Locals gathered recently to have a luxurious high tea for a greater cause of supporting refugees.
Casey Cardinia for Refugees, a group of local volunteers aiming to support refugees and asylum seekers in Australia or within Australian custody, held their event at Lime Box Cafe in Pakenham on Sunday 14 September.
The day included special guest, former refugee and local photojournalist and award-winning filmmaker, Barat Ali Batoor.
Mr Batoor has been a freelance photojournalist for over 20 years and has had his works exhibited and published across the world.
Also a documentary filmmaker and public speaker, his work focuses on telling the stories of refugees and asylum seekers.
Mr Batoor told his life story, where he was a target of the regime in his country because of the publishing across the world.
He described his years-long journey across several countries to seek refuge, filming as he went, where he was eventually settled in Australia as an asylum seeker.
Mr Batoor continues to support refugees alongside his professional career, he told the meeting of a recent success of securing a family to Australia who were facing persecution in Afghanistan.
Casey Cardinia for Refugees is a diverse group of volunteers who work alongside a wide range of very supportive donors in the broader community and within national and state-based networks, such as Rural Australians for Refugees and the Refugee Action Collective (Vic) and church organisations.
Casey Cardinia for Refugees has actively worked since 2017 to create awareness of the plight of refugees and aims to advocate for and contribute to fairness and justice for people escaping war and conflict, and personal persecution in their countries of origin.
They also financially support agencies such as the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project Sisters (BASP) and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) and church support services.
By popular request, the group will be holding another High Tea in the first half of 2026. Early applications for tickets can be sent to the group’s email, caseycardiniaforrefugees@gmail.com.
