Jenan Taylor
24 October 2023
A Geelong church hopes to help cover some of the legal aid costs of refugees in the local community and increase awareness about their plight through a 10-hour music fundraiser.
St Paul’s musical director and show organiser Terence Norman said the fundraiser, hosted in conjunction with the Combined Refugee Action Group, was part of the church’s effort to try to make a difference to people whose lives were affected through a combination of upheaval in their own countries, and local policies.
“Even though we do have our own struggles, we are fortunate where we are in Australia, and as Christ teaches us, it is duty to help those who are less fortunate than us,” Mr Norman said.
He said it would be the third time the church held the concert to support CRAG’s legal fund, and the line- up would include presentations from refugees and advocates, and showcase some of the area’s established and emerging musicians.
CRAG co-convenor Peter Coghlan said the group created the fund to help particularly those asylum seekers who were in limbo, navigate Australia’s complex legal system and asylum seeker polices.
Mr Coghlan said the 10-year-old organisation comprised more than 700 people but they were all volunteers, and their refugee aid was frequently centred on providing legal support.
“Applying for a visa, seeking further information, or preparing to attend court appeals involves enormous costs, and many refugees don’t have income or work rights. Being able to help them with those costs takes an enormous burden off their shoulders,” he said.
Read more: Parish connects with community through ‘fabulous night’ at op shop
Mr Norman said he hoped the concert would raise about $10,000 for the fund, but the jam was about more than raising money.
He said he was including school choirs and younger musicians among the performers, in the hopes of encouraging a greater awareness among them and their supporters of some of the issues refugees faced in the Australian system.
Mr Norman said concert-goers could expect to hear from a variety of instrumentalists and singers, including the youth ensemble the North Children’s Choir, of whom some were children of refugees.
He said each musician or group would perform for 30 minutes, and he planned to invite the audience to participate in Sir Hubert Parry’s Jerusalem composition at the end of the 10-hour show.
Mr Norman also invited other Anglican churches interested in holding a music jam to contact him on 0411 875 033.
Jam for Refugees is set to take place this Saturday 28 October from 11am to 9pm, and entry is by donation. For more details, please see here.
For more faith news, follow The Melbourne Anglican on Facebook, Instagram, or subscribe to our weekly emails.
