News
Message from a refugee
Neil Para, a refugee residing in Ballarat, is organising this walk to coincide with the 2021 Refugee Week. He has created a facebook page to promote the event: https://fb.me/e/1kYUdlzk2
This speech was recently delivered by Neil to RAR Ballarat:
"My name is Neelavannan Paramanathan a Tamil refugee from Sri Lanka. Known in Ballarat as Neil Para.
I came to Australia in 2012 with my wife and two daughters. That journey is a whole story in itself. At the time my wife Sugaa was pregnant. We have three daughters now. We moved to Ballarat in Sep 2013 following a recommendation from friends. We didn’t know it then but this led us to mix with the wider Australian community but if we had stayed in Dandenong this probably wouldn’t have happened. At that time I had very limited English. But I was the only family member who could speak and understand even a little bit of English. At that time I only knew four people in Ballarat, my wife, and my three daughters. In November of 2013, I received a call from my good friend and mentor Colin. This followed me contacting the BRMC, the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Centre. It was the first time that I felt that I would be accepted in the community.
We also set out to make friends with our neighbors so we wrote Christmas cards and put them in their letterbox. We received chocolates and cards from them in return and we were able to say Hi when we saw them in the street.
At that time my visa allowed work rights and I was working as a cleaner in Ballarat and later in Point Cook. For us, they were better times as I was able to pay my own way and contributing to the country. Unfortunately in February 2014, my work right was withdrawn. This was a shocking time but fortunately, the Ballarat community and particularly the RAR, Rural Australian for Refugees helped us through those times.
After my eldest daughter, Nivash, started school in 2014, I got involved with her school, Black Hill Primary, whenever I could. Things like working bees, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day stalls, parent helper. All along I was feeling my English improving. Since then my family have been involved in Clean up Australia Day and tree planting with Friends of the Yarrowee and the Black Hill Reserve.
In Sri Lanka, I worked as a hairdresser and studied IT at night school. In Malaysia, where I spent some time on my journey to Australia I worked for a printer developing skills in publishing. After arriving in Ballarat I developed my passion for photography. This started after a chance meeting with the Lal Lal Photography Club on Australia Day 2015. Now I take photos in and around Ballarat as my hobby, but I would like to say, photography is my passion. This passion led to me receiving a grant from Ballarat Art Foundation to present an exhibition. I presented this last year with the topic of homeless titled ‘Without a Roof.’ This led to me being involved with a group named Global Housing Solutions discussing how we can work together to achieve housing for everyone. Currently working on a new exhibition idea which is expected to be held this year.
I am a founding member of the Committee for Ballarat North advocating for the suburb. So far upgrading Midland reserve and Havelock Streets are our main projects.
My new project is Multicultural Harvest Festival Australia to appreciate the Australian Farmers and nature. The festival had its inaugural Harvest festival in January 2021.
I have also started a Facebook group called “Working bee” where you can share your local working bee events.
Since 2016 I have been a member of the SES. And now I am a deputy crew leader. Through the SES I have taken courses in chain saw operation, four-wheel driving, radio communications, first aid, search, and leadership to name a few. I have been involved in many missing person searches, storm damage, logistics for other emergency services, Driver Reviver crowd marshaling and others. My recent search was here in Daylesford a couple of weeks ago.
In 2016, I was awarded the Catherine King award for service to Black Hill Primary. That was a milestone and since then I have felt that Ballarat is my home. In 2018 I received the award from the Friends of Refugees and in 2020 I received an award from Neighbourhood Australia for being one of the best neighbors in Australia.
My wife and three daughters have their own stories too. Sugaa is a volunteer in an aged care facility for Ballarat Health Service and as an ambassador at Ballarat Information centre. Mum and daughter have donated their long hair twice for charity for the cancer people. They raised over one thousand dollars to Ballarat Hospice too through Facebook and their school. Sugaa was making quilts at uniting church for the homeless people I believe.
That is a brief story of my life since 2012. I have other stories to tell perhaps I will have an opportunity to share those with you another time."
This speech was recently delivered by Neil to RAR Ballarat:
"My name is Neelavannan Paramanathan a Tamil refugee from Sri Lanka. Known in Ballarat as Neil Para.
I came to Australia in 2012 with my wife and two daughters. That journey is a whole story in itself. At the time my wife Sugaa was pregnant. We have three daughters now. We moved to Ballarat in Sep 2013 following a recommendation from friends. We didn’t know it then but this led us to mix with the wider Australian community but if we had stayed in Dandenong this probably wouldn’t have happened. At that time I had very limited English. But I was the only family member who could speak and understand even a little bit of English. At that time I only knew four people in Ballarat, my wife, and my three daughters. In November of 2013, I received a call from my good friend and mentor Colin. This followed me contacting the BRMC, the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Centre. It was the first time that I felt that I would be accepted in the community.
We also set out to make friends with our neighbors so we wrote Christmas cards and put them in their letterbox. We received chocolates and cards from them in return and we were able to say Hi when we saw them in the street.
At that time my visa allowed work rights and I was working as a cleaner in Ballarat and later in Point Cook. For us, they were better times as I was able to pay my own way and contributing to the country. Unfortunately in February 2014, my work right was withdrawn. This was a shocking time but fortunately, the Ballarat community and particularly the RAR, Rural Australian for Refugees helped us through those times.
After my eldest daughter, Nivash, started school in 2014, I got involved with her school, Black Hill Primary, whenever I could. Things like working bees, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day stalls, parent helper. All along I was feeling my English improving. Since then my family have been involved in Clean up Australia Day and tree planting with Friends of the Yarrowee and the Black Hill Reserve.
In Sri Lanka, I worked as a hairdresser and studied IT at night school. In Malaysia, where I spent some time on my journey to Australia I worked for a printer developing skills in publishing. After arriving in Ballarat I developed my passion for photography. This started after a chance meeting with the Lal Lal Photography Club on Australia Day 2015. Now I take photos in and around Ballarat as my hobby, but I would like to say, photography is my passion. This passion led to me receiving a grant from Ballarat Art Foundation to present an exhibition. I presented this last year with the topic of homeless titled ‘Without a Roof.’ This led to me being involved with a group named Global Housing Solutions discussing how we can work together to achieve housing for everyone. Currently working on a new exhibition idea which is expected to be held this year.
I am a founding member of the Committee for Ballarat North advocating for the suburb. So far upgrading Midland reserve and Havelock Streets are our main projects.
My new project is Multicultural Harvest Festival Australia to appreciate the Australian Farmers and nature. The festival had its inaugural Harvest festival in January 2021.
I have also started a Facebook group called “Working bee” where you can share your local working bee events.
Since 2016 I have been a member of the SES. And now I am a deputy crew leader. Through the SES I have taken courses in chain saw operation, four-wheel driving, radio communications, first aid, search, and leadership to name a few. I have been involved in many missing person searches, storm damage, logistics for other emergency services, Driver Reviver crowd marshaling and others. My recent search was here in Daylesford a couple of weeks ago.
In 2016, I was awarded the Catherine King award for service to Black Hill Primary. That was a milestone and since then I have felt that Ballarat is my home. In 2018 I received the award from the Friends of Refugees and in 2020 I received an award from Neighbourhood Australia for being one of the best neighbors in Australia.
My wife and three daughters have their own stories too. Sugaa is a volunteer in an aged care facility for Ballarat Health Service and as an ambassador at Ballarat Information centre. Mum and daughter have donated their long hair twice for charity for the cancer people. They raised over one thousand dollars to Ballarat Hospice too through Facebook and their school. Sugaa was making quilts at uniting church for the homeless people I believe.
That is a brief story of my life since 2012. I have other stories to tell perhaps I will have an opportunity to share those with you another time."
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Due to the COVID19 social distancing laws, our meetings were postponed in 2020. They will now be held every three months. The date and venue of the next meeting in June will be announced at a later date.
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.
Monthly morning coffee at Riverside Plaza postponed
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. We'll let you know when we are able to resume these get-togethers.
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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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