ROMERO "Back to school" appeal

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BOMANA - Port Morseby's detention centre

#Save Medevac

World's Big Sleep Out - 7 December

Can you join Beata and Romero’s People Team in making a difference in the lives of those who still are lost and without a ‘home’?

💗

The World’s Big Sleep Out event will be held at the Gabba on the 7^th of December 2019.  The Romero Centre has been very fortunate to be chosen as the charity mission to be benefiting 50% of the funds raised from the event, which aims at eliminating global homelessness.

The Romero Centre works tirelessly to support people seeking asylum who are without income and cannot afford home or food. During the last year Romero supported over 400 people seeking asylum with issues related to homelessness. Having this opportunity to raise awareness and funds in support of homeless families, is an enormous opportunity for us and the Romero’s people.

The Romero people are deeply moved by the World’s  Big Sleep Out ( www.bigsleepout.com ) and the Mercy Community’s commitment and dedication to address the needs of those who are separated by war or conflicts that have lost their homes.

At the Romero Centre, we know only too well that without a home, one is truly alone. At Romero, we understand that a roof over one’s head is only a part of the ‘homelessness story’ and that only a welcoming and accepting community can change cold walls into heart-warming and family safe homes.

You can join Beata and Romero’s People team in making a difference in the lives of those who still are lost without a ‘home’.

You can help the Romero Centre  raise money for this great cause by donating directly to their fundraising page.
https://www.justgiving.com/WorldsBigSleepOutBrisbane-RomeroCentre?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=WorldsBigSleepOutBrisbane-RomeroCentre&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=WDDbBnqma.

Or create a team of your own at  www.bigsleepout.com/join-a-sleep-out/brisbane

JustGiving sends your donation straight to Romero Centre through Mercy Community so that they can put your generosity to good use!

'Against Our Oath' Film

Don't miss the Brisbane screenings of this important documentary. Details below:

Against Our Oath is a gripping documentary feature film that follows the ethical conflict of doctors when the Australian government overrides their decisions for refugee patients.  It’s the inside story on the hotly debated Medevac Bill.  Filmed over four years in seven countries by award winning journalist filmmaker Heather Kirkpatrick (who made Mary Meets Mohammad) the film will confront you with deep moral questions.  

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:   https://www.againstouroath.com/

DETAILS OF THE BRISBANE  SCREENINGS ARE: 

BRISBANE PREMIERE Thu 24 Oct 6.30pm at New Farm Cinemas with filmmaker Q & A. Arrive 6.20pm for 6.30pm.  Five Star Cinemas, 701 Brunswick Street, New Farm. Book here: https://against-our-oath-doco-bris1.eventbrite.com

BRISBANE Sun 27 Oct 2pm Five Star Cinemas, New Farm. 701 Brunswick St, New Farm.  Book here: https://fivestarcinemas.com.au/new-farm/movie/against-our-oath

No one leave home unless

Home, by Warsan Shire (British-Somali poet) 

no one leaves home unless

home is the mouth of a shark

you only run for the border

when you see the whole city running as well

your neighbours running faster than you

breath bloody in their throats

the boy you went to school with

who kissed you dizzy behind the old tin factory

is holding a gun bigger than his body

you only leave home

when home won't let you stay.

no one leaves home unless home chases you

fire under feet

hot blood in your belly

it's not something you ever thought of doing

until the blade burnt threats into

your neck

and even then you carried the anthem under

your breath

only tearing up your passport in an airport toilets

sobbing as each mouthful of paper

made it clear that you wouldn't be going back.

you have to understand,

that no one puts their children in a boat

unless the water is safer than the land

no one burns their palms

under trains

beneath carriages

no one spends days and nights in the stomach of a truck

feeding on newspaper unless the miles travelled 

means something more than journey.

no one crawls under fences

no one wants to be beaten

pitied

no one chooses refugee camps

or strip searches where your

body is left aching

or prison,

because prison is safer

than a city of fire

and one prison guard

in the night

is better than a truckload

of men who look like your father

no one could take it

no one could stomach it

no one skin would be tough enough

the

go home blacks

refugees

dirty immigrants

asylum seekers

sucking our country dry

niggers with their hands out

they smell strange

savage

messed up their country and now they want

to mess ours up

how do the words

the dirty looks

roll off your backs

maybe because the blow is softer

than a limb torn off

or the words are more tender

than fourteen men between 

your legs

or the insults are easier 

to swallow

than rubble

than bone

than your child body

in pieces.

I want to go home,

but home is the mouth of a shark

home is the barrel of the gun

and no one would leave home

unless home chased you to the shore

unless home told you 

to quicken your legs

leave your clothes behind

crawl through the desert

wade through the oceans

drown

save

be hunger

beg

forget pride

your survival is more important

no one leaves home until home is a sweaty voice in your ear

saying-

leave,

run away from me now

I don’t know what I’ve become

but I know that anywhere

is safer than here.

Cathy McGowan Talk

       Will you be there tomorrow evening to hear Cathy's strategy to close 

         Manus and Nauru?

St John's Cathedral is a short walk from Central Station.

There is parking onsite after 5pm.

Goods to donate

Music Talk and Q&A with Dawn Barrington

What an inspirational evening we experienced with Dawn Barrington. Here is an example of one person who believed she could make a difference!!! Check out her home page.

http://dawnbarrington.com.au 

In one of the most moving parts of the evening, Dawn read a poem written by one of the Manus Island detainees, seeking asylum in Australia from discrimination in Iran.

These are some of the actions Dawn believes that we as individuals can take.

Music, Talk and Q&A

                       

Entry by Donation

A light supper will follow the performance.

A Musical Event

Come and join us for a lovely musical evening and help refugees in need at the same time. 

July 20 - 7 pm Trinity Uniting Church Wellington Point. Adults $20 Concessions $15

R4R July Meeting

Our next R4R meeting for 2019

will be held on 

Thursday, 11 July

Trinity Uniting Church

47 Marlborough Street

Wellington Point

6.30 pm for a cuppa

Meeting will commence at 7pm

There will be no meditation prior to this meeting. 

Please submit agenda items to 

redlands4refugees@gmail.com

Romero Art Show - Together Today

R4R Afternoon Meeting in June
 
The June meeting will be held on Saturday afternoon, 8 June from 2-4 pm at the Wellington Point Uniting Church. The church is at 47-49 Marlborough Road, Wellington Point.

Any island members who need assistance in travelling from the ferry terminals to the meeting and back afterwards are asked to contact R4R at

 redlands4refugees@gmail.com

David Brown will coordinate transport from the ferries to Wellington Point.



Key questions for discussion at the next meeting are as follows.

- Why did you join R4R and has the group met your expectations?

- In the light of the recent election what are the priorities for our group?

- In what way/s can you support the goals of our group?

- What leadership structure would best support achieving the goals of the group? 
 
               There will be no meditation prior to this meeting. 

Mandolin L'Amore

Human Rights Forum - A great success!

 Redlands Performing Arts Centre - the venue for the Human Rights Forum

Speakers: David Busch, Arif Hussein and Sam Watson

R4R Convenor, Kerry Petherbridge with forum facilitator Emma Phillips

Emma engaging with the panel

A time to reflect on the issues raised during the forum

Human Rights Forum - 27 April 2019

                           Click on the link below to obtain your tickets!

                                https://www.eventbrite.com/e/59212180225?aff=eac2

We Are One - Morning Tea

HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM

APRIL 27 
Redlands Performing Arts Centre
Cleveland

KEEP THE DATE: Redlands for Refugees (R4R)  are working with Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) and the Human Rights Law Centre of Australia to hold a Human Rights Forum here in the Redlands.

For discussion: What are human rights, the importance of the 'Medevac Bill', Aboriginal Rights and the right of religious freedom as well as refugee rights.

The forum will be facilitated by:
Emma Phillips - A senior lawyer - Law Reform and Systems Advocacy – Queensland Advocacy Inc.

Panellists will include:

1. Pastor David Busch - Founding member of R4R and Presbytery Minister – South Moreton Uniting Church.  

2.Arif Hussein - a lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre working to uphold the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum.

3. Sam Watson - In his artistic work Sam explores traditional indigenous cultural themes and tensions. He asserts his own identity as a traditional owner and custodian of the lands across south east Queensland and he celebrates his close affinity and bond with the spiritual strengths of country.
 

It will be a very informative afternoon and will include a Q & A session seeking questions from the audience.

 Click here and register for your free tickets!

This is to be held at the Redlands Performing Arts Centre in Cleveland on:

DATE: Saturday April 27

TIME: 2 - 4.30 pm

Afternoon tea will be served at 4 pm.

Free parking at this venue

Put this date in your diary now! What are Human Rights? More information to come.

                                         Click here and register for your free tickets!

Heritage and Harmony Fiesta - Sunday March 24 - 10 am - 3 pm -Redland Museum.

THIS WILL BE A GREAT DAY.
COME AND VISIT R4R'S INFORMATION TABLE.
SEE ALL THE DISPLAYS AND JOIN IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS MULTICULTURAL DAY

10-year old needs our help!

A 10-year-old boy who has been on Nauru has recently been enrolled at Cannon Hill State School. While the family is living in the community, the father is in detention at Pinkenba. Ms Chris Ling who is principal at the school has put out a request to R4R for assistance. Obviously, the young boy has very high support needs and Ms Ling has released an aide from all other duties to be his constant support.  While the school been able to access $3,000 towards this, it will require a further $3000 just to get through this term.  The principal is confident that given the right supports, they can assist this boy to begin to deal with the trauma he has experienced. Ms Ling is asking if Redlands for Refugees has any capacity to respond to this need.  

Can you assist?

Bank Details for R4R

 BSB - 014010

Account Number - 191853216

Account Name - Trinity Uniting Church Wellington Point - R4R

It is important to email our treasurer, Olga Harris, at brolgarock1@bigpond.com, detailing the amount and date of the deposit so that the donation is placed in our account.

Teardrops and Candlesticks

This is a powerful poem by Councillor Jonathan Sri, a Greens councillor in the Brisbane City Council. Please beware that Councillor Sri uses some strong language that may offend some viewers.

https://www.facebook.com/jonno.sri/videos/1520563448210966/?t=1

R4R does not endorse any particular political party but rather supports policies that seek justice for refugees and people seeking asylum. R4R thanks Councillor Sri for permission to share his poem.

R4R at a recent Redland's community event

RAR (Rural Australians for Refugees) has a new webpage

                                          https://www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au/