Mystery as charity-loving British grandmother is going through deportation
- Mary Ellis left London in 1981 on ‘everlasting visas’ along with her accomplice Martin Ellis
- But Home Affairs declare she entered nation thrice underneath totally different names
A charity-loving British grandmother is going through deportation from Australia after officers advised her she had been illegally residing within the nation for greater than 4 many years.
Mary Ellis, 74, says she was advised by her now deceased accomplice Martin Ellis that they had everlasting visas after they left London in 1981 to begin a brand new life within the picturesque Northern Rivers area in New South Wales.
But the Home Affairs division claims she entered the nation thrice underneath a distinct identify and the person she entered the nation with was in reality referred to as Trevor Warren.
She has lived peacefully in Australia for greater than 40 years the place she has a son, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren and is seen as native hero for her charity and volunteering work for The Salvation Army.
The grandmother mentioned ‘no one mentioned something’ about her visa along with her standing going unquestioned throughout her time working in hospitality and for the NSW Government for 30 years.
Mary Ellis, 74, left London for Australia on the age of 31 in 1981 and has since created a life for herself in New South Wale’s picturesque Northern Rivers area
Australia’s Home Affairs division claims Mary did go away Australia underneath totally different aliases in February of 1983 and didn’t return till November of 1986
The Good Samaritan now could also be pressured to return to the UK regardless of having an Australian driver’s licence, a Medicare card and a pension card.
She was awarded the distinguished NSW Volunteer of the Year in 2023 for her work for Agape Outreach, which supplies sizzling meals for the homeless.
‘This is my residence, I like Australia,’ a teary Mary advised A Current Affair on Monday.
The pensioner was requested to go to the Brisbane workplace, the place she was advised she had been residing in Australia illegally for greater than 4 many years.
‘She is aware of not a soul over there [in England], not a soul,’ migration agent Stanley Schneider mentioned.
‘She’s all the time paid her taxes, she hasn’t even had a dashing ticket, she’s by no means infringed something, she’s by no means offended anybody.’
Mr Schneider, who helps Mary professional bono, mentioned the pensioner qualifies as an ‘absorbed particular person’ underneath the Migration Act 1958.
To be recognised for an absorbed particular person visa, a non-citizen should have been in Australia from April 2, 1984, and have by no means left the nation on or after that date.
She was awarded the distinguished NSW Volunteer of the Year in 2023 for her work for Agape Outreach, who present sizzling meals to these in want
Mary says she has by no means left Australia, not even for a vacation, since 1981.
However, Home Affairs claims Mary entered Australia thrice underneath a distinct alias, and was in a foreign country between February 1983 and November 1986.
The division mentioned in a letter that they imagine the actual id of the now-deceased man she was in a de facto relationship with on the time, Martin Ellis, was truly Trevor Warren.
‘As you weren’t in Australia on 02/04/1984, you aren’t thought of an absorbed particular person and don’t maintain an Absorbed Persons Visa,’ the letter states.
However, Mary insists that is ‘incorrect’ and says she does not know why Home Affairs believes she has left and re-entered Australia underneath totally different aliases.
She has paperwork she claims show she was in Australia at these instances, together with a job reference from a restaurant in Tasmania.
It states Mary labored there from 1983 to 1986 as a waitress and cashier.
A profitable Medicare enrolment letter signed by the then-Minister of Health, Neal Blewett, can be getting used to argue Mary’s case.
Mr Schneider says she wouldn’t have been despatched the letter if she had not been residing in Australia on the time.
‘Mary Ellis is a good particular person, an individual we needs to be completely thrilled to have in Australia, and he or she’s an Australian, let’s face it,’ he mentioned.
