OCTOBER 19 will be a special day for Swan Hill resident Tahera Jaffari.
It will mark eight years since she moved to the region from her home country of Afghanistan.
Tahera’s husband Zakir first came to Australia in 2001 as a refugee.
Living in a detention centre meant he was not able to contact Tahera for eight months.
“I remember he called his friend and he told me he was safe,” Tahera said.
“He said he would call at the same time the next day, so we went there and we just were waiting and waiting for his call.”
After living in Australia for sometime and gaining a visa, Zakir was able to sponsor his wife and their two children — Razia, now 17, and Sabira, 15.
The family moved to Swan Hill where Zakir found farm work and Tahera was able to find a job at Swan Hill North Primary School working with other migrant families.
“My friend was doing that job, but then she got pregnant and said I should do it,” Tahera said. “But I couldn’t speak much English, so I wasn’t too sure about it. I went [to the school] but they said it would be good.”
Tahera worked as a translator and mentored children.
“[The school] said to just help the children like I help mine,” she said.
Tahera enjoyed her job and also began learning English at SuniTafe.
However, funding for the role ended and it was no longer available.
Since moving to Australia, Zakir and Tahera have welcomed another two children, Sima, seven, and Souhayla who is seven months.
Sima’s birth was a milestone for the Swan Hill community. She was one of the first children to be born to parents who had moved to the region as part of a settlement program which has seen Swan Hill provide help to those who have come to Australia as refugees.
“They had a party for her in the park, it was really nice,” Jaffira said,
“There was also another baby that was born near the same time.
“Everyone here is very nice.
“There are lot of people working to help others.
“They are very nice and very special.
“They have a really soft heart, they have helped us a lot and that’s why I really like Swan Hill.”
Tahera said she felt safe in Swan Hill and was looking forward to the future.
Her eldest daughter, Razia, now in Year 12, hopes to study nursing.
