Welcoming the scroll

Local members of McMillan for Refugees recently attended a presentation of the Welcome Scroll at Cardinia Shire Offices.

The Welcome Scroll is an initiative of the Rural Australians for Refugees and the Refugee Council of Australia. It was launched by the Mayor of the City of Greater Bendigo and Asher Hirsch of the Refugee Council of Australia at the Rural Australians for Refugees National Conference 2016.

Local representatives Peter and Hedy Kirkbride and Baw Baw Shire councillor Mikaela Power attended the presentation.

It has now commenced its journey around Australia. At six metres long the scroll has been endorsed with the logos and mayoral signatures of 113 Refugee Welcome Zone Councils.

Cardinia Shire Council became a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2014.

The aim of the Refugee Council’s Refugee Welcome Zones is to promote the adoption of flexible, humane and constructive policies towards refugees and people seeking asylum by local government and their communities.

The scroll is a reminder of local government and community support for the successful resettlement of refugees and a belief in justice and human rights for all.

Cr Owen said the signing of the scroll was a significant action for Cardinia Shire Council “as it aligns to both our obligations under the Local Government Act 1989 to ensure our municipality is welcoming and accessible to all, and to our council plan priorities for fostering an accessible and inclusive community.”

The scroll is currently touring municipalities in Victoria. The Welcome Scroll will begin the Gippsland part of its national tour in Cardinia Shire, then travel on to the Latrobe Valley, through to East Gippsland Shire, back to the City of Greater Dandenong, and finally south to the Bass Coast Shire.