Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott spoke with Syrian and Iraqi refugees he helped relocate to Australia

A former Prime Minister has listened to stories of survival and resilience from a community he helped escape war-torn countries, in a recent visit to Toowoomba. Details here.

Syrian and Iraqi refugees residing in Toowoomba have had a chance to thank the man who made their relocation possible.

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott met with more than 20 refugees, many of whom are now Australian citizens, who fled their countries through his government’s agreement to resettle 12,000 refugees.

Gracia Khouri, 19, and her family were among thousands who have since called Australia home.

“Even if we have the bombs and shootings and a lot of miserable things, still, I love Syria,” she said.

“The rest of my cousins, friends, grandmother are still there.”

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS: Syrian-born Gracia Khouri hopes to work in the Australian Army as a nurse.

Ms Khouri was 15 when her family fled Syria before living in Iraq for a year waiting for a potential visa to Australia.

Ms Khouri is now studying nursing at USQ with the hopes of joining the Australian Army.

“(For) women, it is really hard to study, it’s not acceptable,” she said.

“In Syria, women are not allowed to go into the army, so when I saw that, I wanted to try that out.

“They helped us to come here, so I wanted to do something in return.”

Yosef Roumieh works as a translator across Toowoomba, but was once a pharmacist in Syria.

“In 2011, I was the owner for four drug stores, me and my brother were business partners, and I lost three of them,” he said.

“I closed the fourth one before escaping my country. The other three were destroyed.

“As a Syrian, we say the most important thing in your life is the health.

“If your health is good, money goes and business goes, but health is more important, especially mental health.”

GRATITUDE: Members of Aus Harmony were thrilled to welcome Groom Member Garth Hamilton and Former PM Tony Abbott to Toowoomba.

Mr Roumieh said he and others were grateful to Mr Abbott for allowing them to move to Australia.

“It was really a pleasure and honour to meet him today,” Ms Khouri said.

Mr Abbott said he was moved by the stories of destruction and hope.

“It's a very gratifying to see people who came to Australia from very troubled places under my governments programs have settled in so well, and are so grateful for all of the benefits for living in Australia,'” he said.

“I am absolutely confident that these people will be wonderful Australian citizens and make a great contribution to this country.”