The mother and daughter who captured Wagga’s heart has thanked the community for its support over their bid to stay in the city.
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Angela Aseka and her seven-year-old daughter, Esperanca, will leave the city next week on the midnight train bound for Sydney, and will fly out of the country on Wednesday night.
A month-long campaign to try to convince the federal government to reconsider its hard-line stance was in vain.
Angela is at peace with the decision but remains hopeful she will return to Wagga in the future.
“I've enjoyed the journey and I'm happy to go back home to see my family, to reunite with my family and see what God has for me down there and I know that one day I'll come back,” Angela said.
“I'm grateful for the entire community for their support, for their petitions, and I'm blessed to have a beautiful church where I go and I'm forever grateful.
“I cannot thank the community enough … they did a good job and I’m proud of them.”
While Angela is excited to move back to her native Kenya, she said she wanted to come back to the city that welcomed her with open arms.
“I love the community, the togetherness,” she said.
“God willing, I will apply to come back.”
Close friend Matilda Lamin, who opened her doors to Angela and Esperanca for a place to stay in the pair’s final weeks in Wagga, said it was sad to see her “sister” go.
“Heartbroken,” Matilda said. “When I found out about the problem I decided to help as a Christian.”
Maltilda said Angela had turned the situation into a positive.
“She really wants to see her mum (who she hasn’t seen in seven years),” she said.
“She needed a break, but I believe she’ll be back.
“She’s just a lovely lady and they are beautiful people.”
Matilda said she would keep in contact with Angela.
The Kenya native arrived in Australia in 2003 with a study visa to take a nursing course at the Canberra Institute of Technology.
She later became an assistant in nursing in Wagga, but also garnered the government’s attention when her educational visa expired.
A community petition to keep the pair in Australia garnered close to 1000 signatures, but their voices fell on deaf ears.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton refused to intervene in the matter, forcing Border Protection to issue Ms Aseka her final marching orders.
Her recent employer Loreto Home of Compassion is holding a farewell on Friday night for Angela and Esperanca at the Rules Club.
Her church and the multicultural council have also organised a farewell service at Mount Austin Public School from 9.30am to 11.30am.