NEWS FROM QUEENSCLIFF RAR

JUNE 2016

FROM ANGUISH TO DESPAIR

Nearly 29,000 asylum seekers are living in Australia, on the edge of poverty and in the shadows of society, unable to speak out about their anguish and despair for fear of being returned to immigration detention.

These vulnerable people, who arrived by boat, were released from detention into the community on temporary Bridging Visas. They wait, in a state of paralysis, for the Minister for Immigration to invite them to have their asylum claims heard.

Many have waited for over three years without the right to work, unable to study and on limited government benefits, locked into a downward spiral of mental anxiety and desperate poverty. Some have recently been granted work rights, but with short-term visas that have to be renewed every few months it is hard to find ongoing work in places that do not exploit them.

The holding of people for years on a succession of bridging visas is “a very

significant breach of basic human rights”. Gillian Triggs, Australian Human Rights

Commission.

Separated from family, reliving the traumas from which they fled and the new traumas that government policies have inflicted on them, their anguish grows as their very real fear of being returned to danger deepens.

…. “I can’t sleep at night for worry. If I am sent back I will be tortured and killed.” …

There are other asylum seekers, caged out of sight from community gaze who are even worse off. Some are in mainland immigration detention centres, but others have been dumped in squalid and dangerous offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru. They remain there as a deterrent to other asylum seekers who might dare to seek safety on our shores.

In March this year 468 people, including 50 children, were being held in Nauru detention centre and 905 men on Manus Island.

Rest in Peace our friend Leo Seemanpillai who tragically took his life 2 years ago in Geelong 29/9/84 - 1/6/14  

This kind, generous young Tamil man only wanted peace and safety and the chance to give something back to the community that cared for him. We will not forget you, nor the system that failed you.

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FROM ANGUISH TO DESPAIR cont.

Asylum seekers on Bridging Visa E are now receiving their invitations to apply for asylum and have a new set of hurdles in front of them.

Under the ‘fast track’ process, brought in by the Abbott government, most do not qualify for government-funded legal support and have limited to no rights of appeal. Pro-bono migration lawyers are stretched to their limits. Many asylum seekers are faced with navigating the complex application forms by themselves and will have no migration lawyer representation when their cases are heard. The trauma of reliving their individual stories of persecution as they prepare their statement of asylum claims leads to deepening depression and dark despair.

….. “I cry at night when my friends can’t see me.” …. And if their claims for asylum are upheld, they will not be given permanent protection but more temporary protection and no family reunion ever.

How can they ever rebuild their lives on such makeshift foundations? References:

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/apr/13/we-are-the-forgotten-people-the-anguish-of-australias-invisible-asylum-seekers

Reference: http://www.border.gov.au/ReportsandPublications/Documents/statistics/immigration-detention-statistics-31-mar-2016.pdf

QUEENSCLIFF RAR SPECIAL LEGAL APPEAL

Many asylum seekers have now received their invitations from the Minister to apply for temporary protection and are completing their applications for either a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) or a Temporary Protection Visa (TPV). Queenscliff RAR is providing support to a number of Geelong asylum seekers, linking them in to pro-bono lawyers or recommended migration lawyers in Melbourne for assistance with their protection claim applications and legal support at their interviews. Our support includes assisting financially where we can with migration lawyer fees, interpreter fees and document translation, accompanying them to migration lawyer appointments if they wish, and also just being there as friends to support them through these troubled times as traumatic memories are stirred and revisited. Donations can be made by direct deposit into Queenscliff RAR’s Westpac Bank Account: QRAR Refugee Support Project BSB: 033 274 Acct. No. 19 3779 Please could you reference your donation with the words ‘legal appeal’ or by cheque made out to: Queenscliff RAR Refugee Support Project and posted to Queenscliff RAR, PO Box 52, Queenscliff 3225

Currently 14 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Sri Lanka and Syria have been assisted by Queenscliff RAR. Thanks to the

community groups, organisations and individuals whose donations to the QRAR Legal Appeal have made this possible.

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HAVE WE BECOME MORALLY DISENGAGED? Look out for political talk that justifies ‘cruel actions’ as socially acceptable by claiming it serves a worthy goal For example:

justifying turning back boats to stop drownings at sea …. but in so doing, not caring if this leaves innocent people to die elsewhere.

justifying the detention of asylum seekers, in torturous conditions on Manus Island and Nauru, to stop the boats from coming.

Is it really OK to turn away or lock up indefinitely, in harsh conditions, vulnerable men, women and children who have fled persecution?

Look out for labelling that aims to condition our thinking a certain way For example:

labelling asylum seekers ‘economic migrants’ before their asylum claims have even been heard

Turning back the boats = Border Protection = Operation Sovereign Borders = Border Security

Are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, fleeing persecution, really an external threat from which Australians must be protected?

Look out for how major political parties hide the effects of harmful conduct, or undermine evidence of harm, or ensure the suffering of asylum seekers is invisible For example:

detaining asylum seekers in remote or offshore locations out of sight of the Australian community

introducing laws that threaten to imprison whistle-blowers who expose the appalling conditions in offshore detention centres

ridiculing numerous UN and Australian Human Rights Reports that condemn Australia’s cruel treatment of asylum seekers

Look out for political talk that dehumanises and blames asylum seekers, and conditions us to feel no shame or guilt at their inhumane treatment. For example:

calling asylum seekers ‘illegals’ when it is not illegal to seek asylum

calling asylum seekers ‘queue jumpers’ when there is no queue to join and look out for signs that we have minimised personal responsibility for these actions For example:

Do we see asylum seekers as someone else’s problem –not ours?

How strongly have you raised your voice against these inhumane policies? References: 1. http://junkee.com/no-shame-why-most-Australians-feel-okay-about-tormenting-asylum-seekers/72827#2QLEzQbafWld1sZV.99 2. http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1415/AsylumFacts

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THERE ARE SENSIBLE & HUMANE ALTERNATIVES TO THE CURRENT POLICIES OF DETERRENCE & PUNISHMENT

There is a safe way for people in our region to seek asylum in Australia: Increasing Australia’s refugee intake to at least 30,000 per year

and increasing financial support to assessment and support agencies in our region will enable efficient, fair and speedier processing of asylum claims.

This will provide a humane and safe pathway for asylum seekers, eliminating the need to contemplate risky boat journeys to Australia.

Closure of offshore detention camps and release into the community on mainland Australia will end the physical and mental abuse of asylum seekers trapped indefinitely in these torturous camps.

A 30 day on-shore detention limit, before release into the community, will allow health and security checks to be carried out.

Access to health care, education and work rights while waiting for asylum claims to be processed will restore dignity to asylum seekers and enable them to contribute to the Australian community.

The billions of dollars saved from closing the offshore detention centres will more than pay for the implementation of these policies.

Abolition of temporary protection visas, the provision of permanent protection visas and the opportunity to apply for family reunion will enable refugees to rebuild their lives.

You can help end the abuse of asylum seekers by:

talking to friends, family and colleagues about asylum seekers using positive language that counteracts any negative or incorrect perceptions of others;

exposing political talk that lies about, dilutes or disguises the inhumane effects of current asylum seeker policies;

building pressure to stop these cruel and inhumane policies by lobbying your local member of parliament;

voting for a party with humane asylum seeker and refugee policies.

THERE IS A BETTER WAY AND YOUR STRONG ADVOCACY IS ESSENTIAL TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

References: http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au Report: Australia’s Response to a World In Crisis. March 2106 http://greens.org.au/refugees

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Don’t Miss this Date! On July 2nd we will all have the chance to determine who will govern our country for the next 3 years. In this, we are fortunate, because in many parts of the world, people do not have access to that right. In fact, over the years countless people have sacrificed their freedom

and their lives for the right to vote.

Right now, many of us are feeling disappointment, anger, even betrayal, at the direction that both major parties have taken. Particularly on the issue of human rights, and the treatment of those seeking our protection from persecution.

But please remember that every vote is precious!

This is not the time to show your displeasure with a particular party or candidate by voting ”informal”, or not voting at all.

If you waste your vote, you are, in effect, handing a vote to some-one else who may not share your views at all.

So, please number ALL the boxes on the House of Representatives Ballot paper, and follow the new instructions carefully on the Senate Paper.

The Combined Refugee Action Group has compiled the following charts.

They may be of some use when deciding on which candidates and parties deserve your very special vote on that very important date!!

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GEELONG: Big pre-election rally Saturday June 18 at 11 am

in the city of Geelong @ Transvaal Square, Cnr Yarra St & Eastern Beach Rd,

If you've been thinking you should do something about the issue of Australia's detention

policies, now's the time send a message to MPs & Candidates!

NO VOTES FOR DETENTION & CRUELTY The weekend before World Refugee Day (Monday the 20th) and two weeks before the election, CRAG will hold a big public rally/event to ask the public to consider two simple questions: "Do you know how your vote affects people seeking safety?" "Do you know how your vote affects people seeking Australia's protection?"

We will be having Speakers, Music, and an Art installation

We will be handing out information & have an election scorecard, rating policies of parties contesting the Corangamite and Corio electorates

also a cage representing detention

and we will march through the city. Please come along with banners/signs/placards, friends, family and neighbours from all over the

region.

On the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ballot form, you must place a different number in EVERY box. How many boxes there are will be determined by the number of candidates in your electorate. Place 1 in the box beside the party or independent candidate you most want in government. Place 2 in the box beside your next choice, and so on, until you put the highest number beside the party or candidate you least want to be governing the country. Regardless of what you may hear about 'preferential deals' no-one but YOU determines where your preferences go in the House of Representatives. (Preferential deals are made for the how-to-vote cards which are produced by parties and candidates, but these are only suggested guides and you certainly don't have to follow them.) You can control where you vote goes if your preferred party or candidate does not obtain enough votes to win your electorate, by placing the numbers in order of your personal preference. Our advice is to research the policy of every party/ candidate who is standing in your electorate, and then number the boxes as in this ballot paper example(we're pretending here that there are six candidates in this electorate):

Thanks to C

RA

G for this inform

ation

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A few years ago I faced a particular pedagogical dilemma at the remote Indigenous outstation school in which I lived and taught. The only non-Aboriginal teacher working with two Alyawarr women as teaching partners, we had 30 students enrolled, from Transition to Year 11. New to the community, I had proposed the idea of teaching and learning being contextualised in an integrated curriculum. Our students were learning Standard Australian English as their 2nd, 3rd and even 4th language, and our planning for learning had to reflect their needs. We planned to study a social justice issue in order to develop understandings about social justice per se. The dilemma was how to develop a flexible unit of study that would fully engage all learners and challenge them to begin to drive their own learning at their very remote school. The 2010 Christmas Island boat disaster continued to drive public discussion, so we decided to learn what we could about this tragedy. Who was involved? Why were they there? What happened? Why did it happen? Why was it a tragedy in our time? We were completely reliant on the internet, at that point, for resources and information. The first learning session was profound in many ways for learners and teachers. We clarified a growing list of things that we did not know or understand. This encompassed geography, culture (religion), politics (laws, policies), racism. language, science (tides, buoyancy, weather etc), history, for example. After speaking about our plan with Sue Longmore, Sue sent me some internet links. Knowing we could not rely on the internet which often went down unexpectedly, we came up with the idea of using the wonderfully written and illustrated picture books that were available at the time to orient our unit of study It was particularly important to move away from the still-present teacher talk/tell model to learner-driven learning. It took us a term to gather as many books as we could, some from Australian booksellers and some from overseas. Our first story was David Miller's 'Refugees'. In this text, two wild ducks become refugees when their swamp is thoughtlessly drained. Their journey in search of a new and safe home exposes them to danger, rejection and violence. I hope that I never forget the children's engagement with and responses to that story. They began to build their own understandings about new concepts ... refugee, environmental issues (e.g. natural environment being reduced to a supermarket and a car park), acceptance, tolerance (intolerance), displacement, exile for example. We explored many books, including The Name Jar, The Little Refugee, Ziba Came on a Boat, Brothers in Hope, Four Feet, Two Sandals, The Colour of Home, The Arrival, Journey Home, The Long Road, The Island and How I learned Geography, to list a few. We made our own huge world map and plotted origins and journeys depicted in the books. We studied tides, ocean currents, tropical and desert environments. We learned about countries’ wars and internal strife, and reasons why these existed. Our students took themselves on many learning journeys that semester, as they explored the diverse questions and puzzles they encountered and articulated as we read the books. We decided to cook food from many other countries, so every week we had a new menu (shopping in Alice Springs and on line for the ingredients). We built model boats to begin to understand why so many asylum seekers and refugees died at sea. Our books increased as new titles were accessed and we found some chapter books for our older students. We wrote our own stories, we debated issues and took different sides/perspectives to gain a fuller experience. We learned about argument and social conscience, about evidence gathering (oral histories, photographs etc) and telling a story poignantly and honestly. Of course, students' and families' own historical and personal experience became a part of our learning as what they heard resonated with their own traumatic past and present. This became the next learning focus. When I left classroom teaching to take on an advisory role in teacher professional development and Learning, I loaned the kit that we had built that semester to 6 or 7 other teachers throughout Central Australia. We worked together to plan the learning journeys and then followed up at the unit's formal end. I think I would love to do that semester again, all these years down the track, as I have learned and understood more, as resources have increased and ... as children, women and men continue to die and suffer so deeply in their searches for a safe home.

REFUGEE-THEMED BOOKS FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS TO USE Thanks to the generosity of Queenscliff RAR member Pauline Parker, Queenscliff RAR has put together a set of 17 books on refugee themes, together with factual information, to loan to local primary schools. This term teachers from Point Lonsdale Primary School will use the set of books with their students. Pauline has recently returned from Central Australia where she taught indigenous students in remote communities for several years. Pauline describes below her motivation for developing a refugee-themed unit to explore with her indigenous students …...

Thanks to P

auline Parker, Q

RA

R for contributing this article

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THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

The kindness of strangers, the generosity of people you are never to meet will sometimes touch you deeply. Such act of kindness was the result of receiving a large number of beautifully made baby quilts from a QRAR member. Hand made with obvious love and care they were bright patchwork fields of flowers and bold striking geometric patterns for contrast. We presented the blankets to our Geelong Refugee mums, then delivered the remainder to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre to distribute to their members and their babies. I only wish the person who made the quilts could have seen the joy it brought to the new and expectant mums; to be able to take home something lovely for their babies was tremendously uplifting.

Their eyes shining with delight and thanks; thanks that there are many people in Australia who have not forgotten them in their time of vulnerability and uncertainty. Many thanks to all our RAR members who so generously continue to assist and support the refugees in our communities. Looking back over a lifetime, you see that love was the answer to everything. 

Thanks to the lovely person who made the baby quilts; thanks to Margaret Manning QRAR for passing on the quilts; and Veronika Quinton, QRAR for contributing this article,.

“Beauty exists not in what is seen and remembered but in what is felt and never forgotten” Johnathan Jena

FURNITURE for ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES 3 large van loads of furniture have gone to asylum seekers and refugees in Geelong. 15 bikes have been donated to the Queenscliff Men’s Shed Thanks to Lyn Mulligan, QRAR for this report and for her ongoing coordination of this program

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Factual information was carefully woven into the installation combining with the beauty and poignancy of the artworks to touch people’s hearts and awaken their consciences.

The silver and gold folded cranes, bearing facts about asylum seekers on their wings, were freed from their cage by people to be shared in the wider community.

A recent talk I was invited to give at the Wesley Uniting Church in Yarra St, Geelong proved another opportunity to free more birds and spread messages further out into the community.

Article &

photos: Sue Longm

ore, QR

AR

Caged Bird by Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wings in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with fearful trill of the things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom.

We must all take every opportunity we can to increase knowledge in our community about the devastating effects of Australia’s current asylum seeker policies, in the hope that individuals will use their vote wisely in July to bring about change for the better.

Please encourage friends and family to attend and spread word about the many upcoming June events highlighted in this newsletter.

The haunting words of American poet & civil rights activist Maya Angelou first published over 30 years ago still resonate strongly for me in Australia today.

Inspired by this poem and selected artworks from the ‘Out of the Darkness’ Exhibition, as well as QRAR’s ‘One Thousand Cranes Spread One Thousand Messages’ project, three artists from Queenscliff RAR created a mini-installation at the three day SacredEdge Festival held by the Queenscliff Uniting Church in early May.

THE CAGED BIRD SINGS

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UPCOMING EVENTS

THERE ARE TWO RALLIES ON 18TH JUNE –SUPPORT WHICHEVER ONE IS MOST CONVENIENT FOR YOU

MELBOURNE RALLY: A Rally to #BRING THEM HERE will be held in Melbourne at the State Library on 18th June at 1pm. Speakers include: Adam Bandt - Greens MP, Louise Newman - Doctors for Refugees, Mohammad Baqiri - refugee activist and Afghan refugee, A speaker from Victorian Trades Hall Council, Angelica Panopoulos - High School student

GEELONG RALLY: Saturday June 18th at 11 am in Geelong city @ Transvaal Square, Cnr Yarra St & Eastern Beach Rd, Many members and groups affiliated with the Combined Refugee Action Group and refugee advocates from further along the coast find the commute to Melbourne difficult.

Please join with us at the Geelong Rally.

We hope to extend news coverage by showing strong support in our region for an end to detention and cruelty. Rally details on page 6 of this newsletter

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UPCOMING EVENTS -JUNE 22ND Geelong

Surf Coast Rural Australians for Refugees (SCRAR) members have been working to promote the showing of the documentary Chasing Asylum in Geelong on June 22nd at Village cinemas with the support of other local refugee groups. As well as an attempt to raise public awareness, the film is also a fundraiser to support the interpreter service for the 300 Geelong refugees applying for TPV (Temporary Protection Visas). By the end of May the film was already sold out and has now been moved to the 500 seat cinema, making more seats available. (www.tugg.com/events/9786) Recently members also ‘#bombed’ a meeting of Sarah Henderson who has been making the swimming pool project in Torquay a priority. Our message was “no pool = ‘disappointing’ but offshore detention = ‘heartbreaking’”. SCRAR meetings are now held at 10 am on the 1st Saturday of the month at the Torquay Bowling Club. New members always welcome. Enquiries: Laura 0421 809 104 Thanks to John Bartlett, SCRAR for this Report

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UPCOMING EVENTS-JUNE 24 Queenscliff

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UPCOMING EVENTS-JUNE 27 Apollo Bay

SAVE THE DATE!! Soup, wine, great film and wonderful company.

At: CAPTAINS BY THE SEA

When: Monday 27th June - 6.30pm ‘FREEDOM STORIES’

an award winning film documentary from Steve Thomas

BONUS Director/Producer Steve may be joining us in a Q&A session afterwards.

Tickets $30.00 available soon from Galapagos Bookstore or Bay of Apostles

(cash only) or direct from ABRAR (bank ok) Info/book your ticket in advance:

from Anastasia - 0419 893 549 Trailer: www.freedomstories.com

This is a fundraiser to enable us to

continue supporting refugees. We look forward to seeing you.

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UPCOMING EVENTS-JUNE 28 Barwon Heads

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UPCOMING EVENTS-JULY 2ND Aireys Inlet

Refugee Author Event Saturday July 2nd at 7.30pm Refugee Abdi Aden will talk about his book “Shining: The Story of a Lucky Man”. This event has been sponsored by AIRAR in association with Great Escape Books. There will be a $10.00 cover charge which includes nibbles and a glass of wine. All proceeds, including profit from book sales, will go to refugee causes. *Bookings essential at Great Escape Books - cash only. 50 people standing is maximum. Red and white wine and champagne has been donated. Out of town supporters only may email aireysinletrar@gmail.com or 0427701275)

“Aireysistible” July 30th 6.30pm at the A.I Hall

An evening of fun, food, music, song and dance, celebrating our cultural diversity. Tickets $45. Enquiries to aireysinletrar@gmail.com or 0427701275. Book a table of 10 or individually.

and JULY 30th

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UPCOMING EVENTS-JULY 3RD Queenscliff

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Trinity Aid for Refugees

Fundraising Event

Crazy Whist An easy, fun card game for all ages.

Date: Thursday, July 14 Time: 2.00 pm Location: St James Hall, Albert Street, Point Lonsdale Cost: $10 per person

Bring a plate for shared Afternoon Tea

Bookings Shirley Hurley 5258 1564 hurley@eftel.net.au Book for any number of people No need to arrange table groups

All funds raised will assist with legal costs for refugee visa applications

UPCOMING EVENTS -JULY 14TH Point Lonsdale

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Queenscliff RAR is a member of the Combined Refugee Action Group

RAR National Website:

http://www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au

Queenscliff RAR Website:

www.queenscliffrar.org