Family escapes war-torn country

Scott McKenzie, Northside Chronicle.

Sept 5, 2005 — SIMILAR to any parent, Baska Loki wants her children to have a good future.

She believes living in Australia will give her family that chance.

Mrs Loki and her family nine children and her mother-in-law have called Hendra home since December 2004.

The Loki family came to Australia from Sudan via Egypt, where Baska’s husband remains.

“The children miss their father very much, but we are very happy here,” Mrs Loki said.

“There is a big difference between our life here and our life in Sudan.”

Mrs Loki was forced to leave war-torn Sudan, where she was accused of collaborating with foreigners against the Government.

She was working with the church to help displaced Sudanese, mainly from the south of the country.

“Most people who belong to the church are foreigners or white people,” Mrs Loki said.

The Loki family fled to Egypt in 2003 to escape the government’s retribution in the country split by civil war.

Mrs Loki said her family settled in Hendra because some of her relatives lived in the area.

She praised residents and organisations for helping to make life in a new country easier.

“We get lots of support from the local community, for which we are grateful,” Mrs Loki said.

Mrs Loki and her mother-in-law are taking English lessons to better communicate with friends in the area and their congregration, the Hendra Catholic Church.