The full story

Worthwhile Enterprise: The Migrant Hostel in Springvale records the history of the hostel and the impact it made on the surrounding community of Springvale as well as on Victoria’s broader multicultural landscape. The exhibition was developed by former residents and workers at the migrant centre in collaboration with the Immigration Museum and featured personal stories from migrants at the hostel.

The following is an edited account of the recollections of two couples who arrived at Enterprise with their children in August 1973. They had left the security of their families, friends, social structure, jobs and homes, leaving England to begin a new life in Australia.

The couples have requested to remain anonymous. They are concerned that their empathy for the enormous adjustments many people had to make may be misinterpreted. They say,

’Our recollections are just that, memories of our time at the hostel. Comments about the difficulties faced by certain ethnic groups are not to be taken as derogatory or racial in any manner whatsoever, they are factual and record the enormous adjustments some people had to overcome.’

Initial reactions and social adjustments
  • It was noticed how dirty the house windows appeared to be. We had not seen fly-screens in England and soon found that, not only did the screens keep out the flies, they obviously darkened the windows!
  • Many missed the English pub, the regular market or the local coffee shop. A new social framework had to be explored and adopted.
  • There were Turkish mothers who were devastated when provided with white sheets for their baby’s cot – these poor women thought that they were being provided with shrouds.
  • Others washed their babies in the toilets, until word went round as to their proper purpose.
  • The prevalence of flies also required considerable adjustment. Which was worse having flies on you or spraying yourself with the foul-smelling fly repellent?
  • Making friends wasn’t difficult – disentangling oneself from ill-chosen acquaintances was infinitely more of a problem!
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Your stories

There are 2 stories. Add yours
Posted on 06 Jun 2009 by Irena Dana Stumbras nee Kryzius from Torquay Victoria
I arrived on the 24th May 1949 as a refugee child from worn torn Europe. The family spent almost 4 years in refugee camps in Germany. The Immigration Minister Mr Caldwell came to the camps and decided that we would be welcome in Australia. We were called the beautiful "Balts". After 60 years in Australia I can look back and be grateful that my parents decided to travel to an unknown country, and even though life was not easy, due to a two year contact that my father had to complete and only after more camp life in Bonegilla, Cowra, Somers that the family was reunited.
Posted on 22 May 2009 by Ramnik from Rowville
Good neighbours:God's blessing I have quiet pleasent memories of my neighbours and friends who helped us a lot in setting up a new life in Melbourne. It is not easy to come to a different country leaving job,comforts and family support behind. I cannot forget those days when our caring neighbours assisted us in all ways they could do from their side.Our neighbours understood us at the time when we were struggling for jobs.Transportation was arranged to deliver comfortable couch,dining table and cupboards from their friends(a good example of networking) to organise our life in a new house.Not even this ,they were always ready to provide us lift by their own car and to take care of my daughter during before and after school hours. It is almost two years now and we are well settled and adjusted in the multicultural society.I am still in touch with them and extend my heartfelt wishes and thanks to them. I wish every migrant should have understanding,caring and loving neighbours around them to get relief from stress and other pressures of a new life.

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