Long-awaited vote brings joy for Sudanese in Sydney

By Max Mason

Energy and excitement has been building in the Sudanese community of Sydney over the past week and people of the largest African nation vote to determine whether South Sudan will secede from the north after years of crippling civil war ravaged the impoverished country.

With approximately 5000 Sudanese living in Sydney, most coming from the Christian South, they are now forming strong, prosperous and open communities in the Western Sydney suburb of Blacktown.

Edward Massimino, a Southern Sudanese voter who also works at SydWest Multicultural Service in Blacktown, was a part of the South Sudanese referendum registration staff and helped many migrants from the country have their voice heard.

“For almost 60 years Sudan has been independent and for almost 37 years people have been fighting. This at last is democratic expression, to secede, to have an independent country is not only important to me, but to all Southern Sudanese,

Mr Massimino believes the referendum is an important part of the development of the Sudanese community here in Australia. “People who escape war, they want to build a home, build it themselves. Australia is built of migrant communities with strong links to homelands. We want to participate in the economic, social and educational parts of Australia and want to be a part of where we came from,” Mr Massimino.

Susan Vogels, SydWest centre manager says she has noticed a desire from Sudanese people living in Blacktown to become part of the larger Australian society. “The Sudanese are a community society, here in Australia we are very focused on the individual. Sudanese used to identify by tribal communities but now I have noticed they describe themselves as Australian, from Southern Sudan,” Ms Vogels said.

Shar Jones, former Blacktown City Council Museum Advisor, showcased an exhibition Sudanese Stories to highlight the lives of Sudanese refugees living in Sydney. She was incredibly moved by the people she interviewed. “I found them the most wonderful people to talk to, after what they’ve been through, they are so resilient, they are so hopeful, it’s just extraordinary,” she said. “I felt privileged.”

While the result is not yet known, Mr Massimino said that this week was an amazing time for the Sudanese community,

“There has been a lot of excitement around the referendum, at the only polling booth (in Sydney) Sydney Olympic Park, there has been a lot of jubilation, with singing and dancing.”

To find out more of the Sudanese Story: http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/sudanesestories/