Migrant men have visited Kiama for a weekend, as part of the cultural exchange program developed eleven years ago by Australian Local Hero for 2021, Rosemary Kariuki OAM.

“We’ve hosted many women’s groups but always been keen to do one with men,” says Rosemary, including an earlier visit to our region which was the focus of the film Rosemary’s Way.

She advocates the simple notion that friendliness is the best way to help migrants settle into their new homeland.

“We hope to do this every year,” Rosemary says.

“It will open doors for communication. We get to know them, they get to know us, we all get to know you.”

On Friday 18 November, around 20 men from the Liverpool area stepped from a bus onto the Baden Farm in Rose Valley (Schottlanders Wagyu Farm).

The men came from Africa, Syria, Lebanon, El Salvador, Russia, Ukraine, Somalia and Egypt. Some had migrated decades ago, some, such as those from Ukraine, have only been in Australia for a few months.

Mayor Neil Reilly, dressed in full regalia as requested, extended a warm greeting to the “blokes”.

“It was nothing short of wonderful!” he says.

“I found it very emotional with two professors, electrical engineers, two rocket scientists (!) and barrels of teachers, a teachers aid and a poet.”

Each man went to stay with a host family, many of which were inspired by Rosemary’s Way.

The busy weekend included a walk on Seven Mile Beach, BBQ lunch with the Foxground Regional Fire Service, a visit to Gerringong’s Buena Vista Farm then dinner and yarning circle back at the Baden’s farm on Saturday, and Sunday at Killalea taking part in a Gumaraa Aboriginal Experience.

The Gerringong Rotary Club stepped up to carry some cost, donating funds for the Gumaraa Program and the BBQ.

Foxground RFS visit gave a real understanding of Australia's volunteer tradition

Maria Baden and Gerringong’s Jane Mills were the local organisers, given their experience with the earlier women's visit.

Maria was drawn to Rosemary’s work many years ago, because of her family’s migrant background.

“My sister and I [born in Australia after her parents fled Europe after WW2] have been lucky not to experience war, homelessness, hunger, fear, so many things that these men have experienced,” she says.

“Australia is a good country, a free country. It’s not perfect because there is still racism here. But by hosting a program like this we can break through that negativity and that prejudice.”

Maria Baden speaking at the welcoming event

To the men who signed up for the program Maria says, “Thank you so much for having the courage to step out of your comfort zone.”

And to their hosts she says, “Thank you so much for your generosity. The hosts just appeared like angels when our call went out.”

Jane Mills says, “As we stood in a big circle at Killalea to farewell each other, I heard comments like ‘the uniqueness and importance of every human being’, ‘connection and community’, ‘the happiest weekend since I arrived in Australia’, and the profound appreciation from both guests and hosts made Maria and me, as organisers, feel what a worthwhile weekend this was.”

Patrice and Chris Joynson of Jamberoo, who hosted Oleg and Anatoly from Ukraine, say they have already extended an invitation to them, their wives and children to come back for a visit.

“I told Oleg to use google translation when we hit a problem, but he rang his wife whose English is better and she translated! I sent a gift home for her and she rang me straight back to thank me. We are going to insist that this connection lasts.”

Co-organiser of the trip, Franklyn Macbruce, President of the African Woman’s Group Australia, says, “Most of the time, men aren’t involved in these kinds of things. We were keen to entice them out of their cultural silos and expose them to new ideas and experiences.

“I could see the excitement in their faces.”