Joanne describes herself as a “Community-minded middle class woman, aged 66, immigrant — here in Newcastle for the past 30 years” who volunteers “A LOT in various roles. I continue to work with refugee resettlement (have done so for the past 12 years) and … with Rising Tide (RT).”
Joanne says she has learned a lot from the Rising Tide community:
“I enjoy and appreciate that I’m working with people who are of demographics that I would not likely interact with much. For example, last year, I was invited to (and attended!) the birthday party of a 26 year old. I’m meeting people from different backgrounds, and because mutual respect is such a core value at RT, we get to know one another in significant ways, doing significant work together. Particular role models include Naomi from the RT core team, [and] Sally, a stalwart and compassionate Community Care leader.”
“In a different way, I’ve also learned a lot from working with refugees from Southwest Asia (Afghan Hazaras) over the past 12 years. Knowing a bit of their lives’ journeys as well as their hard work to make Australia their new home is humbling and inspiring. I have great respect for them, too.”
“I admire people like Bob Brown, for his tireless work for the environment in a clean, non-violent, highly effect[ive] way and politicians like Dr. Mehreen Faruqi (Greens Senator for NSW).”
Joanne is currently focussing on:
- Paddle for the Planet (a Rising Tide event on 14 November) – “an effort to bring as many people as possible to Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle to highlight the climate crisis as COP 31 takes place”
- Trying to find a summer program for two Afghan Hazara sisters (ages 7 & 10)
- Next year’s Rising Tide People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port.
Of her work on Paddle for the Planet, Joanne says:
“I’m going to be a Police Liaison at Paddle for the Planet on Nov 14. I will be shadowing a Greens’ State MP on the day to gain experience. I will be the note-taker and support for the MP, and I expect I will learn a heap as the MP is a lawyer and has done this role at protests many times in the past. I’ve attended a workshop on the role earlier this year, and I’m keen to see how I manage myself in the role.”
Regarding the 2026 Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), Joanne says:
“Our adult son (our only child) went on the … Flotilla this past April, trying to bring food & medicine to the sick and the starving in Gaza. The flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces illegally, twice. I did all the media I was asked to do, spoke publicly, was on Radio National with Fran Kelly, spoke to DFAT and politicians innumerable times, to try to help keep my son and his colleagues safer. I’m proud of that work, especially given how emotionally gruelling that time was, especially when the GSF volunteers were illegally held in Israeli custody, and hurt.”
“Our … son [is] brave, has immense moral clarity, and uses his privilege to help other people and keep the powerful to account.”
On her work with refugees, Joanne says:
“The first Afghan Hazara woman I worked with 12 years ago has since moved to Melbourne, and is living the life she wanted, free and self-determined. Her pre-schoolers and she and her husband are family to me.”
“I helped Fatemeh (then aged 28) when she arrived in Newcastle. I helped her with her limited (but very correct!) English, taught her to drive, and helped her get established on a trajectory to the life she wanted for herself. Fatemeh has a little sister, who at the time was in year 5. I told Fatemeh that public schools always need volunteer help, and that her English would improve faster if she put herself in an English-speaking environment — a school, where the teachers are, was a great place to start. Because she took my advice, she began helping out in a kindergarten class, and 3 months later, the principal told her that the school would be getting some Farsi-speaking kindergarten students the next term, and did she [want] a part-time job? Of course she said yes. She was hired as a full time worker at the school the following year, and because of THAT, when her step-dad tried to buy a house (with a downpayment loaned to him [by] the Afghan community here), the bank said yes, because Fatemeh was employed full time by the Department of Education. Her step-dad had broken English, and was an Uber driver. Banks don’t give mortgages to Uber drivers. Fatemeh’s courage in volunteering at her sister’s school is what [led] to her permanent full-time job and the family owning a home. BOOM!”
On the great benefits of volunteering, Joanne says:
“I’ve volunteered in many roles since I got to Newcastle 30 years ago. I volunteered in the kindy class of my son’s school, was P&C President for 3 years, Canteen Committee member for 7 years, canteen volunteer at his high school for another 7 years, President of his Scout’s troop, worked at The Smith Family’s Operations Centre for nearly 10 years, etc. It’s a privilege to have the time and money (my husband and I are both retired) to do the things I think are important and rewarding. Whatever volunteer position I’ve held for an organisation or an individual, I have received FAR more than I’ve ever given. I feel useful, engaged, and expanded as a person by my experiences as a volunteer. I continue to learn, my social circle continues to get larger at a time in life when many my age find their social circles dwindling, and I get and give love, respect, satisfaction.”
If you like what Joanne has to say and want to support her work, consider joining Rising Tide, which has many volunteering opportunities, attend Paddle for the Planet, or donate to Rising Tide, Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders) for Gaza, or The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
Pictures provided by Joanne.
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