For the past four years successive Australian governments have chosen to make people seeking safety suffer in offshore detention. The men, women and children abandoned in offshore detention are in immediate danger with nowhere safe to go.
So on July 19, we will gather across the country for a candlelit vigil and shine a light in the dark. We will stand with those who have suffered, mourn those who have lost their lives and demand everyone on Manus and Nauru be brought to safety.
Events are springing up all over the country, as people who care bring their creativity and talents together and organise local vigils to make sure those on Manus and Nauru know we will not abandon them.
4 year timeline video
Search for your nearest vigil, or plan your own – then share it with friends and colleagues.
Posters and placards for the vigil
Download and print these posters to take along to the vigils near you.
- #EvacuateNow
- There are humane alternatives
- No more Government abuse
- We can have a better plan
- #BringThemHere
Vigils near you
ARAN and Community Run have a list of vigils occurring around the country. New events will be added, so if your city isn’t on the list it’s worth checking later. You can find the details here.
As of 7 July vigils were listed for these places:
ACT
Canberra – Series of actions throughout the day
1) Morning peak hour sign holding, 8-9am:
Canberra RAC will be displaying signs at key intersections around the city highlighting this anniversary of shame
– Barry Dr / Northbourne Ave, Civic
– Antill St / Northbourne Ave, Dickson
– Melrose / Hindmarsh Drs, Woden
2) Lunchtime protest, 12.30-1.30, Dept. of Immigration & Border Protection, Chan St, Belconnen
3) Evening candlelight vigil, 6pm, Garema Place, Civic. The event will be filmed and sent to the asylum seekers and refugees on Manus Island.
NSW
Armidale – 12:30 pm to 1:30pm, University of New England, Court Yard between Dixson Library and Lazenby Hall.
Armidale – 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm, Central Park, 125 Dangar St, Armidale, NSW
Bega – 5:00pm to 6:00 pm, Littleton Gardens, Bega
Braidwood – 5:45pm to 6:15pm, 56B Wallace St, Braidwood
Figtree – 5:00pm to 6:00 pm, Zen Garden, 35 Walang Ave, Figtree
Lismore – 5:30pm to 6:30 pm, Lismore Transit Centre, 49 Magellan St, Lismore
Newcastle – 5:00pm to 6:00pm, City Hall, 290 King St
Southern Highlands – 5:00pm to 6:00pm, Corbett Plaza, 294 Bong Bong Street, Bowral
Sydney – 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Hyde Park north, Sydney (Facebook event)
NT
Darwin – 6.30pm to 8:00pm, Nightcliff Foreshore, Darwin (Facebook event)
QLD
Brisbane – 6:00pm to 8:00pm, King George Square, Brisbane (Facebook event)
Cairns – 6:00pm to 7:00pm, Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, 52-54 Esplanade, Cairns City
Gold Coast – 6:00pm, Point Danger, Coolangatta
Maleny – 5:30pm to 6:30pm, Tesch Park, Cnr Coral & Maple Streets, Maleny
Noosa – 4:00pm to 6:00 pm, Lions Park, 1 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads
Toowoomba – 5:00pm to 7:30 pm, Queen’s Park, cnr Hume & Margaret Streets (near fountains), Toowoomba
SA
Adelaide – 6:00pm tp 8:00pm, Elder Park Rotunda, Adelaide
TAS
Hobart – 6:00 p.m to 7:00pm on Parliament lawns, 1 Salamanca Place, Hobart
VIC
Ballarat – 5:00pm – 6:00pm, Queen Victoria Square (opposite the Ballarat Town Hall). Bring a candle.
Bendigo – 6:00pm to 7:00 pm, Rosalind Park, 1 View Street, Bendigo
Geelong – 6:00pm to 8:00 pm, Wesley Church Hall, 100 Yarra St, Geelong (Facebook event)
A series of stations will be set up around the Wesley Church Hall where you can hear the words of the people who are unjustly held captive, view the works of arbitrarily detained artists, see photos depicting the reality of the conditions of offshore detention, light a vigil candle, write a message of compassion, write postcards to send to politicians, bring some flowers to add to a wreath to be symbolically sent out to sea.
Melbourne – 6:00pm to 8:00pm State Library, 328 Swanston St, Melbourne (Facebook event)
Warrnambool – 11:00am to 12:00pm, Dan Tehan MP’s office, 73 Kepler St, Warrnambool, VIC
#LoveMakesAWay will conduct a Short Liturgy outside Dan Tehan MP’s office. All are encouraged to present their individual request regarding this issue to Mr Tehan’s office staff.
Wonthaggi – 5:30pm to 7:00pm Wonthaggi Library, Wonthaggi
WA
Perth – 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Northbridge Piazza, Northbridge
INTERNATIONAL
Philippines – 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm, Australian Embassy Manila Makati, NCR Philippines
You can also check the Australian Refugee Activist Network (ARAN) facebook page for details of other events and to connect with people in your community.