Open our doors and our hearts.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
How can we not after seeing the picture of three-year-old Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi lying face-down on a Turkish beach, his lifeless body being lapped by waves?
The powerful image thrust the humanitarian crisis in Syria into the collective consciousness this week.
After an outpouring of emotion, the Federal Government announced it would allow 12,000 Syrian refugees to re-settle here.
It’s the least we can do.
It would be easy to think that with the decision made, we have done our bit.
But as Treasurer Joe Hockey said on Thursday, it’s going to be a long process for those fleeing war-torn Syria. It could take more than two years to resettle the 12,000 people in Australia. It won’t be without its challenges. This is the largest intake of refugees in a single year since World War II.
So where will these victims of the Islamic State be housed? How will they overcome the despair, pain and suffering they have endured?
The Federal Government is working with the states and territories, church and community groups to house the refugees.
The south-west is a proud community, which prides itself on compassion. Will that compassion extend to Syrians?
It ought to. Colac Otway Shire officially became a refugee friendly region last year. It has welcomed refugees from countries such as Sudan and Afghanistan and is proud of its multi-cultural society.
All south-west muncipalities could follow Colac Otway’s powerful lead. Warrnambool City Council has declared it is ready to help.
We are fortunate in this region and can never understand the horror refugees have experienced. That is why we need to help others in their time of need. We need councils, the state government and community groups to band together. We need to house, help and give refugees much-needed hope.
Absolutely there will be challenges – language, cultural, housing and transport – but we are a resourceful, resilient lot. There will always be those who say we should look after our own first and we are trying. We can and should do better. But that shouldn’t stop us, as a community, from showing compassion to those at home or from far away.
We need to let the world know we care. And that we mean it.