31 October 2021
Buddies meeting with guest speaker Freddie Steen
Freddie is well known to many of us, due to her long time refugee advocacy, expertise, and continued support of Buddies. Formerly a public servant in the Australian Immigration Department, Freddie now volunteers with the Indooroopilly Uniting Church Refugee Support Group, which has been providing among other things, pro-bono lawyers, migration agents and councillors to the refugees.
The title of Freddie’s talk was, “The current situation for asylum seekers and refugees in the ‘care’ of the current Australian Government and Queensland’s advocacy response.”
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |
16 June 2021
Vigil for Tharnicaa
by Len Mangan
Held at St Marks Anglican Church Buderim to show support for the Biloela Family & for those strong stubborn people in Biloela who just won't give up on their family. Approximately 15 people turned up, at short notice, for the vigil – some didn't attend because they thought it would be cancelled because of recent developments with the family reunited in Perth.
There were a few pedestrians and a steady stream of traffic. We received a few tut tut looks, shakes of the head and one fellow shouted "send them back they're terrorists" but all that was overwhelmingly drowned out by the support expressed in horn blowing, thumbs up, mile wide smiles, shouts of encouragement & people stopping to offer verbal & financial support.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
 | |
April 11-16, 2021
Learn English Holiday
Lesley Wilcoxson and Margaret Norris
The Learn English Holiday hosted a group of 31 people from the Romero Centre in Brisbane in April – 15 adults and 16 children, ranging in age from a few months to 61. A group of wonderful locals hosted our visitors.
We were wonderfully supported by Immanuel Lutheran College at their Environment Centre, with several staff assisting in preparations, and with sessions for the younger students and at the beach.
Once again the large number of volunteers who helped us over the week certainly contributed to the positive experiences for our guests, and without them – hosting, teaching classes, donating food, helping in classes, driving, playing together – we wouldn’t be able to do it. A great group of 51 people over the week!
 |  |
|---|---|
 |
15 March 2021
Harmony Week: Refugee Stories – you can't ask that
by Len Mangan
The event received very positive feedback from those who attended. There were 54 people in attendance on a wet Monday night, and we raised a total of $520.00 (donations $350, raffle $160 & membership $10) to be donated for the support for those recently released from detention at Kangaroo Point.
It was great to hear real refugee stories from personal experience. Some hadn’t seen the ABC ‘You Can’t Ask That’ episode and they were impressed. Others were very impressed with the work Buddies is doing. It was surprising how few of us knew the precise facts, despite being so involved in refugee issues.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
|  |
 |  |
 |  |
22 December 2020
Christmas Picnic, Cotton Tree Park
by Penny Rivlin
About 20 people gathered for a great afternoon at Cotton Tree overlooking the Maroochy River, including several new folk and a representative from Maleny Welcomes Refugees, Rob Kann. Florence from Noosa Welcomes Refugees (and Buddies) also came and demonstrated her skill in juggling. Not as easy as she made it look – no-one came close!
It was lovely to meet the ‘newbies’ and catch up with old friends too. Our secretary Andrea did an amazing job with the table and Christmas tree decorations, with games to make it a fun event. We were persuaded to try our hand at writing a limerick about our politicians (some of which may appear in print later), and a more serious brain quiz on facts about refugees. It was surprising how few of us knew the precise facts, despite being so involved in refugee issues.
READ THE FULL REPORT
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |
November 2020
Learning and Giving – refugees and Matthew Flinders College
by Lesley Willcoxson
During the second half of this year, Year 6 students in Matthew Flinders Anglican College have been on a journey, undertaking a 10-week unit of study “Think Globally, Act Locally’ that involved them in researching factors that cause people to become refugees and questioning what they could do to make a difference in the world.
Three refugees who’d taken part in Buddies’ Learn English Holiday program opened their eyes to the reasons people leave their homelands and the consequences of this and, with input from the Romero Centre, the students began thinking about products and activities they could develop to help young refugees in Australia and elsewhere.
FULL REPORT
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
August 2020
Refugee impact at Matthew Flinders College
by Lesley Willcoxson
In late July three refugees who have been participants in the Learn English Holiday program – Ahmad from Afghanistan, Axel from Burundi and Farha from Syria – visited Matthew Flinders Anglican College to share their stories of their refugee journeys with ninety Year 6 students. These students were involved in a 10-week i-Impact unit of study "Think Globally, Act Locally’, where students take on the role of a humanitarian, focussing on equity, fairness and doing good on a global scale. They researched topics relating to factors that lead people to seek refuge, such as conflict and war, famine, poverty, political and religious persecution, and natural disasters.
READ THE FULL REPORT
 |  |
|---|---|
 |
2 August 2020
Bunnings sausage sizzle fundraiser
by Penny Rivlin
Huge thanks to all the folk who helped at the joint Buddies and Noosa Welcomes Refugees Bunnings sausage sizzle. We had to supply 5 volunteers for each shift instead of the usual 3 or 4 and be in 2 tents to be COVID-compliant, which was was ‘interesting’. We managed it with the help and humour of the lovely Bunning’s Siobhan (who is a vegetarian!).
After expenses we made nearly $800 which was split between us. The Salvos were happy to receive the remaining onions and sausages for their regular BBQs.
It was also a good way to catch up and meet folk after such a long break with no meeting or events. Thanks again to everyone: Thorsten and Ana, Florence, Tricia, Fay, Pat and John, Marie, Linda, David, Len, Lesley, Dee and Gaynore.
A great effort setting up, cleaning up, adding up, and directing folk round the barriers and keeping them (and us) 1.5m apart!
March – June 2020
Our avocado fundraiser
by Kendall Snowden and Scott Grimmett
After 13 consecutive Sunday mornings, starting on 22 March, we picked the last of the “reachable” avos on Sunday 14 June. Up an extension ladder perched precariously on rocks with an extension picker needing both hands was certainly not for the faint-hearted, let alone elderly!!
Scott Grimmett’s most generous donation of both avocados and custard apples enabled us to work through Covid 19 despite all the restrictions and continue to do some fund-raising for Buddies when other avenues were shut down. Grand total for 2020 is an all-time record... $3685!!
Reports 2019
23 October 2019
Nambour screening of new documentary Against Our Oath, Nambour
Report by Gillian Duffy
The film screening at the Majestic Cinema Nambour was a great success, with 113 people attending. Audience member and Buddies stalwart, Margaret Norris commented “The film was excellent. I find that I’m still reflecting on parts of it nearly a week later”.
Suzi Yuki, who saw the film in Noosa said ”I was so touched by that film - I can't stop thinking about it and talking with friends and anyone else who wants to listen!”
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
21 October 2019
Queensland premiere of Against Our Oath, Noosa
Report by Gillian Duffy
The Sunshine Coast Refugee Action Network hosted the Queensland premiere of the documentary “Against Our Oath” by award winning film maker Heather Kirkpatrick. Filmed over four years, the documentary follows the ethical conflicts that erupt for doctors after the Australian government overrides their clinical decisions made for refugee patients.
Ms Kirkpatrick said she was first drawn to the subject of medical ethics after reading a story in mid 2015, about the nationwide doctors’ protests against the Border Force Act.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
23 - 27 September 2019
Learn English Holiday Program
Immanuel Lutheran College, Buderim
Report by Lesley Willcoxson
The September 2019 Learn English Holiday (LEH) program involved the largest number of participants we have yet hosted – 52 people from 10 different countries (Rwanda, Iraq, Afghanistan, Burundi, Syria, Tibet, Myanmar, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Their length of time in Australia ranged from one month to 30 months, and their English language levels ranged from absolute beginner to advanced.
 |
|---|
September 2019
2019 Festuri Multicultural Festival
Cotton Tree, Maroochydore
Report by Gillian Duffy
The Festuri Multicultural Festival was once again a lively event with dancers from Brazil to the Cook Islands, stall holders from Sudan and human rights activists from Camaroon to name just a few of the cultures represented. The Sunshine Coast Refugee Action Network had a stall with volunteers from Amnesty and Buddies.
There was an activity for young (and the young at heart) to make posters with messages of support for the Tamil family from Biloela, still in detention on Christmas Island.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |
June 2019
Refugee Week Community Film Festival, various venues
Report by Gillian Duffy
One of the main objectives of Refugee Week and the SCRAN Film Festival was to raise awareness in the community of refugee issues and the existence of refugee advocacy organisations on the Sunshine Coast.
With over 400 people attending the eight screenings, over 260 petition signatures, 26 Bulletin sign ups and 16 new members, not to mention at least 7 newspaper articles so far, the Film Festival has been a huge success in terms of raising awareness. It has also raised over $1,200 for the Cisarua Learning Centre, the Refugee Council of Australia and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
 Some of the SCRAN crew with Muzafar and daughter Natiqa and Jolyon and son Quinn |  Crowd milling around Red Rose Café before The Staging Post at USC |
|---|---|
 Surrounded by books in Berkelouw’s in Eumundi to watch Border Politics |  Judy Ditter presented with a scarf designed by a refugee still on Nauru, Yas, Gabby and Mayor Tony Wellington at Noosa Film event |
 Panel Discussion Maleny with Lisa McDonald, Grace Samuel, Rosemary Bower and Chad Oliver |  Information table at USC |
 Margaret on raffle ticket duty at Caloundra Community Centre |  Red Rose Café cup cakes |
 Mandula and Kirra from Amnesty getting into the food before anyone arrives for the Staging Post at USC! |  Full house at The J, Noosa for Mary meets Mohammad |
 Watching The Staging Post at USC |  Jolyon, Muzafar and his family with some of the crew at Red Rose Café |
 Lisa (W2M), Gillian, Jolyon, Gabby (NWR), Muzafar and Mandula (Amnesty) with “cheques” from SCRAN for Cisarua Learning Centreand RCOA |  Queuing to sign petitions after the final event |
 Mandula, Gabby and Lisa presenting Muzafar and daughter Natiqa with a “cheque” from SCRAN for $500 for RCOA |  Lisa presenting Jolyon with a “cheque” from SCRAN for $500 for Cisarua Learning Centre |
7 - 12 April 2019
Learn English Holiday Program
Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Buderim
Report by Margaret Norris
This was the 7th course we have run totally ourselves and we believe that it was again a most successful week.
The report highlights the numbers and range of different groups in our Sunshine Coast community who have been involved. We had 26 participants from 5 different cultural/national backgrounds and they were hosted by 13 families on the coast. All participants, except one student from St James College, were referred by MDA and matching people with homes was done by Kayla Szumer. There were two children in the group this time.
9 April 2019
Noosa Welcomes Refugees Dinner
Raj Indian Restaurant, Noosaville
Report by Gillian Duffy
Noosa Welcomes Refugees hosted a dinner at the Raj Indian Restaurant in Noosaville on Tuesday evening with guest speaker Jason Scanes. Almost 40 people packed the restaurant to hear Jason, a former army captain, who since retiring from the defence force has established the first Australian charity for veterans and interpreters assisting Australia in combat.
Jason has guest lectured at UNSW on the human rights of combat interpreters and spoke passionately on the theme of courage, mateship and compassion - core Australian military values.
23 March 2019
Harmony Day 2019
Cotton Tree Park , Maroochydore
Report by Gillian Duffy
To celebrate Harmony Day, the Sunshine Coast Council organised Voices of Harmony at Cotton Tree Park, Maroochydore. It was a truly multicultural event with singing, dancing, drumming, stalls and a fashion show, all representing countries from around the globe.
Our Pacific Island neighbours were strongly represented with Fijian and Hawaiian dancing, Tongan singers and stalls selling handicrafts from Papua New Guinea.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
12 March 2019
SCRAN meeting with Hon Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Minister for Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs
Sunshine Coast
Let's make the Sunshine Coast LGA a Refugee Welcome Zone (RWZ)
Several SCRAN members had a very productive and energizing meeting with Minister Hinchliffe, while he was visiting the Sunshine Coast as part of the QLD Government’s Governing from the Regions initiative, to inform him of SCRAN’s campaign to have the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area declared a Refugee Welcome Zone (RWZ).
6 March 2019
Screening of 'Border Politics'
Majestic Cinema, Nambour
The Sunshine Coast Refugee Action Network (SCRAN) recently hosted a sold-out screening of the Border Politics documentary at Majestic Cinemas, Nambour. The documentary follows human rights and refugee advocate and barrister, Julian Burnside AO QC, as he traverses the globe examining the harsh treatment meted out to refugees by most Western democracies. One of the audience members, Emeritus Professor Henry Nix AO, commented afterwards “It is the best documentary film I have ever seen – and I’ve seen a lot!”
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |