CONCERT TO FUND GEELONG’S REFUGEE PROJECTS HELD in Aireys

Aireys Inlet played host to the sixth annual Lighthouse Musical soiree on Sunday January 5, welcoming international musicians Georgia Brown and Tom Foster to the stage.

A fundraiser event for the Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees, all money raised from the concert will help fund refugee projects in Geelong, including a scholarship program at a Geelong secondary college as well as the Wesley Uniting Church food bank.

Event organiser Lyn Barnett said it was an honour to feature classical music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Carl Phillipp Emmanuel Bach and Georg Phillip Telemann in the soiree’s program.

“We are privileged to hear these world-renowned musicians in this chamber concert,” she said before the event’s kick-off.

Event supporters included two Canadian women from Advocate Harbour who played a significant role in the community’s efforts to sponsor a Syrian refugee family three years ago.

With a population of 250 people, Susan Boyd and Claire Young raised $17,000 in just one month.

Advocate Harbour – the smallest village in the country to sponsor a family– welcomed a Syrian family of four, including eight-year-old Karim Alboush and his six-year-old brother, Imad.

Having spent much of their childhoo in a Jordan refugee camp, the brothers had never attended school.

“All the community got right behind it. It has been a great success,” Claire said.

“The family are happy, are now fluent in English and jobs have been found. An adult son has also been sponsored.”

Both Claire and Susan were thrilled to be able to support local refugee initiatives while visiting Australia.

“Often for these families it’s the difference between life and death, so it was important that Canada opened its doors,” Susan added.