Thank you Peter Dutton

December 8, 2017 by J-Wire Newsdesk
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Despite the shocking situation on Manus Island, Peter Dutton, Minister for Immigration and Border Control, has given clearance for the Music for Refugees organisation to send three cartons of music instruments to the detainees at Nauru.

“Refugees and asylum seekers have enormous stress and music is a great reliever” said Philip Feinstein, Jewish manager of the Music for Refugees organisation. Destined for Nauru are the following instruments: One large keyboard, One large xylophone, 4 x adult guitars, 2 x child guitars, 2 x ukuleles, 2 x clarinets, 2 x violins, 2 x recorders, sheet music. Once on the island the Department of Education and Recreation will be distributing the instruments to the refugees and asylum seekers.

 

Philip Feinstein

Music for Refugees has been giving music instruments to refugees and asylum seekers throughout Australia for the past nine years. The principal of the organisation has also conducted jam sessions and music lessons for refugees incarcerated at Villawood Detention Centre and other refugee centres for many years. They accept donated instruments from the public and have them repaired when necessary. “Many of the instruments arrive in poor condition, so we fund the repairing of them” said Feinstein, a musician and former refugees himself.

Although the conditions at Nauru are not nearly as bad as Manus Island, Feinstein decided to write directly to Peter Dutton with the hope of securing a positive result. “I was pleasantly surprised at the quick response” he said. “In my letter to him I pointed out that music played will bring about a positive response and enormous release from the mundane and boring existence on the island.”

The new managing organisation Canstruct, responsible for the shipping of goods to Nauru, has also been given clearance by the Department of Immigration and Border Control to deliver this consignment at no cost to Music for Refugees.
The pick-up will be today or tomorrow.

Philip Feinstein does not get involved in the political side of the things and has stated that he prefers to concentrate on the small picture, i.e. the refugees themselves.
Minister Dutton’s office has stated that he ‘appreciated the time you have taken to bring this matter to his attention’.

Feinstein intends to focus his attention on the detainees at Manus Island once the Nauru consignment is on its way.

Comments

4 Responses to “Thank you Peter Dutton”
  1. Harold Zwier says:

    The caption to the picture should say Philip Feinstein (not Weinstein).

  2. Michael Burd says:

    Maybe the Syrian , Iraqi , Afghani & Palestinian refugees can learn to play “oh Jerusalem”

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