Meet the Dunkeld locals making global change from an old bus depot

From raising funds for refugee schools in Iran to possums being nursed back to health, a tight-knit team of Dunkeld volunteers have been making a quiet but powerful impact, both locally and abroad.

The Dunkeld Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support group has been part of the national network of Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR), a grassroots response to the treatment of people seeking asylum in Australia. 

Volunteer Maree Willey told the Brolga the DRASS group’s work includes political advocacy, direct funding to grassroots refugee-led projects, as well as educating locals within the Grampians community.

“We have contacts with a refugee school in Iran, but it's for Afghanistan refugees that have fled Afghanistan and don't have the access to education that the Iranian government gives their people,” she explained. 

“There's another school in Indonesia that was set up by refugees in the refugee camp, and that's another one of our projects.” 

The group has also met with federal MP for Wannon Dan Tehan “for numerous discussions” around government policy on asylum seekers.

While DRASS has tried a variety of fundraising events over the years, garage sales brought in the biggest results.

Soon enough, the group had so much excess stock from the sales, they realised a more permanent solution was in order. 

A generous offer from the owners of an old garage, who also run a support organisation called African Action International, changed everything.

“This wonderful big old garage became available, they gave us the premises and so we help raise funds for them as well,” Willey said. 

The result was The Old Bus Depot - a weekend charity shop that’s been running for nearly three years, selling donated goods and channelling profits to refugee and other community projects.

One of the newest partnerships has been with Wildwood Wildlife Shelter, run by long-time carer Pam Turner.

“She’s given us lots of good donations, and we help out with sorting out her shed… so she can facilitate more rehabilitation of animals,” Willey said.

While refugee support remains the group’s core focus, DRASS has started allocating funds raised from any wildlife-themed items, from kangaroo figurines to koala prints, directly to Wildwood. 

“We've only just started doing that,” Willey said, “but even though our main regime is to help refugees, we support local not-for-profit charities as well.”

Willey said the joy of this work comes from seeing tangible results. 

“For helping refugees, the most rewarding part is we know we have direct contact with various refugee projects both here in Australia and internationally and we know our money goes straight to enriching those lives and saving those lives,” she said.

“I am so happy that we can do a little bit of good.”