Sri Lankan asylum seeker Neil Para has lived in Ballarat for five years and has done his best to “give back” to the community that has given him refuge.
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His community service was honoured this week, when he was awarded a Refugee and Asylum Seekers Recognition (RASR) Award at a special ceremony at Springvale Town Hall, as part of Refugee Week 2018.
Mr Para is a volunteer with numerous local groups including, Landcare Australia, Friends of Black Hill Reserve and Friends of Yarrowee Creek, One Humanity Shower Bus and has been with Ballarat SES for three years.
Mr Para’s three children attend Black Hill Primary School and he donates a lot of time to the school community.
He is awaiting his permanent residency in Australia and describes the volunteer work as a way of “giving back” and “keeping busy instead of just sitting on the couch.”
Ballarat woman Danielle Duggan nominated Mr Para for the award, and said: “Neil is a great example of someone who has immersed himself in the local community through his volunteer work.”
