THE Burra Welcome Committee is proud to announce a spectacular line-up of local bands and artists to participate in the fundraising event, Join the Welcome, held at Archie’s Creek Hotel on March 12 from 1pm to 7pm.
All money raised from ticket sales will go directly to support the sponsored Syrian refugee family of six to resettle in Korumburra, in March 2023.
The federal Community Refugee Integration and Settlement program (CRISP) relies heavily on community support to make the resettlement a success.
The Burra Welcome Committee, consisting of five Korumburra local mums, would like to invite everyone to come along to help enrich the lives of the sponsored refugee family while raising awareness for the global refugee crisis.
Laura Muranty, along with Maxine Urquhart, Marika Sosnowski, Karen Walker, and Sarah Kerwick, will be formally sponsoring a family of six who arrive on March 8.
The pilot program they are part of means they are responsible for supporting this family for a full year as they integrate into the Korumburra community.
That includes financial support, helping them connect to services, education, and learning English.
They hope to raise enough money from the gig at Archies Creek Hotel to support the family throughout the year, so that they can become independent and feel connected to a caring community.
In support of the selfless effort from The Burra Welcome Committee, the Archies Creek Hotel are hosting the Join The Welcome event and donating 100 per cent of the ticket sales and all bar profits on the night.
Eight generous artists/bands will volunteer their time to perform for the community at the benefit concert including Sand Brothers, The Strzelecki Stringbusters, Nick Carver and the Mean Street Butchers, The Stony Six, Stringz Costero, Meg Doherty, Nic Huigsloot, and Beggs2differ.
“The generosity of the community, including the bands has been so supportive, and with this support we can help the Syrian family children who are aged 10, 8, 6 and 2 - they will be assisted with education and English lessons, as well as medical and dental. We have already raised close to $7000 and that has allowed us to lease a home in Korumburra ready for their arrival,” said Laura.
“Burra Foods have too been an enormous support in this movement, donating money to support the families’ groceries from the local IGA for their first three months of re-settlement. Also providing employment opportunities for the family.”
The Leongatha and Korumburra Rotary Clubs have said they are here for the long haul, to help the family settle and feel welcome within the community.
“We’ve really felt the care through the community with furniture being donated and delivered and on the night of the event we’ll hold a silent auction thanks to all the local businesses,” said Laura.
“We aim to cover the family financially for the first three months during their series of processes – as they will settle in Korumburra on a humanitarian Visa which entitles them with permanent residency in Australia.”
As well as supporting the family, the benefit concert Join The Welcome will raise awareness of the global refugee crisis.
This family were displaced to Lebanon nine years ago awaiting their refuge to Australia, living amid poor conditions with minimal health care.
“There are 1.2 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon and 6.7 million Syrian refugees around the world, not including the victims of the recent earthquake, with only 13,500 accepted into Australia each year. Lebanon is at their capacity and need assistance from the Australian government. Let’s start the conversation and together we can help more Syrian families find peace and homes in our communities,” said Laura.
Tickets for Join The Welcome are available via www.trybooking.com/CFKYY.