photo: Edwina Pickles

Hadi Hosseini remembers the experience of living in detention like living in "a factory for making people crazy."
Born in an Iranian refugee camp to Afghan parents, Mr Hosseini arrived on Christmas Island aged 17 in 2010. He knew not a word of English.
"They treat you as a prisoner...detention is a factory for making people crazy. But you've got to make conversation."

'I am so proud of what I've been through': Hadi Hosseini. Photo: Edwina Pickles

As every fork, blanket or plate of food passed his way during his 13-month stay, Mr Hosseini would note its English name, carefully writing it down in his notes.

On Wednesday afternoon the 22-year-old crossed the floor of an entirely different factory, graduating from an associate degree in accounting at Ultimo TAFE.

"I never say these kinds of things to myself, but I am so proud of what I've been through. I cannot thank my teachers and friends enough and to the wider Australian community for giving me this opportunity," he said.
Mr Hosseini was one of a record 71 students to graduate from TAFE NSW on Wednesday, taking with them degrees in design, art and animation, early childhood, information technology and accounting.
"Our retention rate is over 90 per cent and this reflects the excellent student support that TAFE NSW offers," said Pam Christie, managing director of TAFE NSW.
"Direct contact with lecturers is significantly higher at TAFE than at a university."
During his time at TAFE Mr Hosseini found no shortage of teachers going above and beyond, believing his education would have been "almost impossible" if not for their support.
"With smaller classes you get to know more about your teacher. Especially in a course like accounting, its not only a matter of the English language but about the accounting language, you need someone to break down those terms for you."
When he was released from Christmas Island in June 2011, Mr Hosseini decided not to settle amid an Afghan community in western Sydney, but headed east to Bondi.
Not only was he drawn to the sun-bleached sands, but the broad mix of local Australians and travellers alike.
"I wanted to talk with people other than Afghans ...When I was released, I thought, I'm going to adopt things in the community, I want to live with these people for the rest of my life, I will learn what I need to learn," he said.
After completing his HSC at Randwick TAFE over 18 months, Mr Hosseini began his associate degree in accounting, what would be two-thirds of his full accounting degree, which he will finish at Macquarie University in November this year.
He said it is no secret that he is "very hungry about accounting," and dreams to one day "work for one of the big four."
But until that day, he said he hopes to help to shape the experience for future refugees.
"My experience is known by many Australians as refugees who came by boat ... And by looking at the news ... all these terrible things happening to refugees, I wish that Australians would consider that those people can be an asset for the community, he said.
"I wish Australia's [politicians] give them the chance ...I'm sure they can contribute a lot."

Newsletter for 15 April 2015 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

Newsletter for 15 April 2015
Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts 

Hi everyone

Friends of Refugees

We have received this email from Elaine Smith via the National RAR.

Elaine will be known to many of you for her tireless support of asylum seekers when she lived in Port Macquarie. She moved to Victoria to continue her work with refugees.

"Hi
Can you forward this to your networks please!

At the moment we are trying to buy a truck to deliver bedding, food, kitchen goods to asylum seeker families with nothing.

People are found in bare houses, cold, frightened and hungry. Unbelievable for Australia!

There are generous people who want to give necessary blankets, and food, but we need the truck to collect goods and deliver them.

This newsletter is stored here for archive purposes. To read complete newsletter click below

Divest to end Australian mandatory detention policy for Asylum Seekers

"Australians and Allies against Mandatory Detention" organisation

"Despite the fact that we have made a fantastic beginning, mandatory detention will not be dismantled overnight. One thing that we can all do in order to continue to build political pressure to change policies is engage in the divestment campaign, we can withdraw our money from the companies that profit from mandatory detention. If you haven’t yet seen it make sure you check out the newly launched #HESTADivest website and facebook page. This campaign is just getting started, for more information check out the research by XBorder into the detention centre supply chain here.

Please share the pictures of this global call to end mandatory detention far and wide! Its inspiring to see people from Melbourne to Berlin, from Hong Kong to Oxford coming together to stand in solidarity with those detained and to condemn what Australia is doing. 

You can find out more about Australians and Allies Overseas Against Mandatory Detention on our tumblr, by liking our facebook page, or you can join our facebook group to organize with us. Alternatively, send us an email at  australiansoverseas4refugees@yahoo.com

Hunger Strike by asylum seeker, near death, in Perth - update 7 April 2015

Saeed Hassanloo has ended his hunger strike

comment form Refugee Action Coalition Sydney 7 April

The Refugee Action Coalition has welcomed the news that Iranian hunger striker, Saeed Hansonloo, has ended his hunger strike.

Now the Minister must release Saeed, his brother and the 40-odd other Iranians being held in indefinite detention.

Despite the Minister’s public comments, Saeed’s case has not been finalized. The Department initiated a “International Treaty Obligations Assessment” process in January this year.

Hundreds of others in a similar situation are living in the community on bridging visas.

“The Minister has to explain why Saeed and his brother were not released on bridging visas,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

“Peter Dutton has assiduously avoided explaining why he didn’t do the obvious. Saeed and his brother were living in the community on bridging visas until 2012.

“Twice this year, Iranian asylum seekers have come close to dying in detention. The Minister is completely blinkered by domestic politics. Unless Peter Dutton releases Saeed and the others, it is only a matter of time before this happens again. Some of the Iranians in Darwin, in a similar situation to Saeed, have now been re-detained for nine months. The government’s policy is senseless.”

There is a man in a Perth hospital, very close to death as a result of a hunger strike. I am old enough to clearly remember 1981 and the death of Bobby Sands after 66 days on a hunger strike. Halfway across the world, here in Australia, his decline and death was covered in every news bulletin. Whether we supported his cause or not, we all followed his story – Bobby Sands was a household name and we FELT something in response to his actions.

Yet right here, now, today an Iranian man is close to death, protesting his imminent return to Iran, a country he fled in 2009. He clearly believes that death here is better than being returned to Iran. Yet this story is not making news. I googled it today and could find it covered in only three media outlets: ABC News Online, The Guardian and Perth Now. Nothing mainstream. We don’t even know this man’s name, unlike Bobby Sands.

Well, his name is Saeed Hassanloo and he is about 27 years old. One of the reasons why we know so little is that the hospital where is now located, Royal Perth Hospital, is unable to provide any information on his condition unless it is approved by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (formerly the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and the name change speaks volumes about the thinking of our government) and the Department is not approving any media releases.

The story that the radio and TV stations and the print and online newspapers should be covering therefore, is the story of man who is dying in a hospital, from a hunger strike, in the middle of beautiful, affluent, sunny Perth and the public is not allowed to know anything about him because the federal government is censoring our access to information. That is a real story and that is what the media should be focussing on. Perhaps they don’t because they know that, by and large, Australians are so apathetic that they just don’t care.

We have two major political parties who try to outbid each other at election time to see who can provide the toughest, least sympathetic approach to the issue of refugees and they do this because they sense this is what the Australian public wants them to do. I am becoming increasingly disillusioned with all that we stand for as Australians. We are such a self-congratulatory people, always talking about behaviours that we consider to be un-Australian. We have become so self-obsessed, so focussed on what is happening in our own households and our own streets that we don’t even know what is happening in a major hospital in the centre of our city. Or if we do know, we don’t care. Are we so lacking in generosity of spirit that we no longer care about the plight of others?

Now is the time to let our government and our media know that we do care and we do want to know what is happening – to Saeed Hassanloo specifically and about how Australia treats refugees generally. There isn’t much time left. This man has already not eaten for 40 days and has not taken water for the past few days – he is close to death. I want to be part of a country – again – that cares about what happens to people on our shores.

provided by Andrew Walls, from a friend in Perth

Newsletter for 8 April 2015 Rural Australian for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

Newsletter for 8 April 2015
Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts 

Asylum Seeker on hunger Strike in Perth

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letter to cross benchers on Border Protection etc Bills and the responses

Dear Senator 

You will have received many letters and emails concerned with the content of the proposed Border Protection and the Customs and other Legislation Amendment Bills, highlighting specific problems.

Each point of detail in these bills reduces the power of Parliament and lessens transparency.

There is too much secrecy in the treatment of asylum seekers at the moment without increasing the powers of the Minister.

In the Border Forces Bill, section 23, the Minister does not have to declare to Parliament directions on policies and priorities given to the Border Forces Commission until 15 sitting days after making those directions.

The Customs and other Legislation Amendment Bill, is intended to protect the Minister and others from proper scrutiny or accountability over the treatment of asylum seekers.

Please oppose these bills.

Sincerely yours 

David and Irene 

____________________________________________________

"Your comments have been noted.

 Regards,

David Leyonhjelm"

________________________________________________________________ 

"It’s always great to receive feedback from the community so I can best represent your needs in the Senate.

 If you live outside of SA, you can search for your Federal Member or Senator at http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/."

 Nick Exenophon

_____________________________________________________ 

"All emails received will be taken into account, and if further clarification is required, my office will be in contact with you."

Senator Ricky Muir

________________________________________________________________ 

"Thanks for your email. Due to the large number of emails I receive each day, I am unable to respond personally but I do make a point of reading all communications. I welcome your comments and input."

John Madigan

_________________________________________________________________________ 

It’s always great to receive feedback from the community so I can best represent your needs in the Senate.  If you are a Tasmanian resident or an Australian Veteran, please ensure you have included your address and phone number in your email so we can contact you if I require further information.

Jackie Lambie
_________________________________________________________________

Senator Day appreciates the time you have taken to express your view on these important issues and will take these views into consideration. Senator Day’s advisors are currently reviewing the legislation and do not have a position at this time.

Senator Day appreciates that you have written to him about a current issue that concerns you.  The Senator has been elected as a Family First Senator for South Australia on a platform of “Every family, a job and a house”.  This is a massive task which promotes independence and self-reliance, reducing the need for government intervention. This leads to smaller government, lower taxes and therefore more money in the pockets of families. Senator Day therefore has a limited capacity to advocate for (a) issues outside of his State or (b) policy priorities beyond that focus.  Having said that, Senator Day has indicated above what he has to say about the issues that you have raised.

Bob Day

_____________________________________________________________________________________

No response from Senator Wang

Newsletter for 1 April 2015

Hi Everyone

 

Valla Beach Markets this Saturday 4 April 2015

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