During May 2023, we presented a new exhibition at the Visitor Information Centre for SA History Month. The stories of migrants and refugees were brought to life through storytelling and portraiture. The stories led the listener on journeys from one place to another. You can still enjoy these stories on this webpage. We thank the project participants for sharing their histories with us.

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  Abigail Chambers

  Migrated from Sierra Leone, arrived Cairns, Australia, 2004
  
  “I’m here in Australia and I am free. I have the opportunity to do anything”…“to make me be a better person in this country”.
  
  Abigail and her family left Sierra Leone due to civil war. They left behind many family members that they never saw again. Prior to the war Abigail was a seamstress and her husband was a Tailor, and they owned their own business. They spent seven years in a refugee camp in Ghana before coming to Australia. Life was uncertain and often they were in danger. Abigail had a difficult time when she first came to Australia because she had to start all over again. Abigail’s family lost all their family photographs and important documents during their journey. When Abigail was eventually able to return to Sierra Leone, she was unable to recognise her own brother because she had been gone for so long and he was so young when they fled.

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  Ana Stone

  Migrated, father from Hungary( father, mother from Romania) arrived Adelaide, Australia, 1949
  
  One Australia day, Ana’s mum was celebrating and remarked “I don’t know why I love this flag”, Ana asked “Is it because you’re Australian?” She said “Yeah, I think so.”
  
  Ana’s parents came to Australia with Ana’s brother following World War Two, knowing nothing about the country. Ana was born in Australia shortly after. They arrived at the old Woodside army camp. They always dreamed of returning home. Ana’s mother returned to Hungary, but her father never did. Ana’s father got work at General Motors Holden at Woodville and returned on weekends to Woodside. They ended up building a home in Croydon Park in 1950 with leftover wood from shipping crates used to export cars.
  
  

• 

  Fong Ung

  Migrated from China, arrived Australia, 1979
  
  “I call Australia my home, because really, this is my home”.
  
  Fong’s family lived in Macau when it was under Portuguese rule. Being Chinese, and not knowing the language, they were treated as second class citizens at that time. Fong’s family left Macau when Macau and Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule and a change in government followed. She found Australia really quiet when she arrived. Not knowing the language, Fong’s parents opened a Chinese restaurant to survive. Fong has worked with the Chinese community in Australia for over twenty years and helps other families to adjust. Fong believes that her life would be very different had her family remained in Macau and it is unlikely she would have completed high school. Fong is now a Social Worker.

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  Halimi Raslan

  Migrated from Lebanon, arrived Australia, 1951
  
  Leaving Lebanon Halimi’s uncle said “Keep everybody proud, and keep your head up, and may God look after you on your journey.”
  
  Halimi left Lebanon to come to Australia in 1951. Halimi came to Australia without any of her family and married her husband in Australia at a relative’s home. Halimi and her husband first lived in a rented house in Beverley when she arrived in Australia. The Lebanese community was very small in Adelaide at that time but many of her family and friends came to welcome her to Adelaide. Halimi and her husband opened a delicatessen in St.Vincent Street in Port Adelaide.

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  Kim Lien Dang

  Migrated from Vietnam, arrived Adelaide, Australia, 1978
  
  “We were very happy to stay in Australia. Thank you, Australia.”
  
  Lien and her family fled by boat to Malaysia following the outbreak of civil war in Vietnam. Lien’s husband was a Magistrate before being sent to a re-education camp in Vietnam where he spent three years. They left with two small children, the clothes on their back and a small bag. The journey was dangerous as pirates followed their boat with guns. Lien’s brother and her sister-in-law also fled, but unfortunately were separated, with men placed on one boat and women on the other. All the men were killed by pirates and their possessions stolen. Lien felt sad when she arrived in Australia at the Pennington Hostel because she had nothing, but she was glad to be in a free country and still alive. Lien’s husband became a Die Caster and lost his eye in a factory accident.
  

• 

  Linda Fluhart

  Migrated from Borneo, arrived Darwin, Australia, 1945
  
  “I have a sense of freedom because I know. I was put away during the war and frightened and now I’m free and I enjoy every minute of my life.”
  
  Linda’s mother was Filipino and her father was English and worked for Shell Oil company in Borneo. He was responsible for closing the plant. He was also an ambulance driver during the World War Two. When Linda was ten, her father was taken from his home by Japanese forces, kept as a Prisoner Of War and later beheaded. Linda’s mother was a Nurse during the war but later suffered a nervous breakdown. Linda was very excited to come to Australia with her family to be safe. Linda and her family arrived at a refugee camp in Darwin. They moved to Sydney and Linda was placed in a convent in Sydney while her mother worked. Linda later met her husband in the United States. Linda was told by many countries that her father had no resting place but searched and eventually found it. She helps others to find their loved ones lost to war.

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  Maria Crismale

  Migrated from Venezuela, arrived Australia, 1972
  
  “When I finally got in the car and I started driving, I felt as if the wing had grown on me. I felt free”.
  
  Following World War Two Maria’s father emigrated to Venezuela when she was three years old to find work to support the family. Maria’s mother, and brother followed nine years later. Maria and her sister lived apart from their parents with nuns for two years and were finally able to see their father after 11 years. In Venezuela, Maria’s father was a Brick Layer. Later in her life, Maria met her husband through correspondence he sent from Australia. After a year he came to Venezuela to marry her. Maria had dreams that she could speak English and learnt as soon as she could. Maria left for Australia not long after. Maria was unhappy when she first arrived in Australia but being able to sew made her feel happier.
  
  

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  Naqib Hakim

  Migrated from Afghanistan, arrived Australia, 2014
  
  “The Junction Community has so much love for people, care”
  
  Naqib came with family following the withdrawal of Australian forces from Afghanistan. Naqib was a local Afghan working with the Australian Government. He worries about family overseas and that they may be in danger. Naqib can’t return to Afghanistan as he would be persecuted. He is happy to be safe but misses Afghanistan, his village, and his immediate family who he hasn’t seen in nearly ten years. He hopes his family can join him in Australia. Naqib was worried that he wouldn’t be able to practice his culture and religion once he came to Australia. Naqib works at the hospital and volunteers.

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  Rateb Al Khalil

  Migrated from Syria, arrived Australia, 2016
  
  “All my family love Australia, and we respect Australia, we love Australian people.”
  
  Rateb and his family left Syria for Lebanon in 2011 when the Syrian war started as it was very unsafe. Rateb had no work and the economy in Lebanon had collapsed. Rateb was a Plumber before he left Syria. Rateb thought Australia was a very big country and he was a little unsure, but he soon became comfortable with his new life. He now feels like a newborn, and he loves Australia. He especially likes that he has the opportunity to vote. Rateb is training to become a Driving Instructor and is studying English. Rateb recently lost many family members during the Syrian earthquake and is raising money to help.

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  Shelley Nieuwenhuizen

  Migrated from England, arrived Australia, 1968
  
  “I considered myself free when I was there. I consider myself free being here”. “There’s a lot of other cultures that freedom is a big, big, big part of coming to Australia”… “I do realise just how lucky I am.”
  
  Shelley came to Australia with her family from Lancashire, England as Ten Pound Poms. The Australian Government wanted to increase the population with skilled workers from overseas. Shelley and her siblings were only able to bring one toy when they left England, and they left their family behind. They had very little money when they arrived at the Pennington Hostel, but her father found work as a Painter and Decorator, and they managed to find a house and buy some second-hand furniture. Shelley considers herself very fortunate to live in Australia.

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  Walentyna Grant

  Migrated from Germany, arrived Australia, 1958
  
  “I was allowed to express myself”….”I didn’t have to be ashamed, to be proud of what I am and I was proud to be in Australia. I love Australia.”….“I thank God for coming to a lucky country.”
  
  Walentyna was born in Poland, but her family had to flee due to the persecution of Polish people during World War Two. Walentyna and her Auntie walked for days to find a new place to live. They slept in bunkers and school halls and eventually settled in a small village in Germany, before later moving to a hostel until they could come to Australia. Walentyna’s mother was killed by German forces during the war, and she became separated from her father but was later reunited. Walentyna started work at Actil when her family made it to Adelaide. She met her husband a year after coming to Australia and he changed the family name to Grant to make it easier. She loved to sing in the choir.
  

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  Yoli Diaz

  Migrated from Venezuela, arrived Australia, 2021
  
  “A lot of Australian people make you feel comfortable, and they celebrate where you come from and that makes us feel really good.”
  
  Yoli had leave her son behind in Venezuala and go to Trinidad due to the political dictatorship and for economic reasons. They couldn’t get easy access to food and medicine in Venezuala. Yoli was able to reunite with her son after more than a year but in Trinidad but they were treated as illegal and persecuted by Trinidad’s police and government. While in Trinidad, their life was at risk and Yoli had to work 10 hours a day as a cleaner to survive. Prior to leaving Venezuela, Yoli was a Kindergarten Teacher. When they arrived in Australia, people were very welcoming and friendly, but it was a struggle with no family around for support.