THE storm clouds that brewed over Ali Ramazani's hand car wash business in Wagga this week were a far cry from the ones he lived under in his native Afghanistan.
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Ali found life dangerous as a member of the Hazara people and a Shia muslim in central Afghanistan.
"Some parts of Afghanistan life is very bad; it's not safe," Ali said.
"One kilometre is the difference between life and death."
While Australia struggles to deal with people from places such as Afghanistan and Iran doing desperate things to reach our shores, father-of-three Ali is a positive side of the story.
He came to Australia three years ago, has studied English at TAFE and four months ago opened the Star hand car wash and detailing service in Dobney Avenue with partner, Amini.
Two of his sons, 12-year-old Motaza and seven-year-old Omid, go to Tolland Public School and he has a third boy, one-year-old Navid, with his wife Fatima.
Ali is putting his 25 years of experience washing cars and cleaning windows into making a success of his new life in Australia.
"I like Australia, I like the people, the safety here and my job," Ali said.
"I am happy, very happy."
