Founding member of numerous support groups for refugees, Frances Milne has finally accepted acknowledgement for her work. Having previously refused the award, Frances’s selfless work has assisted asylum seekers in relation to their refused applications for resettlement.
Frances founded the volunteer-based organisation known as Balmain for Refugees and it offers a range of support services to asylum seekers. She explains: “We run a broad network and it involves many different visitor groups to Villawood. We assist failed asylum seekers whom we believe have been wrongly found to not be in danger if they are returned.”
In order to undergo activities, including finding asylum seekers legal representation, planning court hearings and writing countless letters to government organisations, Frances explains: “We undergo detective work to find the information on their claims.”
Frances’s unpaid and heroic work has put her in the limelight this year, but this wasn’t the first time she had been offered the award. “I haven’t ever been inclined to accept this offer to put me on a pedestal. There are other silent heroes, including those who care for disabled children,” she says. “In the past, I’ve taken the view that within a family, if one member takes a public role, behind the scenes there is another member doing an equal amount of work.”
Her humble acceptance of the award came as a result of the recent political turmoil around asylum seeker policy, and the change in cultural attitudes. “The reason I accepted [the award] now is because of the shameful way that policy has used ‘boat people’ so now they have become the most despised and hated group to come to Australia. That culture that’s been spawned by politicians has affected policy making and the courts. You have the whole culture infected by these attitudes.”
Frances hopes that by accepting this award she can create enough awareness to stop “leadership brawls”. She is also heartened by her recent call to fame as it shows that the Governor-General and agencies of government deem her work honourable.
With 700,000 people seeking asylum within Australia, only 100,000 people will be resettled. Last year, 183,000 people were admitted because they were skilled workers.
When asked about the future, Frances provides a double-edged sword: “We recognise that needs will never be met and inevitably there will be too many people coming to Australia. Our urgent need is the here and now because people are dying now.”
Frances offers hope in a dim stalemate on policy as she states: “I’m pleased that at least all the parties are calling for increased in-take of asylum seekers.”
