By Jena Carr
Queenscliff community members will walk four kilometres to raise awareness of refugees stuck in limbo.
Queenscliff Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) will start and finish the walk on March 23 from the Marine Science Discover Centre on 2A Bellarine Highway, with the event beginning at 10am.
Convenor Sue Longmore said the walk was part of Big Walk 4 Refugees, a national effort and six-week 40,000km virtual walk highlighting visa uncertainty faced by more than 10,000 people.
“The idea for it was inspired by the fact that last year, due to the desperateness of the asylum seekers situation, as they’ve been in limbo in a state of temporary visas,” she said.
“They came by boat to seek asylum from a variety of different countries, and under the policies of that time, you were processed under a system called the Fast Track system.
“The government has said this system was unfair and flawed, so what are they going to do about it for those 10,000 who are stuck in this state and unable to reunite with family for 11 years.”
People will walk along Queenscliff’s Narrows walk and bike path to Point Lonsdale’s Spring Beach in support of the inaugural event taking place from February 13 to March 26.
“We hope that any passing walkers or traffic will see what we’re up to and then it will conclude back at the grass area outside the marine discovery centre,” Ms Longmore said.
“It’s an awareness raising thing among the community and an opportunity to show our support for asylum seekers in our local areas who are in this dreadful situation.”
