One of our most inspirational refugees has echoed calls for more government departments in Blacktown.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Deng Adut was conscripted as a soldier at age six and went to war at age 10, where he was shot in the back before he fled South Sudan.
He’s now co-founder and partner of AC Law Group.
Around 500 government and private sector leaders heard his story at the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue’s Out There Summit in Parramatta on Friday.
I believe that the people of western Sydney are vital to our economy.
- Deng Adut at the Out There Summit on Friday
“In 2006, I was working the night shift BP service station in Blacktown at Sunnyholt Road when I was held up by a man with a gun,” Mr Adut told the crowd.
“I didn’t see him as a criminal but as somebody who had job, was probably using drugs and was desperate to make a quick buck. I wasn’t threatened by him because I could see this in his eyes.’’
He spoke about the need for social justice advocates.
‘’In common purpose there is strength,’’ he said.
‘’You can encourage others to join in.’’
Mr Adut believes western Sydney can do better if the leaders visited the region more often and encouraged investors to invest west.
“There’s an opportunity to invest in educational and creative infrastructure to make sure the west doesn’t get left behind, especially Blacktown,’’ he told the Sun.
“We need more government departments so people can get jobs there. We’re the biggest LGA in Sydney.’’
It comes as Blacktown continues to miss out on the relocation of government departments to Parramatta, Penrith and Liverpool.
The latest snub was in December when Blacktown lost its bid for the NSW education department to Parramatta.
‘’The government is making mistakes,’’ Mr Adut said.
‘’They need to develop Blacktown and make sure it’s looked after.’’
He’s proud of the west.
‘’It’s where I grew up,’’ Mr Adut said.
‘’The best thing for others out west to do is to lead their communities and don’t neglect it. They need to make sure they stand by it.’’
Mr Adut was presented with a $5000 Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue donation for the families of three Sudanese women killed in a crash in Marayong.
It will go towards setting a trust fund for the nine children who lost their mothers.
“This is wonderful as it will go towards helping the families,’’ he said.
‘’They aren’t coping well at the moment. A child without its mother isn’t a child.’’