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‘Your story is our story’
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Museum’s Welcome Wall becomes the National Monument to Migration
On Sunday 21 March, Harmony Day, the status of the museum’s Welcome Wall was elevated to that of the National Monument to Migration, reports Steve Riethoff.
THE NATIONAL MONUMENT TO MIGRATION commemorates those who have migrated from countries around the world to make Australia their new home. The name of any person who was born overseas and settled in Australia may be registered on the monument.
In a recorded address to those attending the latest ceremony unveiling new names on the monument, the Governor General of Australia, His Excellency, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC, stated: A little over 22 years ago, former Governor-General Sir William Deane presided over the official opening of the Welcome Wall in front of you today. During his speech Sir William described Australia as follows: ‘Our nation is the sum of us all – all those who came here, all those who were born here, and all those who are or have been Australian.’ Sir William said the great lesson of the Welcome Wall is that ‘our diversity has led to our unity.’ I agree with him.
01 Arriving in Sydney from Kenya in 1999, Rosemary Kariuki is the 2021 Australian of the Year Local Hero. All images Jamie Williams/ANMM 02 Film producer Electra Maniakakis (left) was proud to see her family’s name inscribed into Australia’s National Monument to Migration.
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That lesson is as true today as it was more than two decades ago. That lesson has endured. It is fitting, therefore, that in Harmony Week – a week in which we celebrate our diversity – that the status of the Welcome Wall be elevated to ‘Australia’s National Monument to Migration’. Let me take my reflections on Sir William’s words further, especially his statement that ‘Our diversity has led to our unity’. In my view, there is a key link between ‘diversity’ and ‘unity’ that underlies our success as a multicultural nation. It is ‘learning’. It is through learning that we become better informed and better understand people’s cultures and our differences. ‘Learning’ is written all over Australia’s National Monument to Migration. It resides in the stories of the 846 names being added to this Monument today – indeed in the stories of all migrant Australians. Stories that are integral to the Australian success story. They will be read, they will be digested and they will become topics of conversations – informed discussions … In sharing our migration stories, you have helped create an important national resource for generations to come …This resource will make for a more inclusive, respectful, harmonious and stronger Australia – something we should all aspire to. The monument features more than 30,000 names and behind each name is a story. There are stories that are dramatic, stories that are tragic, and stories that just tell of a desire for a new start. Each name signifies one main emotion – that of hope.
On Harmony Day the museum unveiled 846 new names on the wall. Kevin Sumption PSM, Director and CEO of the museum, said: The Welcome Wall honours the migrants who have helped shape our nation and, collectively, their stories speak to who we are as a nation. It is a celebration of multicultural Australia. We are so pleased that the wall has been recognised and elevated to a National Monument here in Pyrmont Bay, so close to the site of many arrivals to this country. We are so grateful to our donors to the Migration Heritage Fund which supports our migration activities. It is a beautiful way to mark and honour those really hard decisions to start a new life in Australia.
All donors are invited to contribute a brief story about the person being honoured and a brief biographical note is published on the museum’s website. The museum is amassing a selection of stories from these names – stories that, in turn, tell the story of modern Australia. Speaking at the event were a number of people being honoured on the monument. Violi Calvert, Ashak Nathwani and Electra Manikakis all shared stories of their families’ journeys as new Australians. The invited audience also enjoyed a wonderful story from Rosemary Kariuki, the Australian of the Year Local Hero for 2021.
On Sunday 21 March, following the announcement of the National Monument to Migration, the museum celebrated Harmony Day with The Sunday Stir, a celebration of multicultural Australia through story, song and dance. The museum collaborated with Blacktown Arts and visitors enjoyed more than 30 different artists sharing their experiences.
The museum is now accepting names for the next panels on the monument and has announced a new fundraising initiative to support the honouring of new arrivals and refugees. To add a name, visit sea.museum/nationalmonument
Postponed your international travels?
It has been a difficult year for everyone worldwide. In Australia, our lives have been disrupted and international travel plans put on hold. Travel allows us to see new places, meet new people and share their stories. At the museum, we showcase the most interesting maritime stories from around the world. Help us bring these stories closer to home.
You can donate to the museum via our website sea.museum/support/ donate or call the Foundation office on 02 9298 3777. Donations over $2 are tax deductible and by donating prior to 30 June, you can include your receipt in this year’s tax return. To tide us over until we can travel again, we have created an online display of travel posters called Sea the World, which you can view at bit.ly/sea-the-world
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