Wollongong City Council’s morning tea to announce the city’s increased intake of refugees from Iraq and Syria next year was planned weeks ago.
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It was intended to bring people together over Syrian food and help some of the Middle Eastern refugees who have settled here in the past few years to share their stories.
And then Paris was plunged into terror over the weekend, which, for some, may cast the news that Wollongong will become home to hundreds more people from that war-torn region in a different light.
On social media and the online comment sections of newspapers across the country, some people have jumped to the conclusion that the Paris attacks mean it’s time to close our borders and stop accepting refugees from Muslim countries.
But Wollongong’s Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery has quashed these ideas, instead advocating city-wide compassion and understanding as the world grapples with the flow-on effects of terrorism.
He pointed out that refugees being resettled through Australia’s temporary expanded visa program will be heavily vetted by government officials.
He also made the point that these refugees are most likely the victims of terrorism, not the perpetrators.
“The majority of these people have nothing to do with terrorism, as a matter of fact all they are doing is trying to escape from it, as we would too.”
Cr Bradbery also referred to Wollongong’s proud history of accepting refugees over the years, listing off a multitude of local charities, government agencies and educational institutions which are “geared up to help”.
“Social inclusion is something we are used to, let’s continue it and let’s make people feel welcome,” he said.
“We’re a city that is warm-hearted, compassionate and skilled in making people feel welcome, and that’s what makes Wollongong a great place.”
Indeed, Gordon.
It’s words like these we need to keep hearing as we continue to deal with the shock of seeing the beautiful city of light plunged into darkness after Friday’s attacks.
We must not let the hateful actions of a handful of evil men close off our minds, shut down our borders and end Wollongong’s rich history of successful multiculturalism.
