Through adversity to the stars

Aircraftman Mausam Ghaley grew up in a refugee camp after fleeing his home country, Bhutan. Fifteen years since settling in Australia, he reflects on his journey, love of education, and call to serve in the ADF.

CAPTION: Aircraftman Mausam Ghaley was born in Bhutan and spent most of his youth in a refugee camp in Nepal before fleeing to Australia with his mother.

His advice? Do good, be good and live life to the fullest.

This is his story as told to Flight Lieutenant Lily Lancaster.

My story begins with the journey of a young refugee boy who fled his home country with his mum, under gunpoint. That boy was me and I officially became part of the ADF family in 2023.

I was born in Bhutan and grew up in a refugee camp.

In the 1990s, more than 100,000 Nepalese-speaking southern Bhutanese people fled the country after being classified as ‘non-national’ under new citizenship laws. I was one of them.

Nepalese textbooks were banned, we were forced to wear a national dress, houses were burnt, and violence and arrests were widespread.

Imagine, what would you do in this situation? My mum made the decision to flee the country. That single decision saved my life.

She had no idea where she was going. She didn’t have enough time to pack essential stuff or luggage to carry. The only thing that stuck in her mind was “she will save me at any cost”, no matter what situation unfolded.

If my mum didn’t make the decision to flee the country during that hostile period then I wouldn’t be here, telling my story. My mum is a brave woman who sacrificed her life to save the life of her little one: me.

I was two years old when my mum and I fled the country. When we first arrived [in the refugee camp], my mum tells me families of five were sharing a 200ml container of rice. I did not get the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life like children born and raised in Western countries.

In camps on the banks of Mia river, Jhapa, in Nepal, Bhutanese refugees were dying in significant numbers due to hunger, dysentery, and a lack of clean drinking water and toilets before humanitarian aid arrived.

Being in a refugee camp was pretty hard. My house was made of bamboo and plastic. I used to wake up and there would be no roof on my house, because it was blown over by the wind.

I never had access to any electricity. Nowadays, most people have access to internet, technology, computers and iPhones. My experience was quite different. I used a chalkboard. I still remember my excitement to hold a pen for the first time!

Every day I had to walk 40 minutes to reach my English school. Every night I used to sit next to a kerosene lamp to study. I spent almost 17 years of my life in a refugee camp.

I have seen hardship and struggle in my life; because of that, I have always valued the importance of education in my life.

More than 100,000 Bhutanese refugees resettled in different countries. I was one of the lucky people to resettle in Australia under a Humanitarian Visa.

Imagine having a place to call home after 17 years.

Having a place to eat, and a place to sleep, there is no way I can describe it. For my family and for myself, Australia is home and has a special place in my heart.

Since arriving with my mum in 2009, I have studied a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business, owned a convenience store, been a union delegate, MBA mentor, volunteered for charities and even been an extra in a Hollywood movie and TV. This country gave me everything.

Now, graduating from the Air Base Protection course is another milestone. I am so excited and proud that I am able to give back to the community. It is an important moment in my life, for my family and me. My mum is so, so proud of me.

On behalf of the Bhutanese community in Australia, I would like to say “thank you Australia” for giving us a second chance.

Serving the country that gave me an identity and dignity is the best decision I have ever made in my life.

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