Meet two refugees living in Lithgow

“To understand the lives and struggles and joy of some of our newest Australians,” he said. 

“Like the rest of Australia, Lithgow has benefitted and grown from the contributions of refugees and people seeking asylum.”

As discussions begin between the council and Lithgow’s asylum seeker and refugee support group (LASAR) on establishing Lithgow as a ‘Refugee Welcome Zone’, it’s a good time to meet two Lithgow residents who travelled to Australia as refugees.

Fleeing persecution in the north and south of Iraq, Salwa and Hassan are now hoping to make a difference to the lives of other people who call Australia home.  

Hassan Albadri

Mr Albadri, who has lived in Lithgow for two years and studies aged care and English at the TAFE campus, had to flee persecution in his home town of Nasiriyah in southern Iraq. 

“I came by boat,” Mr Albadari said. 

“I was in detention centres for three months. Christmas Island, Darwin and then Curtin (a centre in Western Australia that has since closed)."

"Christmas Island wasn’t bad because it was on the ocean and we nearly died [getting there]. Darwin was ok, Curtin was not good.”

Mr Albadri lived in Western Australia for a year before moving to Lithgow, to live near a friend in Clarence. 

With the name Hassan, Mr Albadri already has a few of Lithgow’s major attractions named after him.

“A friend of mine brought me to Lithgow. Lithgow is very good – it’s quiet, little and not too busy,” he said.

Since seeking refuge in Australia, the Islamic State and aligned forces have launched major offensives in north Iraq. 

He is unsure when he will be able to see his family again.

“I miss my family. I know they are safe. But I am worried, especially about my brother. He is a police officer and he is in the north.”

Mr Albadri said he has made a lot of friends since moving to Lithgow. He hopes to work in aged care in a country town.

“Most of the people are very good here and very nice,” he said.

When Mr Albadri misses home he visits Sydney’s western suburbs to meet with the Iraqi community and eat the cuisine of his family’s kitchen table. 

Salwa Bashar

Salwa Bashar is a well-known personality of Lithgow, having lived in the area for 12 years. While she arrived in Australia with refugee status, she is now an Australian citizen. 

Ms Bashar came to Australia after her husband fled Sinjar in north Iraq and was transported to Australia from a refugee camp in Syria. 

“After he came in to Australia, I was able to come as well. There was a lot of problems, always fighting and it was a dangerous place. That is why we moved,” she said. 

“First we were living in Sydney. It was so busy and then my husband found a job in Lithgow.”

“In Lithgow people are more friendly and they help us find everything easily when we need something.”

The ethno-religious minority Ms Bashar belongs to is heavily persecuted in Iraq. In 2014, thousands of Yazidi were massacred in Bashar’s home town of Sinjar and surrounding villages by Islamic State and aligned forces. 

“The recent Yazidi genocide led me to work along side my husband to create awareness about the genocide by conducting meetings with government officials. My husband and I also held meetings with local agencies and universities, including the Sydney University,” Ms Bashar said.

This year Salwa Bashar was awarded by the federal government on International Women’s Day for her community work and campaigning.

“I have met with Yazidi survivors of sexual slavery such as Nadia Murad who is now UN Goodwell Ambassador to learn about how I can help her and other Yazidi women,” she said.

“I am currently doing volunteering to help the Yazidi new arrivals with translating for them and helping them to adjust to their new environment.”