buddies

Barbara Brewster with a picture of the Afghan family she has come to know and love

AUSTRALIANS need to look behind the rhetoric to see the world of heartache suffered by refugees, says a Buderim group opening its hearts and homes to asylum seekers.

Author Barbara Brewster started Buddies 10 months ago after speaking to a refugee representative at a USC open day.

“I began to realise there was a tremendous amount of information not getting out to the public, she said.

“It’s very hard to find out exactly what’s going on.”

The group offers support and holidays to people on temporary protection visas from many countries, including Argentina, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Russia.

“We extend acts of kindness to people feeling like they’re not getting much understanding. We’re generating light in a world of darkness,” she said.

Buddies members have befriended people living in Brisbane on temporary visas, and many are also writing to people in detention centres.

“They’ve gone through amazing hardships,” Ms Brewster said.

“Some people have been sitting in detention centres for two or three years without any response. They stand up against human rights abuse, come here and are left to sit and rot.”

One young couple staying in Brisbane were smuggled out of Afghanistan to escape the Taliban, and lost one child en route due to starvation.

Another couple fled Iran because their Christian-Muslim marriage was not recognised, and they were not permitted to live together. They continue to face persecution for their love from other detainees at Port Hedland, Ms Brewster said.

“These are amazing, strong, courageous people. I feel so humble in their presence,” Ms Brewster said. “I assume they’d hate Australians, but every one says they’ve met wonderful Austraians. They appreciate and love the Australian people. ”

Ms Brewster emigrated to Australia in 1967. She said Buddies had led to examination of herself and the country.

“Many people are just not aware,” she said. ‘We hope to open the minds of ordinary people. If we can just make the life of someone in desperation better, we’ve accomplished something. It’s a humanitarian role. We just do what is in our hearts.”