Organised by the Social Justice Advocates (SJA) of the Sapphire Coast with Smithfield Public School, Sydney, 30 refugees from six families were hosted by locals for a long weekend stay and enjoyed visits to Eden, Tathra and Bega.
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The families have been in Australia for between one and four years and for some it was the first time they had been outside Sydney.
The SJA wanted to reach out to a local primary school and contacted Bega Public School teacher Emma Grant who planned a visit to the Bega school for the families.
Just 40 days after my auntie was married her husband was killed by Isis.
- Maryam Salim
Emma and her husband Corey Grant also hosted the Yonan family from Iraq.
A member of the family Maryam Salim, 15, explained that they had originally lived in Mosul but when she was just four the Christian family had received death threats against her and her mother.
They moved twice over the next couple of years before arriving in the north of the country but then the family felt in danger again.
“Just 40 days after my auntie was married her husband was killed by Isis,” Maryam said.
The family once again moved, leaving for Jordan this time, and stayed there for 10 months before being accepted by Australia.
Asked about making new friends in Australia, Maryam said it was great, “all the school is my friend”.
“It was a very hard life in Iraq, no water, no electricity. Here it’s a very cool life,” she said.
Deena Waterson of Tathra is a new member of the SJA and also was a host for a family from Iraq.
the visit.
“You hear about the news and the conflicts on TV but become desensitised. It’s not until you host a family that you hear a lot more.
“I’m just thankful that I’ve never felt anything by safety in our community,” she said
The families and hosts enjoyed a barbecue at Cocora Beach, Eden and then went to the amphitheatre on the Bunduian Way for a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country.
Young members of the refugee families were fascinated by Ossie Cruse’s ability to play the gum leaf and all gave it a try while some of the men tried to get a sound out of a didgeridoo.
Shaquille and Brytan Aldridge conducted the ceremonial aspects of the welcome and were assisted by Bassam Paulis who translated for the refugees.