Thanks so much to The Manhattan Project for holding a wonderful fundraiser on behalf of SAF and refugees last night. Donations will go towards assisting us with visa sponsorship and direct assistance to refugees overseas, including school fees and medical aid for orphans of war. Thank you to all those who attended and gave their support.

The Manhattan Project’s mission is to ‘shift the direction of history to create a future without war’. Please join with them in changing the conversation of the world, to make peace bigger than war.

You can join their conversation here:
Website: http://www.the-manhattan-project.com/
Twitter: @manhattproject
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/manhattproject

Thank you to the following sponsors for providing wonderful door prizes:

Bunker Cartoon Gallery
Water Surf Art Cafe
Big Banana
Le Dain Designs
Dark Lab Film
Emma Rhoades Photography

Refresh, renew, and reinvigorate  yourself with a day of Tibetan Heart Yoga knowing that all funds raised for the day will support Sanctuary Australia Foundation & their continued support of refugees both overseas & here in Australia.

Mahadevi – a yoga teacher with more than 10 years of experience & qualified in India in Sivananda yoga will lead us in a yoga practice that is in the tradition of the Dalai Lamas who have been following this form of yoga since the 1300’s.  This is a rare opportunity as few people in Australia have knowledge of this form of yoga.

This is a chance for everyone to practise three of the six Perfections –

The Gift of Generosity  of money, time and love

The Gift of Kindness of your thoughts and action

The Gift of Joy of joyful effort for others

No prior experience is necessary – you only need a willingness to relax and enjoy yourself.

• Date: Sunday 24^th March 2013, 10.15 for a 10.30am start finish around 2pm to 2.30pm
• Venue: Valla Rural Hall, Valla
• Cost: $40.00
• Wear: loose comfortable clothing
• Bring:
  • a yoga mat if you have one
  • a cushion
  • a towel
  • a plate of food to share for lunch
  • a smile
  • drinking water

Bookings: Lani Carmody Ph:  02 6655 1197 email: lanicarmody@gmail.com

*Please book ASAP to ensure a place.

Janine and Jean, with Lani at the Helfgott event.

There was a sharing of beautiful music, good food and wine, and moving stories at the recent Sanctuary Helfgott Concert for Refugees, held at the Helfgott’s private home.

Jean and his sister Janine, ex-Congolese refugees, whose family  were sponsored by Sanctuary Australia Foundation (and settled by Sanctuary in  Bellingen) were guest speakers at the 2012 Sanctuary Helfgott  Recital .

They both spoke about their experiences as refugees. It was a very moving account of fleeing the Congo and their lives in the infamous Dadaab Refugee Camp, on the border of Kenya and Somalia. They also talked about how much their lives have changed since their arrival in Australia, and all of their hopes and dreams for the future. They had the whole room in tears……

We would like to thank all of those who helped with this wonderful event, especially  Sanctuary Board member Lani Carmody,  the wonderful team of food preparers, and David and Gillian  Helfgott, for the wonderful music and  hospitality !

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Joseph, safe in Sydney

I am Joseph B., a Burundian man who fled from Burundi to Ethiopia due to severe persecution. I stayed in Ethiopia as a recognised refugee from February 2007 until August 2012, after which I was resettled in Australia.

I have repeatedly faced serious risks to my physical safety since August 2007. I was attacked by a group of criminals, stabbed with a military bayonet, which temporarily paralysed me on 9th January 2010. I was also strangled by the same group of men. Institutions in charge of my protection in Addis Ababa didn’t care for me, until Sanctuary Australia Foundation was contacted. They sponsored me by submitting my application to Australian immigration and on January 2011, when I received my humanitarian visa application.

Sanctuary Australia Foundation has made the utmost effort to support my case. As a poor Burundian activist, lawyer and journalist abandoned by himself, I have been at risk of losing my life and harassed by my ‘protectors’  who are still alive to this day.

SAF and my supporters have finally ended the repeated threats to my physical safety. My gratitude goes also to those who fed me when I was hungry and those who provided me with clothing when I was almost naked for they’ve been the people who really understood the mission human beings were made for. My thanks go as well to Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd which employed me in its company as soon as I settled in Sydney after my arrival from overseas.

I believe I cannot find proper words to express my gratitude to Sanctuary Australia Foundation. Without the advocacy and sponsorship of Sanctuary Australia Foundation, I would not be living the amazing life that I now have in Australia.

We are holding a raffle which will be drawn on Nov. 30. Tickets are only $5.00 each to win one of several prizes:

Prizes include:

Luxury holiday break for 4 at Pacific Blue Resort for 2 nights, Port Stephens. Valued at: $500.00

Original African painting called ‘The Dancers’ by local artist Michele Mathews Potter. Valued at: $400.00

Dinner for 2, Wins Thai Kitchen, Coffs Harbour. Valued at: $40.00

Body Shop Uk, Bath Package. Valued at: $30.00

2 Dinners for 2, Fountain Vietnamese Restaurant, Coffs Harbour. Valued at: $50.00 each

If you would like to purchase some tickets, please email us: safoundation@westnet.com.au or call us on 6652-2127. We accept Visa and Mastercard.

This prize draw is for Australian residents only.

David Helfgott performing at the famous Musikverien Concert Hall Vienna to 2000 people

The Helfgott’s will be opening their home in Gleniffer for a private soiree to be given by David Helfgott on 14 October at 4.00 pm to raise funds for the Sanctuary Australian Foundation in Coffs Harbour.

Sanctuary is celebrating 25 years of sponsoring and supporting refugees from many war-torn parts of the world, relocating families in affiliated Sanctuary centres across Australia, and also in our local area. They are approved under the Humanitarian Program and given much needed welcome and support by our communities.

Do come and enjoy the wonderful romantic classical music of David in his own home, have wine and sandwiches in the garden, and know that you are contributing towards enabling another refugee family to leave one of the camps where people wait and suffer for years on end, without hope.

Cost is $65.00 and bookings can be made on (02)66522127 (visa accepted).

As seats are limited, early booking is advised. All proceeds from the soiree will go to the Foundation, which David is proud to support.

Starts Tuesday 28 August at 8:30pm on SBS ONE

Sanctuary was approached early last year, 2011 by SBS television to interview one of the families we sponsored and was settled by our Albury group. They interviewed one of Sanctuary’s families but decided on another family. We think this is a great series, as it demonstrates the true nature of the suffering that refugees go through. The refugee debate is an opportunity to prove Australia’s humanity towards those who have suffered from such things as persecution, ongoing trauma, rape, torture and poverty.

Sanctuary sponsors and settles recognised refugees, who apply for visas from overseas or helps individuals wanting to sponsor their immediate family.

Mark Hallam beside the Irrawaddy river near Mandalay, Myanmar.

You could be forgiven for asking what is going on in Burma. Is the country really starting to change since a nominally civilian Government came to power in March
2011? Can refugees on the Thai Burma border safely return back to their country after decades of repression by a brutal military regime? During this time, approximately 3 million Burmese have fled to neighbouring countries. The displaced include an estimated 800,000 Rohingya (Muslims) in Western Burma and an estimated 500,000 in eastern Burma. Fighting along the border regions still continues, as do ‘black’ areas where tourists are not allowed to visit.

Certainly there are some positive signs of change in Burma, with more tourists and foreign media entering the country and Aung San Suu kyi being able to run for elections. However, even if she wins her seat at this election, the majority of the Government will still be military, so real change is not assured.

In late January, we visited Burma, after being invited by a very successful Burmese ex-refugee sponsored and settled by Sanctuary 14 years ago, living in Coffs Harbour, NSW. We were part of a group traveling together.

When we arrived at Yangon airport, straight away one could see corruption, as we, with our monk friends were able to walk easily through the diplomatic section without even having our baggage checked, while tourists stood in line watching as we quickly passed by.

We traveled by bus and stayed at monasteries in Yangon and Mandalay. Looking out of the bus window, there essentially seemed to be three groups of people within the country – monks, military personnel and the poor.

Many Burmese Children suffer in dire poverty, without the chance to go to School.

We passed through villages with grass huts and open sewers before entering the Moby Monastery compound. While there, we were interviewed by Burmese television who were very interested in our opinion regarding our time in Burma.

After staying in the monastery near Yangon, we headed north by mini bus over very rough roads, driving for many hours. Driving in Burma is a life threatening experience, with virtually no road rules, and we had several near death experiences! Government minders kept track of us in a lead vehicle.

The bus drove through the new capital Napyidor, and suddenly the landscape changed; modern four lane roads and expensive hotels appeared. Nobody knows why the capital was moved to this remote location other than for possible security reasons. It’s unbelievable to witness such investment in an area while the rest of the country is in such poverty and dilapidation.

The beauty of areas like Sagain and Bagan were astounding and the people are so friendly.

We returned to Yangon and then went on to Karen state. There we stayed in a town called Phan, where a ceasefire agreement had been signed not less than a week earlier. Later when we visited a monastery, we were asked by a monk how they could tell if a ceasefire was legitimate. As we continued to talk about this, suddenly a man entered the room and we were hushed by an older lady in the room. The Military General for the whole of Karen state sat down beside us, before asking how we liked Burma, to which we enthusiastically replied that it was a great place.

Following our visit to Burma we flew into Bangkok, where we met with city dwelling Asylum seekers from the Congo, Burundi and Iran. It was a shock to see small children having to be locked all day inside a room with their parents for fear of being arrested and put into detention if caught outside. Thanks to the Jesuit Refugee Service they are at least provided with a place to stay and food to eat.

Mark Hallam (Secretary) and Peter Hallam (CEO) with Asylum seekers in Bangkok.

Unfortunately during the trip we became so ill that we were not able to continue to Mae Sot refugee camp as we had originally intended. All members of our group became ill at some point, due to either contaminated food or water.

Fighting continues inside Burma, and just today I am reading in the newspapers about the Burmese government blocking aid to tens of thousands of displaced civilians along the Chinese Burma border, including the displacement of 75,000 Kachin, 45,000 of whom have sought refuge in camps. Soldiers are still threatening and torturing civilians, raping women, and using children as soldiers.

Just by the mere fact that we were allowed into Burma, shows there are winds of change, but whether this will translate as real long term change for the people of Burma, or is just a trick to attract investment from the west, is another matter.

Burmese people are now full of hope for the future, but we can only hope it is justified. In the meantime Sanctuary will continue to try and assist the refugees who continue to suffer after many long years in the camps.

Photo Gallery

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Michael White from Geoff King
with Sanctuary CEO, Peter Hallam

We wish to thank Geoff King for his support for Sanctuary’s humanitarian work, with the wonderful donation of a used Holden Rodeo truck. This will be enormously helpful in our ongoing work supporting refugees.

SAF is seeking a donation of a storage facility, where donated goods can be warehoused.

Geoff King’s website can be found here: http://www.geoffkingmotors.com.au/

Peter and Sue Hallam, founders of Sanctuary Australia Foundation.

Sue and Peter Hallam are honoured to receive the Order of Australia Medal for their work with refugees over 22 years, and would like to recognise the kindness and generosity of many in the wider Sanctuary community in welcoming and helping those who have lost so much as victims of war.

Refugees are settled through our network of 11 affiliated national centres, in both regional and metropolitan centres. Each Sanctuary organisation raises funds in their community to welcome a few approved refugee families, sponsored through the national Coffs Harbour office.

These “forgotten” refugees, mostly women and children, have spent years suffering in unsafe camps, without hope or future. It is a moment of great joy when they finally reach safety here, can eat regularly, and the children can go to school!

Sanctuary is a multi-award winning registered charity, working with integrity, ensuring that every dollar donated is used to help refugees on an interest-free loan basis, which is gradually repaid and ‘re-cycled’ to help others. We receive no Government funding, and rely on the generosity of the wider Australian community and business.

Without these regular donations,and ongoing support, Sanctuary Australia Foundation would not have been able to continue to expand this vital, lifesaving work across Australia. Thank you!