My name is Pler Hai and my wife is Ida Bright, and we are a Karen couple from Burma that migrated to Australia as refugees over 25 years ago now. We never thought our life would eventuate with us settling in Australia, but by the Grace of God, our family, including my wife, my young son at the time Timothy and I with the help and support of Alan Marr, Frank Jackson and the Westgate Refugee Support Group were able to safely leave the refugee camp in Thailand for a better life in Australia.

Life in the refugee camp was not easy for Ida and I, struggling with everyday living and necessities. Food was rationed out to families, sometimes not even lasting a week, so we always had to be careful how much we ate all the time. If we wanted extra food, we would have to pay for it. In order for us to pay for it we needed jobs, which we could not get as we were not legal within Thailand. However, we did work intermittently to make a living for ourselves too. Ida was a school teacher and earned around 500 baht annually (currently about 21 AUD), and I was a driver for the Karen Refugee Committee as well as working at their office, earning 500 baht monthly. I was put into jail 4 times and went into prison once for driving illegally and carrying illegal immigrants between refugee camps.

The refugee camps were also crammed and crowded with a lot of people. Our health and wellbeing was solely reliant on the donations from Non-Government Organisations to the camp hospitals. Sometimes, the medication we needed were not even available at the camp hospital, making it difficult for ourselves or any other refugees in the camp when we fell sick.

Our arrival to Australia was able to become reality with the help of the Westgate Baptist Community the Westgate Refugee Support Group. By the Grace of God and with the community’s support and love, my wife, son  and I arrived in Melbourne in the early morning on June 25^th, 1999. For Ida and I, the first difference we noticed when we arrived was the weather. Arriving in the middle of Melbourne’s winter, it was quite a shock to us as it was very cold, quite the contrast to the hot and humid Thailand. As we slowly became accustomed to the country, we found ourselves facing a few difference and obstacles including language barriers where we would often misunderstand what may have been said to us. A welcome difference, however, was that we were able to finally feel safe and welcomed. We no longer had to fear for our lives or worry about when our next meal would be. We were surrounded by a loving and caring community and we are so grateful to still be part of the community.

During this time, Ida was facing a difficult pregnancy and was homesick, however, the Westgate Baptist Community were able to make us feel at home and helped us and looked after us so well. The Church community helped us to find accommodation and helped and supported us, even financially.

Soon, our family of three grew to five with our middle child and daughter Flavia and youngest son Joseph both born here in Australia. Today, all of our 5 kids have grown up and doing their own things.

Timothy is now 26 years old and completing a Master of Nursing Science. Flavia is 24 years old, is married and working as an optometry assistant. Joseph is 21 years old and working as an accountant. Ida after caring of the kids and family for most of her life in Australia was able to achieve a Diploma in Library/Information services and works now as a Library Program Support Officer at Werribee Library. She has been a librarian since 2013, with a passion for helping the community and working with children. When I arrived in Australia, the community help me find work and I worked at Bradmill factory for 2 years, then commenced studies for 3 years before working as a community guide for newcomers and refugees. Since then, I have worked as a full-time interpreter, helping the community since 2006.

Celebration of 25 years in Australia

We have thanksgiving services annually with our families and friends, but we were really happy to have the privilege to celebrate our 25th Anniversary thanksgiving service with the wider communities including WKBCC, Burmese fellowship and Westgate Baptist community.  We were able to celebrate together with the people that helped sponsor us to Australia and with the community that we were able to grow up with in Australia

Our 25 years in Australia would not have been possible if not by the Grace of God and for the community that has supported us through thick and thin. We would love to give thanks to all of those at the Westgate Baptist Community and the Westgate Refugee Support Group for all their hard work and assistance in us building our life here in Australia, and for your ongoing support and prayers still to this day. It was really great to celebrate with everyone we know call our family.

Standing with Myanmar

Despite being so grateful for our journey to and within Australia, it grieves us to watch our country being attacked and taken over by the military.  We hear devastating reports from family and friends daily and feel the burden for them.  We do what we can for our country and our family and friends but we need more help and prayer for peace to prevail.