Bendigo's Rural Australians for Refugees starts fundraiser for asylum seeker relocation project

RAR Bendigo's Helen Musk said a network of Australian expats in Canada were lodging private sponsorship applications to relocate the refugees.

She said the Bendigo group needed to raise $18,500 to cover the living costs of the asylum seeker's first year in Canada.

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"We're hoping that people might be more sympathetic after being locked in their houses for months," Ms Husk said.

"They might have more sympathy for these people who have been locked in detention for seven years where there seems to be no hope of the government doing anything."

According to the Refugee Council of Australia, there were 107 refugees in Nauru as of October 31.

There were another 101 refugees at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.

Ms Husk said the federal government had left those people in limbo, but that resettlement in Canada could change their lives.

"Canada still has a criteria that they look at so they still have to show they are a genuine refugee," she said.

"But we know all of them are. People don't run away from their country for fun or to earn more money."

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Ms Husk said people could make a one-off family pledge of $500 or buy a Christmas $50 or $100 e-card. But she said a donation of any amount could make a difference.

"We thought people might want to forgo a Christmas present and pull all of their money in together," Ms Husk said.

"We know people have donated large sums because the pandemic has forced them to save. People who have jobs haven't been able to go out so they have saved.

"But you can donate a small amount as well."

Ms Husk said people could find out how to donate at rarbendigo.wordpress.com/canadian-sponsorship/

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