This story was shared by poet and Indian Australian author Lakshmi Kanchi. Lakshmi’s story is about how her newfound sense of belonging in the Perth wetlands came under threat during the Roe 8 highway development proposal. This story was recorded at the Joondalup Reception Centre in September 2023 and made possible with funding from the Australia Communities Foundation.

Lakshmi has also shared her story in Hindi. You can listen to the Hindi interpretation of her story on the Centre for Stories website.

For more information about Hear Our Voice and listen to other stories, go to www.centreforstories.com.