Family finds peace in new home

Frank and Elizabeth Amean with their children (clockwise from top) Amalda, Bamien, Oretta, Jeremiah and Emmanuel.

THEIR new Ipswich home is a shell in need of renovation but, for the Amean family, it is a safe haven.

Frank and Elizabeth, with their six children, fled Papua New Guinea four years ago.

A “payback” tradition in the Enga province of the PNG Highlands put their lives at risk.

“They (tribesmen) killed one of Frank's cousins in September 2004,” Mrs Amean said.

“They shot a young girl who was in a bus in town. Everyone lives in fear of them. They targeted Frank and the kids.

“At that time, I asked that my family could come down to Australia. I came here in 2003, as a student of e-commerce at the UQ Ipswich campus.”

The family entered Australia under a humanitarian protection visa and are in the process of gaining citizenship.

Habitat for Humanity chairman Trevor Foote said the Ameans were among 21 applicants who expressed interest in the home partnership scheme at a meeting 18 months ago.

“This year, they've come to the top of the list,” he said.

“Their current housing is inadequate.

“They will repay the loan at no more than 25 per cent of their income, and also put in 500 hours of ‘sweat equity'.

“It's an old house so it needs quite a lot of work.”

The renovation of the Habitat home at Eastern Heights should be finished by the end of September.

Mr Foote said a working bee would be held every Saturday until then. Last Saturday, volunteers cleaned up the garden and painting will start this weekend.

The dedication and sod-turning ceremony at 58 Lloyd George Street will be held next Sunday, July 25, at 2.30pm.

Security fencing will not surround the Ameans' home, as it did in PNG.

Mrs Amean says the family feels privileged and thankful for the support they've been given.

“We can live in peace here,” added her husband.

If you can help with the Habitat for Humanity project, phone 3812 7889 or 3281 5050.