A Standing Ovation..

Saad and Omar Alkassab have received a standing ovation from the capacity crowd at TED X in Canberra as they described their journey from Scouts in the Syrian conflict to life in Australia. They were among the highlights of a day of passionate speeches and extraordinary performers. Saad is a student at the College and Omar supports our school based Venturer Unit. They are remarkable young men with a message of devastation and the extermination of a population. Syrian’s have fled their homes in the thousands, persecuted by their own government and with few places to go. Australia has taken only a few refugees in. Australia is a Nation that has been established on the back of immigration, experiencing wonderful enrichment with each consecutive group of people who have come to our shores.

It was 40 years ago that the Vietnamese first arrived as refugees by boat and we opened our hearts and communities. In recent times the policy of consecutive governments has been to close our shores and leave those in dire need without a refuge. There are many people who need compassion in the world, the Syrian crisis is now a catastrophe that requires an international solution as well as compassion and for all of us to do something. Omar and Saad are role models who are doing what they can for those most in need. I applaud them and the work they have done to raise awareness of the biggest humanitarian issue that we have seen in our generation. My prayers and thoughts are with these displaced people who are suffering, may they receive the intervention required so that we might have the chance to dig deep to send them food, medical supplies and assistance for whatever they may need.