Paddington Bear finds a home on Christmas Island

Charleen Morris

Paddington Bear – a refugee with a label – arrived in London from deepest, darkest Peru with nothing but the clothes on his back. He was a stowaway, someone that shouldn’t have been there. But Mrs. Brown accepted Paddington as a member of her family and took him home. The Christmas Island Shire council commissioned Paddington Bear as a timely reminder of humanity in recognition of the migrant history of its residents and all the asylum seeker boats that have reached the island. Upon completion of the mural, children have taken to sitting in front of Paddington to talk with acceptance to him, ignoring those differences that exist amongst all people (and bears). But as Paddington says, “that means anyone can fit in.” Story- Jake Combe Photographs- Charleen Morris