Just like us: Richard Dove with his book on Australia’s Karen community.
By Erin Pearson
YEARS spent working with migrant communities in Geelong and Melbourne’s west have inspired policeman Richard Dove to write a children’s book.
Leading Senior Constable Dove, of Lara, said Us Karen was probably Australia’s first picture book about Burmese refugees in Australia.
Ld Sen Const Dove, who worked as Victoria Police’s multicultural liaison officer for the past six years, said his book used “child-friendly” language to recount the journey of ethnic Karen people to Australia.
“A lot of schools and families have received the book to show children where they came from and show others their journey here,” he said.
“The response to it has been quite overwhelming. I had no idea there would be such a fuss.
“We’ve published 1000 copies and already more than 600 have gone out in just a matter of weeks.”
Ld Sen Const Dove said Us Karen was written, designed and illustrated to instil pride, admiration and acceptance of the Karen culture.
The book would be distributed free to schools and kindergartens in Geelong and Wyndham and Hobsons Bay city councils as well as to refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border, he said.
Michael Martinez, chief executive officer of Geelong multicultural services provider Diversitat, said the book would complement the organisation’s work.
Any education material on the journey of Karen people was “fantastic”, he said.
