Grandmas pack bags for US-bound refugees

Hundreds of Victorian grandmothers will rally in Melbourne to call for the speedy transfer of refugee children and families from Nauru to safe settlement in the United States.

The federal government last month announced a "one-off" deal with outgoing US president Barack Obama which aims to get refugees out of the detention camps on Nauru and Manus.

Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children will ceremonially present travel backpacks with warm winter clothing for the 150-plus children expected to be sent from a southern hemisphere summer to the North American winter at the rally at noon on Saturday.