Visas granted as long walk ends

LAST Sunday, Sri Lankan refugee Neil Para completed his one-thousand-and-fourteen-kilometre Walk for Freedom in Sydney, and discovered he’d been granted a permanent visa.

Advocating for rights and permanent visas for Australian refugees, Mr Para walked from Lydiard Street, Ballarat to Marrickville, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate office is, and arrived at the finish line on day 41 of his on-foot journey.

There, he reunited with his wife Sugaa and their daughters, who have also been granted permanent visas following the campaign, before they walked through a congratulatory banner together.

The family were met by many supporters and were able to deliver a petition with 20,000 signatures in support of the cause.

Mr Para thanked the Ballarat community for backing him since he set off on 1 August, in particular, the city’s branch of Rural Australians for Refugees.

“My walk for freedom has come to an end,” he said. “I am glad and grateful. Thank you, Australia. Now it really is my home.

“We promise that we will contribute to Australia. Refugees have a lot to give. One day I hope all will be free.

“Thank you everyone for supporting all the way.”

Mr Para said he will continue to be an advocate for the 10,000 refugees in the country who live in limbo without permanent visas, and cannot legally work.

On Sunday morning, with less than six kilometres to go, he said he was looking forward to having a few days of rest, and then getting back to his volunteer work with the State Emergency Services in Ballarat.