News
November 2021: Assisting recent refugees from Afghanistan
RARQ has recently become aware of an influx of refugees evacuated from Afghanistan during the recent Taliban takeover who are currently living in the ACT. We, along with other volunteer groups in the area, are in the process of gaining information and guidance from Companion House and the Red Cross so we may assist them. Please contact us via this website or our facebook page if you are interested in becoming involved. Our group will attend a training session with a Companion House staff member on Wednesday 17 November to enhance our knowledge on dealing with victims of trauma. Those of us who do not have a Working With Vulnerable People status are applying for that accreditation so we might directly assist people who are currently in limbo whilst waiting for ID papers. The most urgent issue facing these refugees is affordable accommodation.
Due to the COVID19 social distancing laws, our meetings were postponed for parts of 2020 and 2021. They have recently been held every three months, either in person or on Zoom. We had our first general meeting since the AGM at The Hive in Queanbeyan on 5 June. Since then the committee held a meeting via Zoom. Our next general meeting is planned for 8 January 2022, with a venue to be announced.
Our AGM, which was postponed and finally held on 6th March 2021 resulted in new positions being taken up on the committee. Please see the attached minutes from the meeting. Our next general meeting is planned for the 8th of January 2022 - the venue to be announced.
Some members are making monthly payment to RARQ to build up our reserves while our events have been suspended. RARQ continues to donate money to emergency funding where it's needed.
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Ballarat community supports refugee family
Refugee Neil Para was joined by dozens of community members as he walked around Lake Wendouree on Sunday, the first day of National Refugee Week, carrying 13.5 kilograms to represent the weight of uncertainty refugees and asylum seekers face on a daily basis.
Mr Para, his wife Sugaa and three children have been living in Australia for more than seven years, but had their visa and working rights revoked shortly after leaving detention.
Mr Para, his wife Sugaa and three children have been living in Australia for more than seven years, but had their visa and working rights revoked shortly after leaving detention.
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Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival Sunday March 1st 2020 - another great festival!
RARQ received a lot of exposure at this year's wonderful Queanbeyan Multicultural Festival. Our marquee was situated just inside the oval fence near the main stage and we had plenty of passers-by to contribute to our raffle and to become engaged in the multicultural sports activities introduced to the festival this year. Spectators watched demonstrations of African Wrestling and Cane Ball, with some joining in to give it a try. We hope our involvement with the sports program will grow and become part of RARQ's focus. Any local teams playing a sport from their country of origin are encouraged to contact us. |
The RAR National Annual General Meeting was held in Queanbeyan on 27th July 2019. The meeting was followed by guest speakers and our annual RARQ fundraising dinner.
Above left: Our keynote speaker, David Manne, of Refugee Legal, gave an inspiring talk, giving an overview of Australia's treatment of those seeking asylum in recent years.
Top right: Kim Houghton, of the Regional Australia Institute, spoke of the positive effects for both new arrivals and regional communities when they move from cities to country areas. Above right: Emmanuel Musoni, the patron of RAR, chair of the Great lakes Agency for Peace and Development. Right: RARQ volunteers preparing food for the fundraiser dinner. Thanks to all who contributed time, food and money to the event. |
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Palm Sunday Rally, Canberra 14th April 2019
This year the numbers at the Palm Sunday rally were much bigger as the sense of frustration at government policy increases. RARQ had a good representation at the rally. The speakers were passionate and inspiring and included a speech via video from Berouze Boochani on Manus.
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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