Walk for migrants

Staff Reports

editor@thedailyjournal.ink

The second Refugee Welcome Walk will be marked in Warwick on June 25, coinciding with national Refugee Week. Residents and others are invited to join a 3km walk to "raise awareness of the plight of refugees in Australia and in many other countries" said President of Southern Downs Refugee and Migrant Network (SDRAMN), Bob Wilson, building on past impact.

“Our first Welcome Walk last year was a success with more than forty people participating," Mr Wilson said. "It also highlighted our success in persuading the Southern Downs Regional Council to declare the region a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2021."

Their "Welcome Circle" has also had impact locally with a family from Pakistan settling on the Southern Downs.

“The Welcome Circle, a committee of eight people, worked with the Department of Home Affairs to sponsor and support the family (from Pakistan) for their first year here," Mr Wilson said. "The Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) aims to settle refugees in rural areas of Australia with the help of community groups like ours.

“Other members of SDRAMN work in a support role to help the family from Pakistan to settle in Australia. Their three children have enrolled in a local school and over the coming months the family will become involved in the local community."

Generous Warwick donors contributed more than $9000 to help the family of five settle in Warwick.

The "ongoing problem" of those forced to flee their homes can be countered, in part, by local action.

“As we know from global news coverage, the plight of refugees is an ongoing problem with millions forced to flee their homes because of war and persecution," Mr Wilson said.

“The CRISP scheme is a bold plan to help ease the bottleneck in refugee camps in other countries and offers an opportunity for families with no ties in Australia to start afresh.”

The June 25 event will draw on the Refugee Week theme, Finding Freedom. Walkers will gather at the Leslie Park rotunda from 9.30am with a 10am departure. On the return to Leslie Park, Richard Langford from the Romero Centre will be guest speaker. Funds raised on the day will be donated to the Romero Centre, a Brisbane asylum seeker support centre.

To speak with Welcome Circle Co-ordinator, Doug Wilson call 0427 611 035.