A group of Alstonville residents is stitching a heartfelt welcome ahead of the town’s first refugee arrivals early in the new year.

Volunteers with the Alstonville Community Support Group recently held a sewing bee to begin creating a vibrant, Australian-themed welcome banner.

The group is supported by Northern Rivers for Refugees and hosted the gathering at the Alstonville Anglican Church.

The sewing bee brought together volunteers, sewing machines, and shared purpose as the banner slowly took shape.

“It’s wonderful to volunteer with this group from our small community to help change the lives of two young people and to give them hope,” volunteer Sue Snelgrove said.

The Alstonville Community Support Group is supporting a professional Afghan couple seeking permanent Australian residency under the Talent Beyond Boundaries skilled refugee resettlement program.

As members of the Hazara minority, the couple has experienced persecution since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021.

They were forced to live in exile in Iran before securing an opportunity to rebuild their lives in Australia.

Full-time employment in the Northern Rivers has provided the couple with a vital pathway to safety and stability.

“Our group is committed to meeting the practical and emotional needs of the couple as they settle into Australian life,” group convenor Sue Milne said.

“Our community will be all the richer for their presence, and we invite the people of Alstonville to warmly welcome them.”

The group plans to hold community events in the coming months to coincide with the couple’s arrival.

It is also seeking financial and in-kind support, with the couple expected to arrive with little more than a suitcase.

A growing volunteer network is forming to assist with transport and day-to-day support.

The group is also seeking reasonably priced rental accommodation in Alstonville ahead of the couple’s arrival.

Anyone able to assist can email avillewelcomesrefugees@gmail.com.