When most people talk about the idea of their “forever home”, it consists of four walls, a roof and maybe a swimming pool or media room. But for Priya Nadesalingam and Nades Murugappan, their forever home is so much more than just a house. For them, forever is a town located in Central Queensland where they started their family eight years ago and a community who never gave up fighting for their safe return.
“Occasionally [my daughters] ask questions. Last week they asked, ‘How long are we going to be in Biloela for?’” Priya tells WHO exclusively. “And I assure them that we are going to be here forever.”
If you’re familiar with the family’s story, as many Australians now are, you may start to understand Kopika and Tharnicaa’s question. In March 2018, Tamil refugees Priya and Nades’ home in rural Biloela was stormed in a shocking dawn raid by immigration officials, with the couple and their two Australian-born daughters quickly bundled into awaiting cars and sent to a detention centre in Melbourne.
They would go on to spend the next four years held in detention, both in Melbourne, Perth and on Christmas Island, living through hellish conditions no person, let alone a family with young children, ever should. “The first eight months where we were locked in a room, where the children couldn’t even go out in the sunlight – it was very difficult for us to see them in that way,” Priya explains. “And then when we were taken to Christmas Island, seeing that the girls were suffering due to lack of support, it was very difficult and we felt so helpless.”
Denne historien er fra October 16, 2023-utgaven av WHO.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 16, 2023-utgaven av WHO.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
OSHER GÜNSBERG MY NORTH STAR
THE TV STAR REVEALS HOW HIS WIFE AND FAMILY INSPIRED HIM TO BEAT CHRONIC PAIN
Paris & Nicole reunion IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE TEENAGERS AGAIN
THE LIFELONG PALS SPILL ON THEIR NEW PROJECT AND UNBREAKABLE BOND
MY VERSION OF SUCCESS
HOW FAMILY DYNAMICS BOTH REAL AND SCRIPTED HAVE INFORMED THE STAR'S LIFE AND CAREER
VICTORIA BECKHAM WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE
INSIDE THE FAMOUS FAMILY'S REACTION TO DAVID'S ON AND OFF-FIELD ANTICS
LEQ AT 50
THE BEST IS YET TO COME FOR THE OSCARWINNING ACTOR
THE PERFECT gentleman
THE ACTOR IS SMITTEN WITH HIS SUPERSTAR GIRLFRIEND AND HE'S NOT AFRAID TO SHOW IT
CHRIS HEMSWORTH FAMILY COMESFIRST
THE ACTOR GIVES AN UPDATE ON HIS ALZHEIMER'S GENE DISCOVERY
KATE'S BIG WEEKEN
THE PRINCESS OF WALES CARRIED OUT BACK-TO-BACK ENGAGEMENTS IN LONDON
Elzabeth Hurleyn A HEARTFELT REUNION
FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE, THE STAR NEVER LOST HER LOVE FOR SHANE WARNE'S CHILDREN
LIAM PAYNE Shock death twist
CHARGES HAVE BEEN LAID IN RELATION TO THE ONE DIRECTION STAR'S DRUG-FUELLED DEMISE