Vice President Isabelle Borrelli thanked outgoing President Marilyn Leeks for her generous, competent, diligent, and superlative leadership efforts. Marilyn has stepped back into a non-executive role. The committee will share the president’s duties until a replacement is elected.
Another committee change at the recent AGM was the departure of administrator Betty Weiler, who will continue as a member and coordinator of membership. Marilyn thanked Betty for her excellent work.
In her president’s report, Marilyn outlined the ongoing work of NRFR as a pioneer and role model for community sponsored refugee settlement in Australia.
Since August 2022 NRFR as a Supporting Community Organisation has directly supported nine CSGs to welcome and settle 35 refugees (adults and children) in the Northern Rivers.
In the past 12 months NRFR has partnered the following community supporter groups:
- Mullumbimby Refugee Settlement Supporter Group (MRSG) welcomed a family in July 2024
- Friends of Refugees Byron Shire (2) welcomed a family on 26 March 2025
- Ballina Refugee Resettlement and Welcome Network welcomed a family on 15 January 2025.
In 2024, volunteer Sue Milne asked the committee to support a young couple who were refugees trying to leave Afghanistan. In partnership with Sue, her Alstonville Community Supporter Group and Alison Saunders (a volunteer and local solicitor) we hope to welcome this couple around the end of 2025. They are arriving via Talent Beyond Boundaries, which is another pathway for refugees wanting to settle in Australia.
The committee is now working with two more refugee families who live in Ballina and Brunswick Heads to bring family members who are refugees, to Australia via Talent Beyond Boundaries.
If you know any employers who would be interested in sponsoring a refugee to Australia and working with Northern Rivers for Refugees, let us know.
Two new faces in NRFR this year are Ollie Heathwood, as Volunteers Coordinator, and Rachel Bracken as Events Coordinator.
We have 202 volunteers, and many of the same names appear against many of the events. If you have time to become an Event Manager please contact Ollie via email.
Highlights of Refugee Week 2025 were the library talks in Byron and Tweed libraries, the celebration of our first 10 years and the Ballina Players charity night.
Our first 10 years has been documented and can be read on NRFR website here.
Treasurer Julia Fox welcomed Olive Mallory as Assistant Treasurer during the year. She’s been a long term, committed and active volunteer in NRFR.
Julia reported that overall revenue of $72,805 was down 21% from the previous 12 months, mainly due to a 38% reduction in donations. Some large donors didn’t continue their support which highlighted how unpredictable donations can be. Most revenue was from events and donations.
NRFR has begun looking for ways to generate more sustainable income streams. Towards the end of the financial year the Cup of Kindness campaign was launched which focuses on small, regular donations from a wide support base.
The main outgoings of $57,123 were distributions to Community Supporter Groups and contributions to other asylum seekers. Overheads continue to be low due to the enormous amount of work of volunteers in administration and fundraising.
Cash at bank was $88,850 as at l July 2025, a strong starting point for the current financial year.
NRFR secured a grant of $10,000 from Ingrained Foundation for a Refugee Networking Pathway Project. Isabelle Borrelli leads the project, which will produce a booklet helping CSGs to more successfully navigate the Refugee Family Settlement program in the Northern Rivers.
NRFR will offer this booklet to CRISP, Talent Beyond Borders and other refugee groups.
- Election of office bearers:
- Vice President: Isabelle Borrelli
- Treasurer: Julia Fox
- Secretary: Trish Razzi
Non executive members: Bernd Langer, Elizabeth Waters, Marilyn Leeks, Olive Mallory, Russell Eldridge.
Volunteer stalwart Meg Pickup will no long coordinate Bunnings Charity of the day BBQ events but has agreed to be our Advocacy Officer. On behalf of the
members, the President thanked Meg for her outstanding efforts.
Pictured top: Isabelle Borrelli thanks outgoing President Marilyn Leeks.
