”People seeking asylum share the same values and aspirations as us. However, we won the lottery having been lucky enough to have been born in Australia”, says Gezza.
Meet Gezza and Rob, an iconic and versatile couple that have supported multiple programs of the ASRC
What initially started with Gezza and Rob being financial supporters of the ASRC, quickly transformed into finding more ways to act and fight for the rights of people seeking asylum. Gezza started her journey with us five years ago volunteering with the Schools Program as a speaker, and three years ago, during a Run4Refugees event, Rob found out the ASRC was in desperate need of social workers. This was Rob’s background, so he decided to use his skills to help.
They are a couple that breathes and sleeps social justice. They share the same values, and for the lucky ones who know them, they are this iconic couple doing their best for the community.
”People seeking asylum share the same values and aspirations as us. However, we won the lottery having been lucky enough to have been born in Australia”, says Gezza.
Gezza divides her two days a week between assisting the Foodbank, working with the Fundraising Team and guiding tours for school-age kids around the centre. She often reminds the youngsters we are all equal and that the only real difference between us and people seeking asylum is the country we were born in. ”People seeking asylum share the same values and aspirations as us. However, we won the lottery having been lucky enough to have been born in Australia”, says Gezza.
Rob works in the General Access Program, facing people who come to the ASRC for the first time. His job is to identify the first steps for them to access a basic safety net – to have a place to sleep, a meal to eat, a health check if they are sick. His voice grows quiet as he admits “Forty years doing this and it’s here at the ASRC where I’ve seen the hardest cases of my whole career”.
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The ASRC acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work every day.
We pay our respects to them, their customs, their culture, and Elders past and present. We recognise that First Nations' sovereignty and lands were never ceded. This land always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
As part of our commitment to First Nations justice, we support Treaty for Victoria. We pay the rent to Traditional Owners through www.paytherent.net.au
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