The region’s newest CSG, Ballina Refugee Resettlement and Welcome Network (BRRAWN), has launched, with eight enthusiastic women forming the core group, and half a dozen others who’ve put up their hands as willing helpers.
They’re a brainy lot (to complement the ‘brawn’) – all retired and with time to devote to welcoming and supporting a refugee family. Amongst them are former high school teachers, a small business owner, a café manager & barista, a philosophy tutor, a lecturer in art, a fitness instructor, a ‘business-woman of the year’ award winner, and several ESL teachers.
The group, coordinated by Linda Munro, hopes to complete their CRISP training within the next month, after which they’ll find out the nationality and make-up of the family they’re going to support.
It could be 3-6 months before the family arrives, but in the meantime the group has their work cut out gathering donations of basic household items. Everything from a can opener to a fridge is needed.
Assistant coordinator Lisa Dillon says that BRRAWN also needs somewhere to store all the goods collected. ‘The wonderful people at Rotary are keeping their eyes out for the big items, but we can’t accept anything unless we have somewhere to keep them until they’re needed,’ she said.
Closer to arrival time, the most important item of all has to be found – a home.
Anyone wishing to donate household items (not clothes please), or anyone who has a storage space that could be utilised, is invited to contact Linda on 0423 982 217 or Lisa on 0402 244 866.
Photo:
The new Ballina CSG: from left, Toska McLeod, Liz Jeffries, Linda Munro, Lisa Dillon, Robyn Kestle, Alison Crook, Christine McNeill.