A Syrian refugee dreaming of becoming a professional pianist has thanked the Australian Government for his new life.
At the Mural Hall in Parliament House, Mark Antonio Bonja lived out a moment he had only dreamed off.
He was the headline performance for World Refugee Day, to an audience including the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.
Mark tells SBS World News his debut was a world away from the war his family left behind.
“This means a lot to me. I've been waiting a long time for this day, ever since I was invited to play,” he said in Arabic.
“To be honest I am very happy right now. Canberra. It's is a dream for anyone to come to Canberra like this. I thank the Australian government, because it is helping us. It is helping out the Syrian refugees a lot."
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'Terrorist blew up my piano'
Mark Bonja is from the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo, and fled to Lebanon in 2014 for two years.
His family now live in Australia on humanitarian visas. He says terrorists bombed his old piano, and for two years he was unable to play a note. But his passion never waned.
“Particularly with the shellings and bombings, and people dying, of course it's hard for others to understand,” Mark Bonja said.
“But if I describe what happened more, then they can understand more."
Mark's debut prompted his fellow Sydney refugees to take a bus to Canberra in support. More than 60 families, including Bashar Issa and Rim Fahad, arrived in the morning.
Rim Fahad said sharing in Mark Bonja's success gives them hope for their future lives in Australia.
“Of course, the conditions are very beautiful here, especially for the kids. And as long as you have tenacity, you can continue on in this country and reach your goals."
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, centre, poses with members of the Yazidi community during World Refugee Day celebrations. (SBS News) Source: SBS News/Omar Dabbagh
“That's the main point here, that you can, at any moment, find and follow whatever you want. Whatever you dream to do, whether study or work,” agreed her husband, Bashar Issa.
Along with his performance, Mark Bonja was asked to deliver a speech. Despite being conscious about his language ability, he surprised everyone delivering it in English.
"It wasn't just people who died in the war. The dreams of many people died too. I was one of these people,” he said in English.
“Terrorist blew up my piano; we were nearly killed many times."
A Yazidi presence
Also sharing their stories in Canberra were members of the Yazidi community newly resettled in Wagga Wagga.
Refugee Shireen Arab Ali Mato explains many of her relatives were killed or trafficked by the so-called Islamic State. She said Australia has given her hope.
"I feel like a human again in Australia,” she told SBS World News in her native Kumanji.
“I thank the government. They respect us, they invite us to live here, and I feel very grateful to be able to share my story."
In his address, Peter Dutton told the audience he was grateful to hear Shireen and Mark's stories.
Wagga Wagga's Yazidi children's choir performs at Mural Hall in Parliament House, Canberra, for World Refugee Day. (SBS News) Source: SBS News/Omar Dabbagh
"The various communities represented here today, and around the country otherwise who have made Australia their new home, should be rightly proud,” Minister Dutton said.
“The smiling faces of the children are a testament to your resilience and your determination to build a successful new life."
Mark hopes to win a music scholarship to continue his studies. But for now, he says he is just enjoying the moment, and appreciating the support from his family and community.
"Of course they have motivated me greatly, not only to come here, but to relax and enjoy this moment,” Mark Bonja said.
“To be honest I don't know what's next. But I'm very pumped for what's next."
