International Refugee Week - Survivor Guilt

This morning I attended the Vietnamese Community in Victoria's annual event at their Refugee memorial in Footscray, along with Deputy Mayor Megan Bridger-Darling and former Mayor & Councillor Cuc Lam, and leaders and representatives of the Vietnamese community.

I listened to Cuc's recount of her story - escaping her beloved country in a river boat completely sea unworthy with 30 others, with every prospect of being caught or being dead at sea but also with a small hope of making it to shore, She talked about the guilt she carries with her to this day, when 2 of her nieces could not survive the ordeal.

Cuc's story and the emotion she carries is not an isolated case.

I appreciate the guilt people like Cuc carry - when they lost their husbands, wives, parents, siblings, first loves via such trauma.

I appreciate the veterans, the men and women who had to leave their mates behind, their comrades, their new friends and allies they made during this war under very complex and tragic circumstances.

I also appreciate the energy, the survivor guilt they channel into promoting and preserving their culture and history. These are important legacies. But these legacies need to continue if we want to maintain and build on our multicultural and socially cohesive society for all.

On this 2020 International Refugee Week, thank you to all the people from all walks of life who have had to endure this survivor guilt and for channelling your survivor guilt to creating lasting legacies.

And a little incense offering to those who never made it, that they will never be forgotten and their deaths were not in vain.

21/06/2020