STUDENTS, staff and parents at Christ the King Catholic Primary School, Deception Bay, voiced their support for asylum seekers and refugees on the last day of the school year.
As they gathered to farewell the Year 6 and 7 students, the school community presented a large paper boat filled with personal messages to a representative of Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth.
Principal Nick Hurley said the school and parish had been blessed this year to meet a young Iranian man who was caught up in the “Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014”. “He made us acutely aware of the plight of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia,” he said.
Staff then contacted senators and members of parliament to petition them for better policies and treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.
Mr Hurley said the community wanted Mr Howarth and the people in his office to read each one of the messages, composed by students, parents and community members voicing their support for asylum seekers.
“We are now aware that the Senate passed (the bill),” he said.
“With Safe Haven and Temporary Protection visas coming further into play, with possible amendments, this means that many of our refugee friends remain in limbo in regards to their future and that of their families.
“I would like to formally express our disillusionment and our dissatisfaction as a school community, with not only the bill that has been passed, but also the lobbying by (Federal Minister for Immigration) Scott Morrison prior to this vote.”
Mr Hurley requested the messages be forwarded not only to Mr Morrison, but also to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Student Natalie Fisher said her message was to “let them in”.
“I drew a boat with that message written on it,” she said.
“It was hard hearing about how all these people had escaped from the bad stuff happening in their own countries.
“They just want to come to our country and live a better life, but now they’re stuck in detention centres.
“We just want to show our support for these people.”
Student Jolo Gapusam’s message focused on the women and children who were stuck in detention centres.
“I drew a picture of refugee and Aussie kids holding hands through the wire showing unity,” he said.
