Last week, Star Mail reported Yarra Ranges Council had refused the Healesville Rural Australians for Refugees’ (RAR) invitation to join other local governments for the national campaign to support people seeking asylum.
Following last week’s article, Star Mail is introducing the Healesville RAR founder and his unofficial adopted son’s story.
Healesville RAR founder Iain Gillespie and his unofficial adopted son, Zaki Hairari, met each other in 2013 when Mr Gillespie was working for The Age newspaper.
He was working on a series of articles on asylum seekers, and the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre put him in touch with Mr Hairari, a 17-year-old Hazara man.
The past journalist said the 17-year-old had just been released from detention after arriving in Australia by boat when he first spoke to him.
“He had fled from Afghanistan because his father had been murdered by the Taliban. His father was a doctor. And his older brother had also been murdered for daring to seek an education. That was something banned by the Taliban,” Mr Gillespie said.
“The family was getting notes on the door, saying that Zaki was next, so his mum arranged for him to flee overseas in a boat. He didn’t know where he was going. He went through a horrendous journey through Pakistan and India, ended up in Indonesia and got on a boat and headed towards Australia.
“His boat floated for four days when the engine cut out and almost sank. He was incredibly relieved when he was rescued by the Australian Navy. He thought he was being rescued, but he was actually whacked in jail.
“He fled to Australia with the dream of getting an education, because his father, who was a doctor, had drummed into him that he must get an education.”
However, it was hard for refugees like Mr Hairari to access education and work opportunities because of the visa conditions.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Mr Hairari didn’t give up his dream of chasing education.
The print journalist gave him some support to provide him with a way to pursue his dream.
Mr Gillespie said when he spoke to Mr Hairari, the Hazara man spoke only a smattering of English.
“It’s quite hard to understand, but his misery and his disappointment and not being able to get an education showed through, and I did the story,” he said.
“As a journalist, I’ve done my bit. I’ve told everyone about the tragedy, but I didn’t let it go.
“So I rang around private colleges to see if I could find someone who would take Zaki on and provide an education, free of charge. And I did find one called Martin College, a very prestigious group of colleges around Australia, and they put him through two intensive English courses, and then put him through an IT course.”
Mr Hairari’s Australian dream finally kicked off thanks to the help of the journalist.
The committed student, who could finally grab an opportunity, showed outstanding results throughout his new journey.
“And during the course of that, despite the fact he still tried to learn English, he began at the top of the college chain and was offered a scholarship to university, which he couldn’t take because of his visa restrictions,” the past journalist said.
“And then he did another course, and within two years, he was named 2015 New South Wales International Student of the Year, and then shortly afterwards, he was named a City of Sydney International Student Ambassador. He was working while studying. He was also helping refugees.
“Only a couple of years ago, he was named the Human Rights Commission Human Rights Hero. He’s now the Refugee Rights Campaigner for Amnesty International Australia.”
Healesville RAR members also adopted Mr Hairari as an honorary member.
“One of the lovely things, one of the proudest moments of my life, was when he asked me if he could call me dad. And I said, of course, we both embraced. I remember the tears in my eyes. So he’s called me dad, and I’ve called him son ever since,” Mr Gillespie said.
While studying, working and helping other refugees, Mr Hairari also tried his best to help his family escape from Kabul and the constant danger from the Taliban.
Healesville RAR contributed $1000 towards that cause, and his family finally arrived in Australia in 2023.
After seeing his family at Sydney Airport, Mr Hairari told his Australian dad he would keep fighting for justice, although his family is safe now.
“For 10 long years, arbitrary policy decisions have kept me living in legal limbo and my family living in a violent, war-torn country. Afghanistan is a country that has been at war for more than 40 years. The atrocities are unfathomable, persecution of minorities, targeting of women and unspeakable human rights violations,” the Hazara man said.
“For 10 long years, I have not been able to share treasured moments with my family. I could not rest, I could not sleep knowing they were in danger. I am pleased to share with you, my community, who have shared my highs, lows and fears, that my family have arrived here in Australia.
“I am more determined than ever that all refugee families have to see an end to their pain and suffering. Temporary protection and legal limbo must end. For over 10 years, families have been separated, living in uncertainty.”
“My family’s arrival is a gift I thought I would never see. It has given me hope, hope that compassion and justice will prevail for all refugees. I will not stop fighting until justice is realised.”
A couple of weeks ago, the dad got a message from his unofficial adopted son, saying that he’d finally become an Australian citizen.
Mr Gillespie said he’d witnessed how hard it had been for his son to reach where he’s currently at.
“He went through a whole series of visas and all the changing systems for many, many years; he was in the same system as the 8000 asylum seekers are in Australia at the moment, living in permanent fear and being unsure whether they’re going to be sent back to their original country at any time,” he said.
“And he went through all that, and eventually he went to work in Canberra because that was deemed to be one of the country areas that the government qualified as a pathway to permanent residency. He did eventually gain his permanent residency.”
Ever since the formation of a RAR chapter in Healesville in 2016, Healesville RAR have held different events to share the truth about the challenges that refugees face when coming to live in Australia with first-hand experiences and have raised funds to help refugees in emergency situations.
“We also donate money towards the people of Gaza and Ukraine as well now to provide the food, medical help and shelter through dedicated appeals,” the Healesville RAR founder said.
“Over the years, it formed a five-piece band called Woodn’Wire. We’ve just put out a CD. All the money from the sales of that goes towards Halesville RAR and the causes I mentioned.”
Find more information about Woodn’Wire’s new CD, check out Healesville RAR’s Facebook page at facebook.com/HealesvilleRAR
Star Mail will introduce one more Healesville RAR member’s story as a refugee and delve into the Chin community, one of the minor ethnic groups in Myanmar, next week.
