Hatred

By Bert Hetebry I was sent this quote by Bertrand Russell this morning: “When…

Queensland Futures: Massaging Labor’s Primary Vote

By Denis Bright Labor’s Alternative Policy Direction can be packaged as an…

Handmaiden to the Establishment: Peter Greste’s Register of…

When established, well fed and fattened, a credible professional tires from the…

Queensland Futures: A LNP Landslide on 26 October…

By Denis Bright Clutching their Little Blue Book of Motherhood Statements in…

Sensor trial hopes to empower managers to monitor…

Bushfires are one of Australia’s greatest challenges and are becoming more frequent…

Conflict ‘deepens and amplifies’ gender inequality – new…

New global research involving over 10,000 children and young people from 10…

$100 Billion since 2023: Australia missing out on…

While private Chinese investment into Australia seriously lags, there are unparalleled opportunities…

Aged care providers must not shirk scrutiny

The National Health Services Union has strongly endorsed an open letter from…

«
»
Facebook

Update: Join refugee Neil Para as he completes his 1000km walk for freedom across Western Sydney

Media Release Update

Who: Neil Para

What: 1000 km Refugee Walk For Freedom from Ballarat to Marrickville

When and where: Friday 8 September 2023, 8am, Camden Showground.

When and where: Saturday 9 September 2023, 7.45am, Liverpool Regional Museum

Refugee supporters and locals are invited to join Neil on his extraordinary walk into Sydney next Friday 8th and Saturday 9th of September 2023.

Neil will walk from Camden to Liverpool (29km) on Friday. He continues from Liverpool to Canterbury (20km) on Saturday.

People wanting to join Neil are warmly encouraged to join Neil as he continues into Sydney.

Refugee support groups People Just Like Us, Asylum Seeker Centre and Southland Shire Refugee Connection are supporting Neil as he enters Sydney.

Fabia Claridge of People Just Like Us says the public are invited to join Neil as he walks on the concluding days through Camden, Willowdale, Liverpool and on to Canterbury.

“Neil has been met with open arms all through Victoria and New South Wales, and we are excited to welcome him and support him as he walks on these last stages in Sydney. We invite anyone who wants to walk with Neil to join us at Camden Showground for an 8am departure or Willowdale Shopping Centre for lunch.”

Walkers can join Neil at the following points:

Thursday September 7:

When Neil arrives in the Greater Sydney Area on Thursday, Tamil organisations in Sydney, including Australian Tamil Refugee Council, Consortium of Tamil Organisations NSW/ACT, TRACK (Tamil Rehabilitation and Community Konnection), THADAM, Australian Tamil Congress, Uniting Church Tamil congregation, together with Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce of National Christian Council will host a dinner to welcome Neil. Details from Joyce Fu.

Friday September 8:

8am Camden Showground (Cnr Mitchell St. & Cawdor Rd.)

12pm Willowdale Shopping Centre

Finishing at Liverpool Regional Museum

Saturday September 9:

7:45am Liverpool Regional Museum

9:15am Davy Robinson Reserve Boat Ramp

10:30am McDonald’s Revesby / BP Services

12:15pm Wiley Park (Lakemba, Edge St entrance, near the parking)

2.15pm Arrive at St Mary MacKillop Reserve, welcome by Senator Mehreen Faruqi

Walkers will be asked to walk single file on the footpath. Please bring own water and snacks. Lunch will be provided.

 

 

People will be able to track Neil’s exact location via his website – Walk for Freedom

Walk contacts: Neil Para 0452 533759

Images, Facebook live and facts – Union of Australian Refugees | Facebook

Twitter @UofAusRefugees

https://www.instagram.com/refugeewalkforfreedom/

#RefugeeWalkForFreedom

Background:

Neil is calling for permanent visas to provide hope and certainty for around 10,000 refugees who have been living in the Australian community for almost 10 years whilst waiting for permanency.

“Please listen to our voices as we ask for freedom, hope and certainty. Please grant us permanent visas so that refugee children such as my children have hope for the future.”

Neil is walking from Ballarat to the Prime Minister’s Sydney electorate, arriving in the second week of September.

Neil and his wife Sugaa and their two daughters Nivash and Kartie came to Australia seeking safety 11 years ago. For over 9 years the family has lived with no visa, no right to work, without Medicare and no tertiary study rights. (Youngest daughter, Nive, was born in Australia and has citizenship).

The family would love to be able to work and support themselves. Neil was a hairdresser in Sri Lanka and wants to be a police officer in Australia, while Sugaa hopes to become an aged care worker.

Neil and Sugaa do volunteer work in Ballarat to give back to the local community which has supported them. Both have been continuously involved in community committees. Neil is a tireless volunteer for the SES and leads a crew, while Sugaa has volunteered for years in aged care (Ballarat Health Services) and the Ballarat Visitor Information Centre.

Eldest daughter 15-year-old Nivash would dearly love to study medicine at university when she finishes school as she dreams of being a cardiac surgeon, but without a visa she cannot attend university once she turns 18. [1] Nivash would also love to work part-time as her Australian friends do.

Neil and Sugaa learnt English through their volunteer roles, as their non-resident status precluded them from even attending classes to learn English.

 

Neil Para and his family outside their home in Ballarat North, 14 May 2023. Photo @Aldona Kmieć

 

The Federal Government’s Resolution of Status (RoS) visa announcement in February paved the way for permanent visas for 19,000 refugees [2] (on a temporary protection or safe haven enterprise visa 2013) but Neil is one of thousands of others who missed out.

People can sign the petition here.

———

*Youngest daughter Nive finally has a Medicare card now as she was born here and is a citizen now but does not have the same equal rights as other Australian children.

[1] Family Pleads With Government To Change Refugee Policies – Network Ten (10play.com.au)

[2] https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/thousands-of-refugees-on-temporary-visas-will-be-allowed-to-stay-after-labor-fulfils-key-election-promise/kj5jobvay

 

Like what we do at The AIMN?

You’ll like it even more knowing that your donation will help us to keep up the good fight.

Chuck in a few bucks and see just how far it goes!

Your contribution to help with the running costs of this site will be gratefully accepted.

You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969

Donate Button

1 comment

Login here Register here
  1. Pingback: Join refugee Neil Para as he completes his 1000km walk for freedom across Western Sydney - Sendandtracknews

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 2 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video, document, spreadsheet, interactive, text, archive, code, other. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop file here

Return to home page