SSAA Victoria members are being called upon to help settled Karen refugees from Burma by donating their old work boots. The Karen community and SSAA Victoria have become connected through the rabbit control program at Werribee Park, with the Karen’s ferreting skills complementing the work of the SSAA shooters.
The Karen community, from the Thailand-Burma border, began volunteering at Werribee Park in 2011 through a Parks Victoria partnership with AMES Australia, a non-government organisation. A group of regular volunteers now plays a major role in maintaining the award-winning grounds of Werribee Park through their enthusiastic gardening and horticulture.
“They’re a pretty amazing group and without them we would be lost because they do so much gardening with us,” said Parks Victoria’s Werribee Plains Area Chief Ranger James Brincat.
Some time ago James noticed many of the Karen people were arriving for work in sandals, and if given boots, they would share them with other volunteers in their group.
“We noticed they were swapping boots around and giving their shoes to other people to wear,” he said. “One of the community elders, Aunty Evelyn Kunoo, said it was because boots were really expensive and they couldn’t afford them. In her words, ‘They put shoes on their children first and the adults will go without’.
“So we put the word around to the Parks Victoria rangers to bring in their old trousers and boots; the smaller the sizes the better. These donations have made a huge difference to the Karen people working at Werribee Park.”
SSAA Victoria members who wish to help the Karen community are asked to donate work boots, particularly size sevens, as well as trousers, children’s clothing and books. Any sporting equipment is also welcome, as it can be sent back to refugee camps in Burma.
Donations can be delivered to the SSAA Victoria State Office – Unit 3/26 Ellingworth Parade, Box Hill.