Finally back in Queensland, Biloela’s Murugappan family were all smiles as they were whisked away from Brisbane Airport on Wednesday afternoon.
The beaming family waved to waiting media as they were driven from the airport en route to the central Queensland town they still call home, despite being away since an early morning Australian Border Force raid in 2018.Credit:After that raid, Priya and Nadesalingam Murugappan, who arrived separately by boat as Tamil asylum seekers about a decade ago, and their Australian-born daughters, Kopika and Tharnicaa, were taken to Melbourne before then being detained on Christmas Island in August 2019.
Speaking at Perth Airport, an emotional Priya thanked the community and her family for the support they received while living in the WA capital for the past year. The Biloela community has hung welcome-home signs and baked cakes in preparation for the family’s expected arrival on Friday.“Home to Bilo” campaign co-ordinator Angela Fredericks accompanied the family on their flight to Brisbane.
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