Advocate, guardian angel and adopted mother all in day’s work for Wendy Charles’

WENDY Charles has become a guardian angel and adopted mother to a struggling refugee couple that came into her life by complete chance.

Point Cook woman Wendy Charles has been helping two refugee families who had to flee their counties of origin due to the threat of death for marrying outside their ethnic groups. Ms Charles put out a call for help for any household items, food, clothing and anything else which would help her two struggling families and became an advocate for the families as they hunted for jobs and homes. She's been nominated for the Commuity Spirit Medal in the Pride of Australia awards. Wendy is pictured with Thusyanthi Umrah Danushka and her son, Shalone Agiyouth Coulton, 22 months. They are one of the family's Wendy helped. Picture: Sarah Matray

A STRUGGLING refugee couple came into Wendy Charles’ life by complete chance.

But now she’s become their advocate, guardian angel and even their adopted mother.

The Point Cook woman met Thusy Umesh Danushka and her husband, Umesh Danushka Coulton, in April 2013 — just months after they had arrived in Australia on a boat from Sri Lanka.

The pair had been forced to flee their home after receiving death threats for marrying outside their ethnic groups — Thusy, a Tamil, then aged 18, was in serious danger because she had wed 28-year-old Umesh, who is Sinhalese.

When the couple arrived in Australian waters, they were transferred to Christmas Island before landing in a community detention flat in Sunshine. It was here they met Ms Charles, whose friend, Monica, lived next door.

Thusy gave birth to a son, Shalone, a few months later and it was then Ms Charles began helping the couple, who at the time were not allowed to work because they were deemed to be in detention.

“There was a need to find pushers, high chairs, cots, nappies,” the 65-year-old said.

“Since then, I’ve continued the process of treating them like part of the family and making sure they have everything they need.”

This need for help grew desperate when the young couple were granted bridging visas in May and told they had two weeks to vacate their fully furnished government flat.

Ms Charles helped them find a rental home and put out a call for donations of household items, food and clothing.

Ms Charles’ selfless efforts have seen her nominated for the Community Spirit Medal in the Pride of Australia awards.