Five Years On - Still Standing For Compassion

In 2018 refugee stalwart Dawn Barrington flew to Manus Island to visit the refugees there and see for herself the situation which had become so politicised in Australia. This led her to start a weekly one-woman protest in her home town of Denmark WA, and in 2020 she moved to Fremantle and continued her protest here, every Friday. Like-minded locals gradually joined her and, although Dawn has now moved to Melbourne, the weekly vigil continues.

Today, Friday 8 August marks five years of showing up for refugees who are still in limbo after a decade.

These loyal supporters have missed just one Friday. Spokesperson Betty said “In June this year, for Refugee Week, we walked with our placards from the railway station to our vigil corner on a freezing stormy afternoon – I doubt passers-by even read one placard as they battled with umbrellas! We were cold and wet and could not handle the wind, brollies and placards, had a hot chocolate at Gino’s and scurried off home!”

The purpose of the Friday stand-up is to raise awareness that there are still issues that need a humane and practical solution. Of the hundreds in offshore detention when Dawn first stood on the corner in 2020, there are only 37 still in Papua New Guinea, though there are “new” arrivals building up on Nauru. But there are some 7000 asylum seekers in our community, most working and paying tax for over a decade, but with no pathway to permanency; in limbo, insecure on short term visas. Many have not seen their families for all that time.

So the Friday vigil continues, on the corner of Norfolk St & South Tce, from 5 – 6 pm.

Why not join them, stop for a chat, or at least give a wave if you drive by?

And when you do you can together recite the poem Vigilante, that Christa composed 4 years ago, but ‘sadly still relevant today’ says Betty.

Vigilante

Every Friday from 5 – 6 o’clock

A number of woman and men standing at a Fremantle corner on the same spot

With Dawn our passionate leader

That’s why we are all so eager

Holding banners on behalf of the Refugees

Which are stating “set them FREE”

Honk if you “AGREE”

And if you don’t we may suggest to READ

The “UNIVERSAL DECLARATION of HUMAN RIGHTS”

And in 1948 AUSTRALIA signed

Article 14 stated everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution

So, please let’s get together to get our government moving!!

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