The good news came thick and fast for the Bloudani family of Brunswick Heads. Father Ousama got his drivers licence and soon after was offered a job.
The Bloudanis fled war-torn Syria to live as refugees in Lebanon after their home and livelihood were destroyed. Ousama, his wife Walaa, and their daughters Sana, 12, and Ghina, 11, have now settled in the region under the care of Mullumbimby’s MRSG supporter group.
They are also being financially assisted by Northern Rivers for Refugees.
The family has settled well into the area, with both girls thriving at Mullumbimby schools.
But the crippling cost of poor public transport services in the area made life hard for the family – a $40 round trip by bus for the family to the supermarket.
Ousama has now taken up employment with a tree management service, still leaving him time for his English classes at Byron TAFE.
Ousama is a highly skilled cement plasterer and also has a wealth of knowledge and experience of growing fruit trees and herbs on his farm back in Syria.
His dream is one day to start his own landscaping business. “I can combine my gardening and building skills,” Ousama said.
