Community’s final encore to support resettled family

AN intimate celebration of Irish music and dance this weekend will serve as the final fundraising event for Giving Hope on the Coast, the Aireys Inlet Uniting Church team sponsoring a refugee family through a national resettlement program.

Acclaimed trio Kathryn Clements & the Peat Fires will bring their new show From Ireland to Aireys to the Aireys Inlet Community Hall tomorrow (Saturday, June 14) for an evening of music, song and story.

Clements, an award-winning vocalist and leading interpreter of Irish song, will be joined by Emma Rodda on violin and Chris Lazzaro on guitar, banjo and mandolin.

Giving Hope on the Coast spokesperson Mary Bremner said the family, who arrived in October 2023 after four years as refugees in Trinidad, originated from Venezuela.

They came through the federal government’s Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP), a program connecting refugees with volunteer community groups for 12 months of practical and financial support.

Since launching in December 2021, CRISP has resettled about 550 refugees and will become a permanent part of Australia’s humanitarian program from 2026–27, with an initial 200 people expected.

“While the year-long CRISP sponsorship has officially ended, the family have elected to stay in Aireys Inlet until the children finish primary school at the end of the year,” Ms Bremner said.

“Funds raised at this concert will assist with the additional support required for this extension to the sponsorship.”

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Tickets are $50, available at the door or via TryBooking at trybooking.com/DBRNO. A complimentary drink is included on arrival.