Collection UQFL671 - Ecumenical Refugee Support Group Incorporated Records

Identity area

Reference code

UQFL671

Title

Ecumenical Refugee Support Group Incorporated Records

Date(s)

  • 1990-2019 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

3 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

(1990-2010)

Administrative history

The Ecumenical Refugee Support Group Incorporated (TERSGI), was formed in August 1990 by members of various Catholic, Anglican and Uniting churches in Brisbane. It was incorporated in October 1990. The group operated under the Australian Government's Immigration Department as part of the Community Refugee Support Scheme (CRSS). Members met with and mentored refugees accepted into Australia, aiding their settlement process. This involved assisting refugees to find and furnish accommodation, connect essential services, register with Centrelink, open bank accounts, arrange health checks, enroll in English language classes, and, if a family had children, obtain school uniforms and stationery. The volunteers brought various skills to the organisation that enabled them to provide additional services such as marriage and family counselling, teaching English as a second language, special education, and health and nutrition advice. The group rented a storage unit in Indooroopilly to store furniture and other supplies needed by newly arrived refugees.

By 1995, the group had settled around 140 people from countries including El Salvador, Vietnam, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Over the next decade, the group expanded and evolved as volunteers came and went. They organised and participated in various events and activities, including annual Christmas picnics at Orleigh Park in West End, book collection drives, and cookouts and food festivals. Several members were recognised for their work: Barbara Dungavell received a Centenary Medal in 2001, and Audrey Ledwich received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2010.

The group disbanded in August 2010 due to an insufficient number of members in compliance with the group's constitution. Some members continued helping refugees through other organisations, such as the Multicultural Development Association (MDA), which often worked closely with TERSGI before it was disbanded.

Publicists - Audrey Ledwich, Ann and Donald Barton, Denis Connellan, Barbara Dungavell, Andrew Gormley, Charles and Adele Rice, Margaret Wilkinson and Helen Findlay.

Archival history

Collection was created by the Ecumenical Refugee Support Group Incorporated.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Helen Findlay.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Correspondence, minutes, client records, photographs and other records relating to the administration and activities of the Ecumenical Refugee Support Group Incorporated (TERSGI).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The collection is arranged into four series: Series A: Administration; Series B: Minutes; Series C: Correspondence; and Series D: Client files.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Restricted access, except for unrestricted access to Box 1 Folders 1-6, and Box 2 Folder 6, Folder 8 and Folder 10. Application for access to restricted material may be submitted to the Fryer Librarian for consideration.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copying, photographing, or reproduction of restricted material is not permitted.

In copyright. Contact the Fryer Library. Can be reproduced for personal research and study. For other uses see About copyright. Please attribute the Fryer Library.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related material can be found in the Fryer Library in FVF626 Ephemera relating to immigration and refugees.

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Alma MMS ID

991014611477303131

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Revised

Level of detail

Full

Dates of creation revision deletion

Created, Kymberley Doyle, 05-Aug-2024.

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

Related genres

Related places

Physical storage

  • Box: UQFL671 Box 1
  • Box: UQFL671 Box 2
  • Box: UQFL671 Box 3