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.
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Denne historien er fra October 16, 2023-utgaven av WHO.
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TAKE IT SLOW
Anyone can be a runner with this back-to-basics approach to hitting the pavement
ADAM LAMBERT
THE POP STAR IS READY TO MAKE SOME NOISE ON THE VOICE
LIANE MORIARTY - 'Tell me your secrets'
LIES AND SCANDAL ARE ALL IN A DAY'S WORK FOR THE AUTHOR
DID SHE REALLY manifest SUCCESS?
THE SUPERSTAR SINGER - WITH A NOTABLE FAMILY LINK TO THE SIMPSONS - IS ON A REAL ROLL
Like mother, like daughter
INSIDE LILA'S MODELLING JOURNEY AND CLOSE CONNECTION TO HER MUM
ITALIAN FAMILY VACAY
WITH A NEW TOYBOY IN TOW, THE MATERIAL GIRL CELEBRATED HER BIRTHDAY IN STYLE
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY
THE MY KITCHEN RULES HOSTS TELL WHO ABOUT THE BOND THEY HAVE THAT CAN'T BE FAKED
LUCY LETBY - 'SHE'S NOT INNOCENT!'
AS SOME CAMPAIGN TO FREE THE KILLER NURSE, A MUM PLEADS FOR THE QUESTIONS TO STOP
BREAK-UP OVER BEN?
SOURCES SPILL THAT THE STAR'S LOYALTY TO HER EX IS TAKING A TOLL ON HER RELATIONSHIP
Justin & Hailey WELCOME BABY JACK!
BABY BOOM - THE STARS SAY HELLO TO A HOST OF NEW ARRIVALS