By ALESHA CAPONE
SUNSHINE resident Fred Pase is passionate about the plight faced by refugees when they escape from war-torn countries, for a better life in Australia.
“You wouldn’t believe it, I had a Christmas street party last year and six Afghan refugees came, and some of the stories they told me were horrific,” he said.
“One man hasn’t seen his wife and children for three and a half years.”
So when Mr Pase heard about a documentary called ‘Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’ showing at Federation Square, he decided to attend.
The 52-minute film explores the circumstances and decisions which led to someone becoming a ‘boat person’, including a nine-year-old girl named Zainab escaping Afghanistan with her family.
As part of its national tour, ‘Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’ will be shown at St Theresa’s Primary School Hall at 6.45pm on Thursday 18 April, followed by a question and answer session with guest speakers after the film.
“It’s about why people take that decision in the first place, what they do to escape and how it’s a last resort for freedom,” Mr Pase said.
“They are just not treated humanely for the desperate situation that they are in.”
Father Barry Hughes from St Theresa’s parish in Albion said many refugees who had fled the conflict in Sudan and settled in the West, had joined his congregation recently.
“A lot of refugees from various areas and various years – from European, Vietnamese to current wars – have come to Brimbank,” he said.
“Often, we don’t know their stories and don’t know why they came here.”
The St Theresa’s Primary School Hall is located at 16 Drummartin St in Albion. See www.deepblueseafilm.com for more information.
