As their youngest daughter plays games on her fifth birthday, mum Priya reflects on relief at being back in her community and her hopes for the future
Standing proud in the Nadesalingams’ Biloela back yard is a rusty old Hills Hoist.
“I hope they go to study, they go to university … I hope their future is [to become] doctors,” she says. Tharnicaa celebrates her fifth birthday with her parents Priya and Nades Nadesalingam and her sister Kopika.The girls had limited contact with other children while in detention. Looking at them you wouldn’t guess it though, as they run around laughing in the park with other local kids.
Priya also remembers when the family came close to deportation in August 2019 when they were put on a plane headed for Sri Lanka – only narrowly halted by a last-minute court injunction. A decision by then immigration minister, Alex Hawke, to grant Priya, Nades and Kopika bridging visas – but not Tharnicaa – meant the family were stuck in an intimidating and unfamiliar city, living in community detention.Election night was tense for Priya – everything was riding on Labor winning the election, with the party having promised to send the family home to Biloela if they were elected.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
From Sri Lanka to Biloela, to Perth and back: A timeline of the Nadesalingam family's journeyAfter years of legal battles, the Nadesalingam family have returned home to Biloela. Here's how they got to this point. Read the full story here: hometobilo biloela auspol queensland
Read more »
Australia news live: Biloela celebrates return of Nadesalingam family; Marles at security summitFollow the day’s news live
Read more »
Nadesalingam family: the ‘jolt to Australia’s conscience’ back in Biloela’s embraceThe family have returned to the town they were taken from in an early morning raid four years ago, with hopes of changing the system for others
Read more »
Meet the unsung heroes driving the Biloela campaign home for the Nadesalingam familyBehind the scenes of a gruelling grassroots campaign are scores of people from different walks of life who have volunteered their efforts and time in support of the Nadesalingam family as they settle in at home in Biloela. From donating mattresses to manning the campaign's social media profiles,…
Read more »
Nadesalingam family enjoy first weekend at home as Biloela celebrates multiculturalismFollowing the high-profile Tamil family's arrival home, the small town of Biloela is celebrating its rich and diverse community at the Flourish Festival:
Read more »