: Tuesday, 23 October 2018
Yellow and Blue Wiggles join #KidsOffNauru call
High-profile members of the children’s music group sensation The Wiggles – Anthony and Emma - have taken a stand to urge our political leaders to free refugee kids and their families from their island prison of Nauru.
Both have added their voice via video on tour in Canada calling for Australian politicians to “work together and get all the kids off Nauru (so) we could really celebrate Universal Children’s Day”, on November 20.
Anthony Field is a founding member of the four-person group, which has entertained Australian children for almost two decades. Emma Watkins is The Wiggle’s first female.
“It’s a day when the whole world celebrates children and their right to live in safety, go to school, to grow and play and achieve their dreams for the future,” Emma said.
“Some of them were born there. They’ve spent their whole lives trapped and without hope of a better future.”
Anthony said it was time for a change, so that the children could have a safe place to play, learn and grow, as all kids deserves.
“We sing and dance with millions of children all over the world who have those opportunities - but there are more than 100 children trapped in detention on Nauru who don’t have this freedom,” Anthony said.
More than 130,000 ordinary Australians and more than 300 organisations have joined the call and signed up to the Kids Off Nauru campaign, launched in August. There are now 53 children remaining on the island.
Anthony and Emma, who are also Welcome to Australia ambassadors, join the list of high-profile Australians supporting the campaign - including actors Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Danielle Cormack, band Gang of Youths, musician Mick Harvey, comedians Judith Lucy, Tom Ballard and Lehmo, and authors Anna Kent, Zana Fraillon and Danny Katz.
