“After 11 years in Australia, I don’t know how you could send them back." 

- Uniting Church minister Darren Lovell

Keli and Mere Ravula have called Murray Bridge home for over 10 years. The couple fled Fiji in 2011, five years after a military coup, and settled in South Australia. To the disbelief of the community, they have just been told that their appeal to the Federal Court for permanent visas has been rejected. 

The couple fear they will face imprisonment or torture if the Department of Home Affairs deports them to Fiji in the coming weeks.

We, the Murray Bridge Uniting Church community, are calling on the Immigration Minister to intervene and grant Keli and Mere permanent visas.

Before they fled to Australia, Mere Ravula was a lay preacher in the Fijian Methodist Church. He also worked for the government as a prison guard. After the 2006 coup, the Methodist Church loudly opposed the new military regime and a number of Mr Ravula's Church colleagues were taken away to police stations or military camps. 

Mr Ravula spoke out to try and stop the imprisonment and mistreatment of Methodist Church members. The guards where he worked became suspicious, and warned Mere to stay silent.

Today, the man who led the coup is still in government and Keli and Mere have said they will not feel safe if they return to Fiji.

Their final option is to seek the intervention of the Minister of Immigration, Andrew Giles, to grant them a visa to remain within our community.

Keli and Mere are beloved by their community, and have been actively involved in church and community life. Now, in full employment, they are working in positions which many Australians refuse to take up. They are much appreciated and respected within their working environments and community.

Please sign the petition to stand in solidarity with Keli and Mere Ravula. They have given so much to their community and it is our turn to give back to them.

Thank you