Trust, support and friendship for new neighbours

OVER five years ago, one of Ballarat’s refugee families hoped to find a way of meeting more people, to grow their social and support networks.

Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees started their Picnic with Refugees and People Seeking Asylum in response, inviting the broader community to mix with their new neighbours.

The latest gathering was last Sunday at Kirks Reservoir Park. People brought a chair, a rug, something to share and spoke to someone new.

Volunteer, Doreen Roache said her group wanted to ensure everyone feels welcome in Ballarat.

“Providing these opportunities is so important and the people really appreciate it,” she said. “They seem to need continual support and they don’t like to be left alone for too long.

“They put on a good front, but they want people around them, and to know they’re welcome. It’s a continual support. They’re insecure and frightened.

“We invited Ballarat people to come along, join in and have a bit of fun.”

Tamil, Neil Para has sought asylum in Ballarat, originally from northern Sri Lanka. He’s happy to be in such a welcoming place and has been to previous picnics.

“Every year, the people who already know the refugees come, but this time we had new people,” he said.

“It’s very good to see them coming and very happy to the heart.”

Mr Para is grateful to Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees, who provide ongoing support to his family, including his partner and three daughters.

“They’re giving friendship, welcoming us, they trust us, and those things are important to us,” he said.

“We feel like we are Australian and Ballarat people. They accept us and if we say something, they listen. We are secure.

“We are also giving back to them. I am volunteering in the State Emergency Services… so we’re doing a lot, and they’re doing, for us, also lots.”

Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees is an awareness raising group that meets once a month and has been running for about eight years.

Their aim is to support and welcome people who are seeking refuge and need safety, while coordinating monthly sausage sizzle fundraisers for them, having weekly silent demonstrations and writing monthly letters to politicians.

“We want the government to allow them to settle in Australia where they are safe and not traumatised,” Ms Roache said.