By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
WITH heads bowed and their hands held aloft before their sombre faces, the elderly women prayed.
Such was the scene on Tuesday morning as the Hampton Park Turkish Seniors Group spared a thought for the people of Soma, Turkey, where officials say a coal mine explosion has claimed the lives of 301 people and caused widespread grief.
Hampton Park Turkish Seniors Group president Kim Hasan said the group had spared much more than a single thought for the town of Soma since the mine exploded on 13 May.
“It’s a disaster, we’ve all been very sympathetic towards them for a week, we’ve all been upset about it,” she said.
“They’re very sad, every week we pray altogether.
“Every week we play music but because of what happened we don’t put music on.
“It’s so sad, all week they’ve (Turkish seniors) been crying and they’ve been going to the mosque.
“At the mosque they don’t talk about anything else but this.”
Ms Hasan said the Turkish seniors will help their “cousins” in Soma in any way they can, with plans already formulating to send both money and clothes to Soma.
“If we need to we’re going to. We’re all Turkish and we’ll be glad to help,” she said.
“They can’t afford much because they’re seniors but whatever they can.”
At the time of the mine explosion, which is still under investigation, 787 people were reportedly trapped underground before rescue operations got underway, while there are claims that the death toll is higher than 340.
“We’re here in Australia but our hearts are with them,” Ms Hasan said.
“Everybody here and there wants this thing not to repeat itself.
“It’s just like here, we had mine disasters, it will happen, it’s mines, but you can prevent it.”
Between 50 and 60 seniors attend the Hampton Park Turkish Seniors Group gathering every week, which is held at the Hallam Senior Citizens Centre.
For more information contact Ms Hasan on 9702 7787.
