As the nation’s favourite asylum-seeking family returned to Queensland on June 10, Angela Fredericks, who had fought so long for their freedom, was with them. Tamil refugees Nades and Priya Nadesalingam and their two daughters, Kopika, 7, and Tharnicaa (‘Tharni’), 5, had spent years in detention and were now finally flying into Biloela – the bighearted central Queensland town they had come to call home.
As Fredericks drove them home from the airport, “The kids were in the back of the car asking, ‘Where are we going to school?’” says Fredericks, a local mental health social worker. “So I took a drive past the school. They would have jumped out and started right then, they were that excited. This is what we dreamed about and it was finally coming true.”
The moment marked the end of a four-year journey that grabbed the heartstrings of a nation. Through the work of an inspirational band of Biloela women – including Fredericks, social worker Bronwyn Dendle and then-law student Simone Cameron – the Nadesalingam family’s plight was thrust into the spotlight through the ‘Home to Bilo’ campaign, turning it into an election issue.
It led to newly minted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fulfilling a pledge to release the family from detention, allowing them to return to Biloela on May 27.
“It’s surreal,” Fredericks, 34, tells WHO. “They’ve beautifully settled back into the community. It’s just the little things that are so good, like bumping into them again at Woolworths.”
The family are also relishing being back in the town that embraced them. “I feel a new life is starting,” said Priya on June 10.
This story is from the July 11, 2022 edition of WHO.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 11, 2022 edition of WHO.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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