- Published on
By Maddy Harford
IN EARLY September, it was touch and go finding accommodation before the imminent arrival of our newest refugee family, Sabri and Jihan Darwesh and their five children.
We (the Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group), thanks again to the seemingly never-ending generosity of the Bass Coast community, had enough household goods to furnish a house. All that was missing was ... a house!
At the 11th hour, a house in Wonthaggi was secured (relieved and grateful sigh). Next came the task of collecting all the necessary household goods, stored in garages and back sheds around the shire, and transporting them to the new house.
IN EARLY September, it was touch and go finding accommodation before the imminent arrival of our newest refugee family, Sabri and Jihan Darwesh and their five children.
We (the Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group), thanks again to the seemingly never-ending generosity of the Bass Coast community, had enough household goods to furnish a house. All that was missing was ... a house!
At the 11th hour, a house in Wonthaggi was secured (relieved and grateful sigh). Next came the task of collecting all the necessary household goods, stored in garages and back sheds around the shire, and transporting them to the new house.
We booked the local removalists and the military exercise commenced. All proceeded smoothly and the Darwesh family were overwhelmed as they were introduced to their new home.
This was the third time our group had settled a refugee family and we were beginning to feel like old hands.
However, this most recent exercise had a sequel we could never have anticipated. Shortly after the move, the removalists invited us to attend their depot and then offered us “leftovers” from their many jobs. When I say leftovers, I mean all kinds of high quality household items, including electrical appliances, which have been discarded during a move. The owners have decided they don’t want them in the new place.
Wonderfully generous as the offer was, we were running out of places to store goods for any future families.
This was the third time our group had settled a refugee family and we were beginning to feel like old hands.
However, this most recent exercise had a sequel we could never have anticipated. Shortly after the move, the removalists invited us to attend their depot and then offered us “leftovers” from their many jobs. When I say leftovers, I mean all kinds of high quality household items, including electrical appliances, which have been discarded during a move. The owners have decided they don’t want them in the new place.
Wonderfully generous as the offer was, we were running out of places to store goods for any future families.
Problem solved. We were also offered a storage space for our selections. The rationale for this generosity was “paying it forward”; an acknowledgement of earlier good fortune at the hands of others. This is an example - albeit exceptional - of the overwhelming generosity our group has experienced since we began our project.
How many times have I used the words “generous” or “generosity” in this article? What drives this spirit? Paying it forward is clearly one driver. What about empathy: putting yourself in another’s position?
Negative attitudes towards refugees remain in some quarters and it’s easy to despair at seeming declining levels of human empathy.
Yet, all is not lost! “Think Global. Act Local” is a catch cry still in operation in Bass Coast.
How many times have I used the words “generous” or “generosity” in this article? What drives this spirit? Paying it forward is clearly one driver. What about empathy: putting yourself in another’s position?
Negative attitudes towards refugees remain in some quarters and it’s easy to despair at seeming declining levels of human empathy.
Yet, all is not lost! “Think Global. Act Local” is a catch cry still in operation in Bass Coast.
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Congratulations to the group and generous members of the Bass Coast community for creating a safe home for three families.