Minutes of Meeting held February 2, 2019

Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group Inc.

Minutes of Meeting held 2^nd February 2019 10am at Wauchope Arts Hall

PRESENT:  Janette Jones (Chair), Pam Chambers, Christa Schwoebel, Ian Barnard, Kathryn Parle, Mandy Yeates, Elizabeth Noble, Kathleen Butler, Marion Newell, Maureen Geary, Sheila Carroll, Beth Flynn, Cheryl Hannaford,

Lava Kohaupt, Jill Horton, Terry Memory, Mavis Barnes.

APOLOGIES:   Stephen Nicholson, Narelle Milligan, Galina Turker, Annie Georgeson,  Andrea Pett, Tin Hta Nu,

Julia Shearsby, Jan Wetzel, Bessie Jennings, Ken Hannaford, William Giles, Jessi Mervyn-Jones.

HOME AMONG THE GUM TREES:  On behalf of Andrea, Mavis reported as attached.

UPDATE ON TAMIL REFUGEE SUPPORT:  Janette gave a detailed report as attached.  Following this, Ian expressed concern about the presentation of gifts and after some discussion it was suggested that there be a written note to the effect that a cooked meal is a gift to the recipient.

VICARIOUS TRAUMA TRAINING:  Lava said that there had been a request for training for people affected by stories of the refugees.  She suggested that this be held on a Saturday morning at CSU and sought an indication of interest.  It was agreed that this session be held on Saturday 2^nd March at 10am.

PURCHASE OF T-SHIRTS:  Janette advised that T-shirts from the refugee on Nauru are again available at a price of $30. Because of the failure of the previous order, it was desirable that we start again to gather a list of order details to be sent to Stephen (snicho@icloud.com) by Saturday 23^rd February.  Mavis undertook to contact people who had previously indicated interest.  It was agreed that payments be made upon arrival of the stock.

FUNDRAISING:  Janette raised the Tamil Feast and Dance to be held on Saturday 23^rd February from 1pm at Port Macquarie Baptist Church for a cost of $25, which was required to be paid in advance to assist with catering.  The maximum number of guests is 53.  It was agreed that the raffle be drawn on this day. 

Stephen to be asked to follow up the question of availability of a commercial kitchen.

MINUTES of the previous meeting, held on 12^th December were taken as read and accepted.

CORRESPONDENCE:  Nil

                 

FINANCIAL REPORT:  Stephen’s financial report to 31^st January recorded a current balance of $2,282 following receipt of totaling $20 for donations and payment of $272.52 for project support (HAGT travel).  

             

NEXT MEETING:  Next general meeting – Saturday 6^th April 2019 at 10.30am in Wauchope Arts Hall, preceded by an Executive Meeting from 9am to 10.15.

BACKGROUND TO WHY TAMILS BECAME REFUGEES IN AUSTRALIA:  Kathryn gave a detailed talk based on her experiences between 2010 and 2018 in providing assistance to asylum seekers who had experienced torture and trauma whose applications had been refused.  She gave a brief resume of Sri Lankan population and history of colonisation by Dutch and Portuguese, followed by Britain in the 19^th century bringing in Tamils from India to work in plantations etc.   She recommended the on-line videos “No More Tears” and “No Fire Zone” together with the article “An Unfinished War” as being very relevant. 

                  In 1948 Ceylon was declared a Dominion of the British Commonwealth and in 1972 it became a republic, with laws brought in to make discrimination against Tamils legal.  Tamils lost citizenship and the right to vote.  Buddhism became the primary religion and Sinhala became the primary language.  Opportunities for employment became more difficult.  In 1983 civil war erupted and Indian and Norwegian peacekeepers were deployed, followed by China.  The Tamil Tigers emerged as amazing fighters who were determined to put pressure on the government.  The LTTE defeated other Tamil fighters to fight the Sinhalese.  There was much displacement of the Tamil population, leaving behind crucially important gardens as well as homes and schools.  It became incredibly difficult to lead a normal life and bribery was rife.  Human Rights observers (e.g. Red Cross) moved away.  After the war LTTE survivors were rounded up complete with soldiers’ families, taken away to camps and brutalised.  Many people went into hiding and medical help was very difficult to get.  Bribes paid for boat trips out of Sri Lanka often went to the Government.

                  Years later when Kathryn was working with refugees, their stories told of family members who vanished, never to be seen again – nearly everyone had this experience.  There was a particular group of people, “Nodders” who gave away information on other Tamils to the authorities.

                  Lava suggested that people who have contact with refugees be given the STARTTS contact phone number for debriefing of the refugees – people are deeply affected and might be having nightmares.

                  Kathryn gave examples of stories told her by refugees.  Tamils are waiting to be deported by the Australian Government, but people still disappear in Sri Lanka particularly young people, both men and women, and the country is absolutely not safe.

MANUS ISLAND REFUGEES:  Jill reported on her personal experiences and a recent visit to Canada.  A Manus Island refugee has been accepted into Canada and other refugees on Manus are being investigated.  It costs $16,000 for each individual and currently an Iranian, three Afghanies and a Tamil are ready, with fundraising taking place for others.