The Collectors
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Friday 16 November 2007
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Why would anyone travel across the world with an empty suitcase? This week Niccole visits the Victorian Immigration Museum to find out.
Immigration, in one form or another, is central to Australia’s history over the past 220 years. The Immigration Museum represents the varied experiences of those who arrived here and made Australia home. There are detailed accounts of immigrants from 19th century colonial migration through to the stories of more recent refugees from war zones in Africa, Asia and Europe.
Niccole tells us the story of Lam who arrived in Australia from Vietnam in 1978 carrying nothing but a small red suitcase which she bought for the trip by selling her wedding ring. Lam didn’t want to arrive in Australia empty handed…even though the suitcase she was carrying was empty.
Masumi Jackson came from Japan in 1985. She too didn’t bring many possessions with her. She says the most important items were books to help her understand the English language and Australian culture. She also carried traditional Kimonos and fans, and tea set and sewing sets. Masumi keeps her Japanese culture alive and introduces people to aspects of the culture by making Shimotsuma, or traditional Japanese dolls.
The Museum also highlights the many ways in which the Australian identity has been formed and developed by the melding of so many cultures and also how our nation continues to enjoy these cross cultural influences. The objects in the Museum are incredibly diverse and the stories that they tell are fascinating and moving.
