The Australian Women's Register

The archive of the Rural Australians for Refugees represents the activities of local rural and regional groups around Australia as part of a campaign to change government policy on asylum seekers and in support of refugees whilst in detention and living in the community on temporary visas. The records of MS Acc08.200 were collected together by Southern Highlands RAR member, writer and historian Ann Beaumont. The records include: administration and financial records; correspondence including letters from detention centre detainees; minutes of meetings; lobbying and publicity material; publications including RAR newsletters; “Welcome book” material (ie. Kits supplied to refugees on arrival in rural communities); papers relating to the sinking of the SIEV-X, detention centres, deportations, fundraising and a “Freedom quilt” project; submissions; photographs; papers and audiovisual material relating to Human Rights Day and World Refugee Day and Week; papers relating to barrister Julian Gormley’s representation of Mahammad Kazim Kazimi in the Federal Court, 2004; research material; guides and education kits; and video and audio material on refugee themes (57 boxes, 1 elephant folio). The Acc10.037 instalment comprises a large bound volume titled “Australia shamed: a list of dissenters” (2002) containing a “Statement of dissent” by Richard Flanagan and a list of signatures of petition against government policy towards refugees (1 fol. Box).