Accept Refugees

I've learnt much from dad by watching. In 1980 several boats with Vietnamese refugees landed on the north coast of Western Australia including 30 children whose parents had been raped and shot by pirates in the China Sea. They were orphans. Wesley Mission was asked by the Commonwealth Government to care for them. However the Government provided only $5000 as a one-off grant for their care. Mum and dad believed we needed to care for these children. As a family we gathered plastic bags which mum labeled "Viet-Kits" and we distributed them to several churches. Each  bag included a list of requirements either for hygiene, educational, medical, or clothing needs for one boy. Then with appeals on radio and TV truckloads of furniture, bedding, books, games arrived at a centre that Wesley Mission was about to sell. I remember going there to help clean that building in Francis Street Sydney. Its wonderful to know that each of those boys successfully completed their HSC with most going to university and gaining good jobs. Today, Australia needs to welcome refugees and asylum seekers, and help them resettle and build a new and safe life.