News
Our first general meeting for 2019 will be held on Saturday 2nd February, 2pm
at the Uniting Church, Rutledge St Qeanbeyan
The usual morning coffee at Riverside Plaza will resume in the new year.
RARQ and friends usually meet once a month for a chat and a cuppa at the Riverside Plaza. This occurs on the first Friday after our regular meetings, which are usually held on the first Saturday of the month. It's our way of keeping in touch and letting people know that we're here. It's also an opportunity for those who are new to Queanbeyan, or who may just want to converse in English, to join us.
Canberra rally for children in detention
A large and vocal crowd attended the rally on the lawns of Parliament House, Canberra on October 16th, urging the government to release people held in detention - particularly children suffering on Nauru - into the community for immediate assistance and health care. Rural Australians for Refugees was well represented and organiser, RAR president, Marie Sellstrom, introduced the crowd to several impressive speakers. These included representatives of the local Ngunnuwal people, a doctor from Medicins Sans Frontiers who has just returned from Nauru, and others who had first-hand experience of the trauma experienced by those in detention. Shortis and Simpson sang a touching song written about children on Nauru and the crowd joined them in a rendition of We Shall Overcome. The urgency of the situation was the main focus of the rally which was attended by RSAR groups and other refugee support groups from far and wide.
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Visit to the Oasis Refugee Centre Cardiff
RARQ President Gerry Gillespie recently visited Wales as a guest of the Welsh Government to celebrate their achievements in recycling (now 2nd best in the world!). While there, he was impressed with the general attitude toward those seeking asylum and refugees, exemplified in the resource centre Oasis.
'Oasis Cardiff aims to help refugees and asylum seekers integrate into the local Cardiff community. It achieves this through the provision of personal support services, computer usage, clothing provision, cookery sessions, women only sessions, craft sessions and English language classes.
The day we visited they were preparing lunch for an anticipated 100 or more people. Three cooks were in the kitchen where a new and very large ventilation fan has just been fitted. The dining area is the main hall of an old church building they rent from council on a yearly basis. The building also contains office rooms and a creche at the front of the premises for children, staff and management and several more rooms at the rear for English classes, art and clothing fitting with storage.
Recent arrivals are provided with a full change of clothes initially at no cost. There is a restriction on this service due to the small space available for clothing storage. There is also a cafe area which is about a third of the size of the dining hall. The café is open all day and provides billiards, cards games and reading materials.
The most recent addition to the Oasis services is a food van which was acquired at a much reduced price from and unnamed donor. The van has been a great success due to the ability to both serve food as a fund raiser but also to raise awareness of the needs of refugees.
'Oasis Cardiff aims to help refugees and asylum seekers integrate into the local Cardiff community. It achieves this through the provision of personal support services, computer usage, clothing provision, cookery sessions, women only sessions, craft sessions and English language classes.
The day we visited they were preparing lunch for an anticipated 100 or more people. Three cooks were in the kitchen where a new and very large ventilation fan has just been fitted. The dining area is the main hall of an old church building they rent from council on a yearly basis. The building also contains office rooms and a creche at the front of the premises for children, staff and management and several more rooms at the rear for English classes, art and clothing fitting with storage.
Recent arrivals are provided with a full change of clothes initially at no cost. There is a restriction on this service due to the small space available for clothing storage. There is also a cafe area which is about a third of the size of the dining hall. The café is open all day and provides billiards, cards games and reading materials.
The most recent addition to the Oasis services is a food van which was acquired at a much reduced price from and unnamed donor. The van has been a great success due to the ability to both serve food as a fund raiser but also to raise awareness of the needs of refugees.
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Five Years Too Long!
Members of the Refugee Action Committee Canberra, RARQ and other groups concerned by the fact that people seeking asylum have now been held in detention on Manus and Nauru for 5 years
met near the north end of the Commonwealth Bridge on 21st July. The protest did not attract media attention, but it did attract many positive reactions from passers-by.
met near the north end of the Commonwealth Bridge on 21st July. The protest did not attract media attention, but it did attract many positive reactions from passers-by.
Refugee Week Solstice Dinner - RARQ's main fundraising event
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Once again, the annual RARQ fundraising dinner held in celebration of Refugee Week attracted almost 60 people and was a great night for conversation, good home-cooked food and stimulating guest speakers. The event was opened by Dr John Minns who spoke passionately on the history of those seeking asylum in our country and the deterioration of human rights as carried out by recent Australian governments. The guest speaker, Mr Joe Ruis, held the attention of the crowd as he spoke of his experience as a child refugee from war-torn Spain in the Franco years. As Joe related the terrifying ordeals he and his family faced during that time, he pointed out that the main difference for refugees then and now was the fact that they had hope of a better life.
'Building the Future' - RAR national conference, April 2018
The National Conference held this month in Wodonga was a very impressive event, with well over 300 people attending, including 3 RARQ members, who will give a full report on the conference at our May general meeting. The event was held over 3 days, with a full agenda of high-profile inspiring keynote speakers, a high school debate, presentations from former refugees and the choice of many helpful workshops. The highlight of the final day was the announcement of the Tampa Award which went to Behrouz Boochani. A phone hook-up allowed the award to be presented to Behrouz while the audience sang 'We Shall Overcome'. Those attending were left with many new strategies to pursue, the most important based on the suggestion from Prof. Gillian Triggs that we begin an initiative to ensure that Australia has a Bill of Rights.
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Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival 2018
Members of RARQ were present at the festival held at Queanbeyan Park on March 4th, sharing a marquee with the Queanbeyan Writers Group. Our main activities were showing children how to use block printing on greeting cards, running a raffle, and chatting to interested members of the public about RARQ.
Members of RARQ were present at the festival held at Queanbeyan Park on March 4th, sharing a marquee with the Queanbeyan Writers Group. Our main activities were showing children how to use block printing on greeting cards, running a raffle, and chatting to interested members of the public about RARQ.
Regional Forum 23 February, Queanbeyan
RARQ and other groups supporting refugees and those seeking asylum attended our
Regional Forum this month. Dr Mike Kelly spoke to the group and took questions regarding Labor's policies towards those seeking refuge in Australia. Margaret Raza from the RAR National Executive gave an inspirational and interactive talk to the group about future directions and goals.
Regional Forum this month. Dr Mike Kelly spoke to the group and took questions regarding Labor's policies towards those seeking refuge in Australia. Margaret Raza from the RAR National Executive gave an inspirational and interactive talk to the group about future directions and goals.
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Queanbeyan Multicultural Centre 40th Birthday celebrations
Some RARQ members attend this wonderful event in the Queanbeyan Park. It was a happy, colourful day which reminded us of how fortunate we are as a community to have welcomed so many people from other cultures to our town.
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Queanbeyan Uniting Church Fair |
RARQ participated in the annual fair held at the Queanbeyan Uniting Church on Saturday 25th November. Our stall included food, plants and art activities for children. Funds raised will be a contribution to the church, which generously allows us to use their space for our meetings.
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Open Garden fundraiserOpen Gardens Canberra and RARQ held a successful fundraising event in the rose garden of Gerardina Melssen on the weekend of the 18th and 19th of November. Many thanks to all who helped with the event, which was a major fundraiser for our group.
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