How World Refugee Day 2005 was celebrated across Australia...
The theme for World Refugee Day 2005 – It
takes courage to be a refugee - was celebrated in each state
around Australia. Governments, NGOs, community groups, schools and citizens saluted the courage of refugees who have overcome enormous obstacles to rebuild their lives.
Canberra
In Canberra the Captain Cook Fountain and seven key public buildings in the parliamentary zone were lit blue to coincide with the annual lighting of the Jet d’eau on Lake Geneva for World Refugee Day.
The ACT government also flew WRD flags on the Commonwealth Bridge, Kings
Avenue and Russell Circle.
Photo:UNHCR/S. Whyte
A photographic exhibition
at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre titled ‘Sudan
- Waiting for the Future’ featured over
100 images from Sudan and the Kakuma refugee camp, including
photos by former UNHCR intern and Victorian Young Australian
of the Year Mathew Albert.
At Parliament House, Immigration Minister Senator Amanda
Vanstone launched Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australia's
Response and awarded citizenship to eight refugee and humanitarian
entrants. UNHCR spoke at the event which was attended by refugees UNHCR, embassies, national refugee advocacy groups and community organisations. The
Immigration Department (DIMIA) also hosted several citizenship
ceremonies around the country to coincide with WRD.
The Refugee Action Committee and Amnesty International held
a "Show Compassion" rally calling for changes to Australia’s mandatory detention and temporary protection visa systems, and gather signatures to the Refugee Council’s
'Refugee Charter'.
New South Wales
In Sydney, Australia for UNHCR held
a very successful fundraising breakfast launched by the Honourable
J.J. Spigelman AC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
New South Wales. Guest speakers included former refugee and CEO of Jurlique Mr
Huy Truong, actor Jack Thompson, journalist Sandra Sully
and Special Representative of Australia for UNHCR Ian Chappell.
Actor Garry McDonald dedicated the performance of Two Brothers on
20 June a contemporary play by Hannie Rayson at the Sydney
Opera House, to the spirit and courage of refugees for WRD. Also
in Sydney, the Italian Institute of Culture dedicated a concert
on the 18th of June to the courage of refugees. Gli Archi was
performed by an Italian Chamber Orchestra as part of the
Sydney Italian Festival .
200 students from St Aloysius' College in Sydney also joined
in the World Refugee Day celebrations by participating in
a fun run from the College to the Sydney Opera House.
Photo:St Aloysius College
Celebrations
were not confined to the major cities. Sudanese
families accompanied by Lismore's Mayor Merv King and
Bundjalung Elder Uncle Greg Harrington
gathered in Lismore to celebrate World Refugee Day. Mayor
King handed out certificates to families in recognition of
their first year of settlement in Lismore.
Photo: Lismore City Council
In Belligen, a youth Pavement Art Competition was organised by the Bellingen Community Arts Council and the Bellingen Rural Australians for Refugees group.
Photo: Irene Wallin
Queensland
In Brisbane, a World Refugee Day festival was sponsored
by the Queensland Government, with cultural performances,
food, fun, activities and speakers.
A interfaith ceremony to express solidarity with refugee women was also held as part of the World Refugee Day commemorative events in Brisbane.
Photo: 'Believing Women for a Culture
of Peace'
African fashion parade and cultural entertainment were part of the WRD festivities in Darwin, at a picnic at the Water Gardens sponsored by Melaleuca Refugee Centre and the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The sharing of stories and a citizenship ceremony were also part of the days events.
Amnesty International launched its report The Impact of Indefinite Detention at
the University of Sydney Law School and held ‘Daybreak in Detention’ installations
at more than 30 locations across Australia including Sydney,
Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.
Victoria
In Melbourne, to an audience of approximately 1400 people, Circus Oz dedicated its performance to refugees for WRD. The dedication was part of the company’s ongoing support to refugees in the Melbourne community.
Photo:Circus Oz
The Victorian
Migrant Resource Centre and other NGOs, jointly hosted a
WRD Celebration .
South Australia
In South Australia, the Migrant Resource Centre held a seminar on new and emerging communities with guest speakers from the government and industry.
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