Myanmar refugees find new life in Australian farming town

A small group of Myanmar refugees of the Karen people have found a new life and been warmly welcomed in a remote Australian town.

Eight refugees found a new home in the Western Australian town of Katanning in southwest Western Australia seven years ago.

The seven men and one woman migrated to Australia from refugee camps in Thailand.

The group eventually settled in Katanning and found work at the local abattoir, which employed non-English speaking migrants, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday.

"They are people who want to work. They don't want to be on government handouts," said local Jean Phillips who helped them learn English and is their friend.

"Working is part of their ethic. They work hard, they are very honest people, and bringing up their children to have good manners, be respectful of older people and to be good neighbors," she said. Endi