IT'S a story that the nation may look back on with shame, and it's one that many people are loath to comment on, but musician Mel Laughton is wearing her heart and opinions on her sleeve by recording an original piece of music about the plight of the refugees.
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"It's a story of a mother and baby who have no choice but to get on a boat and take a chance on a foreign shore, only to be rejected on arrival," she said.
Ms Laughton will be joining forces with Orange violinist Andrew Baker and the Orange Cantar Choir to produce a song that she said will be a powerful song, with a powerful message.
"I'm an ex journalist and now an English teacher at Orange Anglican Grammar so my songwriting process is mainly putting the words I write to music,” Ms Laughton said.
"Andrew and the choir have really helped to fill out the sound of the song, to make real what I hear in my head."
Describing herself as anything but a political activist, the song, titled Rescue is the only social justice song to be recorded on the album.
"It's a complex issue but there's got to be a better way. I have been involved with music for a long time. I wanted to do something good with my music. I just want to show a compassionate perspective.
"It breaks my heart when I hear stories about these people who, through no fault of theirs, are forced from their homes with no other choice but to take a chance on the lucky country. And it saddens me when they are sent to regional processing centres, such as Nauru, simply to wait for a long time, in extreme conditions, with no guarantee of being granted asylum."
Ms Laughton will be recording the song in late February at Queens Road Studio in Lawson, with the mastering being completed at Dotted Eight Studio in Orange. The album is due to be released in July.
Excerpt from 'Rescue'
Babe in your arms, the swell underneath you
A flimsy capsule, all you’ve poured into
To risk everything for a small chance of freedom
Turned away at the expectant door
We need love, we need love
Think for a moment if it was you
Fear and oppression is all you knew
You played your hand on a foreign shore
But the material world closes its door
We need love, we need love
It’s time to change history all people are equal
Created the same just in a different location
Think for a moment if it was you
What would you do?
