By CASEY NEILL
GREATER Dandenong needs to lead the way in addressing the Syrian refugee crisis, says Councillor Roz Blades.
She urged anyone with spare rooms or bungalows to open their doors to those in need.
“Greater Dandenong’s got to be the council that puts up its hand with the suggestion,” she said.
“We’re a refugee city. We’re a world in a city.”
Cr Blades said the image of Syrian toddler Alan Kurdi lying dead on a Turkish beach had brought her to tears.
“We have to be the start of a movement that’s going to do something so that this doesn’t happen to other children,” she said.
“I can’t be a part of humanity and not do something about this.
“I felt like he was my little boy.
“It’s had a terrible impact on people.”
Cr Blades is urging organisations and individuals with ideas on how to help to come forward.
She said people had built a life in Greater Dandenong after travelling to Australia by boat.
“That’s something this kid will never have, this family will never have,” she said.
“This is a world problem. I’m losing sleep.
“Those children have to have died for something.”
