3 minute read
National Monument to Migration
A day of ceremony and celebration
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The latest names added to the museum’s National Monument to Migration represent migrants from more than 70 countries. Each name tells its own unique story, and each story is one of hope. By Pamela Proestos.
… being here today brings to mind for me the important message that no matter what our origins, our history as the children of migrants, who may have even fought on opposing sides in World War II, we can come together here in Australia, recognise and value both our similarities and our differences, and build a safe, inclusive and nurturing community for all.
Associate Professor Phillip Braslins, son of Latvian immigrant Ilgonis Gunars Braslins, speaking at the 2.30pm unveiling ceremony
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01 From left: Emmanuel Alfieris, President, Kytherian Association; Madilina Tresca, NMM donor, from the Italian community; Mahbobi Rawi OAM, Afghan community; Christine Castley, CEO of museum partner Multicultural Australia; Stephen Coutts, Australian National Maritime Museum Councillor; Virginia Langeberg, SBS presenter; Daina Fletcher, Senior Executive, Australian National Maritime Museum; Craig Madden, Gadigal Bundjalung man. Image Marinco Kojdanovski 02 Singer Tina Bangel and guitarist Nono from the Filipino community performed during the ceremonies. Image Marinco Kojdanovski
SUNDAY 20 MARCH MARKED A MILESTONE for the museum’s National Monument to Migration. In an emotional day of ceremony, we welcomed migrants and families of migrants and unveiled new panels honouring 1,281 names. In three ceremonies held during the day, Gadigal Bundjalung man Craig Madden presented a formal Welcome to Country for all attendees. He was followed by speakers and performers from diverse communities, representing layers and waves of migration over the past 234 years. Their fascinating stories of hope, courage and resilience emanated from 73 countries.
Last year, the National Monument to Migration was formally renamed by the Governor General, affirming the museum’s Welcome Wall (as it was formerly known) as a nationally significant landmark. It honours those thousands of migrants who arrived in Australia to build new homes and new lives. Each year, more names are inscribed on the bronze-panelled wall that faces the waters of Darling Harbour and Pyrmont Bay to the museum’s north – waters which once welcomed migrant shipping arrivals. The monument features more than 30,000 names from over 200 countries – including, this year, people from Afghanistan, Gabon, Sierra Leone and Somalia. The top ten countries represented in the three ceremonies held on 20 March were the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, South Africa, Ireland, the Philippines and Latvia. At the 12.30 pm ceremony, Australian National Maritime Foundation Director Simon Chan said:
The experiences and names inscribed on the monument speak of universal themes such as love, adventure, family, safety and striving for a better life. Some are journeys of loss and sadness, some of triumph but, ultimately, all speak of hope … We are grateful to our donors to the Migration Heritage Fund, which supports the museum’s ongoing commitment to telling the nation’s migration story.
Immortalise a loved one or honour your community Donors are invited to contribute photographs and a brief story about the person being honoured for the monument website. The museum is now accepting names for the next panels for the monument to be unveiled in October this year (see details below). CEOs from museum partners Settlement Services International and Multicultural Australia, who have been working with the museum on this nationally significant project, spoke about the importance of the initiative as well as their personal migration histories. A special collaboration with these organisations calls for donations to honour new migrants to this country, which is important to the national migration story. The museum also announced that it has been working closely with the Greek community on a special fundraiser to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence and to honour the contribution of Greek Australians in building our nation. To contribute to this initiative, please see sea.museum/ Greek-campaign.
To be part of the next panel to commemorate the lives of your family and community, please donate by 30 June at sea.museum/support/national-monument or call Pamela Proestos, manager of the National Monument to Migration, on 02 8241 8337.
