How can we develop relationships with refugees in our cities and promote the possibility of some families coming to live in the Bega Valley Shire – This shire was the first to Welcome Refugees.
We continue to host families form Sydney and Canberra to our shire for extended weekends. This, with the support of the Pambula Surf Lifesaving Club, National Parks, Bournda Education Centre and local schools like Lumen Christi etc., has been hugely successful.
This group also advocates for the human rights of our refugees and asylum seekers here and on Manus and Nauru. It organised a Red Cross sponsored programme of awareness in recent years in our secondary schools, again with fantastic support.
The group has also held four very successful Shire forums with keynote speakers . This to raise awareness and discussion esp of refugee and indigenous issues.
MAGIC, developed with the support of our Cooma friend and supporter Yvi Henderson, has continued to raise awareness and self support for the many nationalities residing in this shire — over 50 in number.
The group will again meet monthly through Cayce Hill in Bega.
