WOLLONGONG — A refugee solidarity quilt was started earlier this year by the Illawarra Refugee Action Collective. Detained refugees and members of the community continue to contribute 30-centimetre square patches to be added to the quilt, which is touring libraries, bookshops and cafes throughout the Illawarra. Green Left Weekly's NICOLE HILDER spoke to RAC's VIVI MARTIN and SHARON CALLAGHAN about the quilt.
Martin said the inspiration for the quilt came from being "shocked, horrified and angry at community attitudes towards refugees". RAC felt that the refugees' stories needed to be told. "It's up to us to help tell their stories because the government has not only locked away and silenced refugees, it is doing everything it can to stifle public discussion and information", Martin added.
Callaghan compared the project to the famous AIDS quilt. The refugee quilt "is a powerful expression [of solidarity] and is an opportunity for Australians to relate to the real people behind the statistics... It's blatantly obvious that the federal government's policy is wrong. We're stating this in a creative and colourful way."
Martin explained that quilts have been used as a method of protest dating back to the American Civil War. The quilt is a way of involving and uniting diverse groups. So far, there has been widespread interest from yoga groups, Amnesty International, Grey Power in New Zealand, church groups, feminist organisations, high schools and art galleries.
"One young girl used her grandmother's spare button collection to make a peace sign. There is another square with bombs and a keyboard depicting the story of a 13-year-old boy whose home was bombed in Iraq and how losing his means to make music was soul destroying for him. Recently, someone brought a keyboard to him in Villawood detention centre, where he is being detained", Martin told GLW.
Perhaps the most poignant square is by Gassim al Abbady, also detained at Villawood, which portrays his journey in Australia. "It looks like a boat on a calm sea on moonlit night", said Martin, describing the work's black material with gold stitching. "But the reality was far from tranquil: a 15-day journey — that was supposed to take four days — on a leaking, overcrowded boat. People had to bail out the water; two people died. They had hoped to be greeted by Australia, but have spent the last three years in detention."
Martin said there is a growing interest in the quilt. "We hope to make a huge visual statement that shows people are concerned and angry. We shouldn't stop making patches until this government's cruel policy has ended".
For information on the quilt is being displayed at the moment or to get involved in RAC, visit <http://www.racwollongong.org>, phone Sue at (02) 4229 5280 or Will at (02) 4226 2010.
From Green Left Weekly, September 4, 2002.
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