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Bid to Keep Junee Sporting Figure in Australia Has Community Rally Behind Young Diesel Player

Jese Wainibuli has quickly become a part of the Junee Community since his arrival, working in Junee and playing with the Junee Diesels as well as helping out in other areas of Junee sport. He now needs the community’s help to remain in Australia as his visa approaches its expiration. 

Jese is of Fijian descent and has a natural talent both on and off the field. He has been a key player for the Junee Diesels and he has remained passionate. Jese has made a life in Junee with a job and a partner. 

Jese’s current Visa will expire on May 2025 and without the time or money, a GoFundMe has been created to promote the cause. It was organised by Simone Leatham, who spoke to the Junee Independent.

 “Jese’s Visa that he is currently on expires in May next year. He has formed a close relationship with my daughter and we went to go and see an Immigration lawyer in Griffith and for him to stay he can apply for a Visa which he can get with the help of my daughter, but will cost about $12,500,” she said. 

“He plays for the Junee Diesels and has for about two years now.

“Obviously people don’thave that sort of money just lying around, so I thought why not try a Go-FundMe page and we are doing a garage sale at the Monster Garage Sale in Junee this weekend and whatever we get will go into the fund as well.”

So far, they have raised $220 from the Go-FundMe at the time of writing. 

“The hardest thing we are working against is time as like going for passport or the like it takes quite awhile. That’s the thing we are up against at the moment is trying to get the funds as soon as possible so that we can put the application through.

“He is a lovely young Fijian man and I might sound biased from my end, but he’s always willing to lend a hand and he’s decided that he wanted to be more involved in the netball side of things with Junee Netball Club and he’s now a committee member and he’s playing in one of our social indoor teams. He’s a really good young man and going back to Fiji would be a backward step as much as he loves his home.

“I know not everyone has money themselves because of the times we are living in and I totally get it, but if we could get people to share it as it only takes one person to share it to ten and so on and so on, and if one person gives $5 it will help immensely.” 

Jese is currently working at the Commercial Hoteli n Junee. 

“I had someone come into my work and she wanted to remain anonymous and knows that I work at the Shell Servo and said I saw your GoFund Me page and that young man actually delivered my food the other night from the Commercial Hotel and she said he was lovely and didn’t want to embarrass him and she gave me $20 and said she wasn’t big on Internet and a lot of people aren’t when it comes to stuff on there, and could I put it towards the fund.

“That was just someone coming forward just from him delivering food and realising he is a lovely young man.

“Anything helps. If anyone can help just spread the word or donate. It would be greatly appreciated.” 

You can find the Go-FundMe here:https://www.gofundme.com/f/jese-to-stay-in-junee-for-family-league

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