THE national organisation, Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR), has a strong branch in Mansfield with a large number of members from a broad cross-section of the community.
Part of this strength may be due to the two amazing women from Merrijig who both received Australian Honours last week.
Gillian Triggs is a former Human Rights Commissioner for the Abbott Government and a Professor of Human Rights Law.
Marie Sellstrom is a former National President of RAR and a massive mover and shaker, among many other things.
Having people of such eminence in our community is very inspiring for local people to get involved.
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Thanks to the efforts of the RAR in Mansfield, it is quite well known that two families from Afghanistan were assisted to come here in 2023 to escape danger after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.
Women in Afghanistan under the Taliban are now being subjected to unimaginable oppression—almost an eradication from society.
All windows and walls of their homes must offer no glimpse possible from the outside world to indoor life, lest it should drive men to commit crazed acts.
Likewise, their voices must not be heard in the streets, their singing has been banned, and their schooling is now ceased at age 12.
Females cannot go outside without a male chaperone related to them—a ban which can mean mothers are unable to buy food for their families.
Situations like these keep the members of RAR Mansfield resolute in their support of those still struggling to survive in Afghanistan.
They continue to pressure the government to maintain our humanitarian intake of Afghan refugees.
This year, the Tolmie Sports Committee has invited the Afghan refugee communities of Mansfield and Shepparton to run an Afghan Kitchen at their iconic, historic event, the Tolmie Sports (this Saturday, February 8).
Afghan food is tantalising, healthy, and delicious, cooked up in copious amounts, and is always shared with beaming cheer and enthusiasm.
Make sure you get along to the Tolmie Sports this Saturday before the Afghan Kitchen runs out by popular demand.
You will be supporting their causes, like funding secret schools for girls in Afghanistan.
You will also help those at extreme risk of severe punishment from the Taliban to try for safety by getting out through the fiercely guarded border.
