Finalist of the 2006 

CLW Achievement Award for Women 

  MELANIE MUMFORD 

"Prior to the ‘ Tampa ’ incident in August 2001 I knew nothing about refugees and asylum seekers, and was unaware that Australia had a policy of mandatory detention of unauthorised asylum seekers.  I was still at school, and while I had been interested in politics for several years I had focused on environmental rather than social justice issues.  However, the Tampa incident and the subsequent ‘Pacific Solution’ and ‘Children Overboard’ affair just struck me as so wrong.  The reaction of people, including my friends led me to research the issue- mostly so I could be proficient in the debates in which most people were keen to engage.  The more I learnt the more concerned and upset I became.  

In April 2002 I began corresponding with a young man in Port Hedland detention centre.  He had been in detention for three years and was severely traumatised.  Since then I have been in contact with 10 detained asylum seekers, ranging in age from 6 to 40 years.  After talking to these people and hearing their stories, I felt compelled to work towards a change in Australia ’s treatment of asylum seekers.  

In February 2003 a neighbour and I organised a public meeting.  At the meeting it was suggested that we form a branch of the refugee advocacy group Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR).  Sixteen people put their names down on a list which was given to me.  The following month the first meeting of South Gippsland RAR was held.  I was appointed convener and have fulfilled that role ever since.  Today SGRAR has grown from those 16 people to over 270 members.  Our activities have included lobbying, disseminating information, organising public meetings and fundraising to support refugees and asylum seekers in the Australian community and in detention as well as overseas.  To date we have donated over $10,000 to organisations such as the Red Cross and Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.  We have worked to generate media interest, and support each other in corresponding with asylum seekers in detention- which can be very emotionally draining.  

Towards the end of 2003 we began preparing to ask the Bass Coast Shire Council to declare the Bass Coast Shire a ‘Refugee Welcome Zone’.  Initially many members were very skeptical that we could be successful in achieving this, but we still felt it was important that we try.  Over the next 6 months we collected over 770 signatures on a petition and talked to people in the community about the Refugee Welcome Zone concept.  I contacted community groups and Churches in the Bass Coast area asking for support.  In early 2004 we organised for two or three people from each council Ward to speak to their local Councillor.  In May 2004 I spoke to the Councillors at a community forum, more than 70 people attended, almost all were extremely supportive of the Welcome Zones proposal.  Finally, we produced a form letter, and encouraged people to write, call and email their Councillor expressing their support for the proposal.  

In June the Council voted to declare the Bass Coast Shire a Refugee Welcome Zone in a commitment to welcoming refugees into the community, upholding the human rights of refugees and enhancing cultural diversity in the community.  

Around this time we became aware that a small number of refugees from the Sudan had moved into the area.  We organised a ‘Sudanese Cultural Day’ to give people the opportunity to learn about the Sudan and Sudanese Culture and to welcome new arrivals into the community.  The number of Sudanese refugees moving into the area has been slowly increasing.  More recently we have worked with the Gippsland Migrant Resource Centre to provide whatever support possible.  This has included organising BBQ’s, soccer matches and trips to the beach.  

We are still involved in advocacy, focusing in particular on the plight of around 90 mostly Afghan and Iraqi asylum seekers whose boats were towed back to Indonesian waters from Ashmore reef by the Australian Navy in 2001 and who are now living in limbo in Lombok , Indonesia .  They live in camps financed by Australia without the right to work, study, travel or be reunited with family members and not knowing what will become of their futures.  

I have so often been humbled and inspired by courage and resilience of refugees I have met.  The support SGRAR has received from so many people has been heartening.  I have no hesitation in saying that given the time again I would act just the same."  

Melanie Mumford

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