In October 2016 participants of the Glenroy library conversation club sat down and shared their stories of migration and home. Some were recent arrivals to Australia, while others have been here for many years.
Syamala
Syamala left her home in Bilaspur city, Chhattisgarh state, India to live with her daughter, son-in-law and grandson in Glenroy. There are many differences between Bilaspur and Melbourne, but one of the biggest ones is the clean air here. She spends her days looking after her three year old grandson and doing housework while her daughter studies a Masters of Nursing at Melbourne University.
What does the future hold? “I hope for good children, good health, a good job and a happy life” Syamala says.
Susana
When Susana arrived in Australia from the Philippines in June 1988 she was greeted by a chilly Melbourne winter like she had never experienced before.
At first it was hard coming to a strange city where she didn’t know anyone but her husband, “I was homesick and missed my family and friends” Susana says. The weather and the country so different from her rural village in the Philippines.
Since then she has warmed to her life here, “I enjoy living in Melbourne because it’s a beautiful city, the people are friendly lively and have good hearts. It’s a multicultural city.”
Now retired, Susana loves gardening, enjoys her weekly visit to Glenroy library, and likes to holiday regularly with her husband. When asked about her plans for the future she says simply “my dream is to enjoy life and be happy.”
Ahmad
Ahmad arrived in Melbourne from Lahore, Pakistan in 2014. He notices many differences, both positive and negative, between Australia and Pakistan. The “best thing about my country” Ahmad says, is the “social contract” that exists between parents and their children in which parents pay for and care for their children who are then expected to reciprocate that same care in old age, “fair and square.” Where as in Australia there is a much greater government social security and service provision, which allows for those without family to be equally cared for.
Ahmad keeps busy working on his English and studying online. His goal for the future is to become an Australian citizen, “which will effectively make me a global citizen” given the greater access an Australian passport affords. “This is an awesome prospect” he says with a smile. Ahmad is certainly not planning to stand still, “I want to feel like the world is my oyster by fully taking global technological opportunities and utilizing my high-tech skills for future enhancement.”
Ludmila
Ludmila lives with her son and daughter-in-law in Glenroy. She left her home town of Starokostiantyniv, Ukraine in 2013. “It’s a small city and beautiful place. In summer there are many flowers in the street. People are very friendly” she reminisces. Although she misses her home town and life there, there is much that Ludmila enjoys about Melbourne, “there are so many beautiful parks to enjoy and people are so friendly” she says. Ludmila is currently studying English, and in her spare time she enjoys cooking, gardening and traveling.
As for her plans for the future, Ludmila wishes to enjoy everything life with her family in Melbourne has to offer, and she hopes to one day visit her home country.
Galina
It’s a long way from Vladivostok – on Russia’s Pacific east – to Melbourne. Galina made the journey to Australia in December 2012 to join her daughter and family in Glenroy. “I like the many parks in Melbourne. The people are very friendly” she says. Galina spends her time looking after her grandchildren and attending English classes, and in her spare time she likes to catch up with friends from Russia. “My hopes and dreams for the future are to support my family and teach my grandson Russian” Galina says with a smile.
Rosemary
My name is Rosemary, I migrated from England to Australia in 1963.
I was born in Harrogate, in the north of England. It is quite an old town, near Knaresborough – a market town for a thousand years and more. Harrogate came to prominence and grew with the fashion in the 18th century for ‘taking the waters’ as a way to improve health. By the mid-20th century it was a large and prosperous country town with an unusual range of amenities of the time, including an opera house. It featured as “Brawton” in ‘All Creatures Great and Small’.
Do I miss England? In some way, yes. Although most of my life has been lived in Australia.
What do I enjoy about Melbourne? The range of facilities, the closeness to family and friends, and living where I live, it [Glenroy] is almost like a country town.
I cook, research family history, garden, visit the theatre and galleries as well as spend time with family and friends.
Some of my family live in Melbourne, but my brother’s family live in Sydney and one of my daughters lives in Queensland.
I feel reasonably positive about the future, although I understand some of the difficulties of growing older.
My plan for the future is to live a productive and happy life with an emphasis on community involvement. I might even write and publish my family history!
Bhajau
Bhajau came to Australia from India in July 2013. Hailing from Nurmahal, located in the centre of Punjab in India, Bhajua says “my home city is quite historical and is famous all over the world.”
Bhajua lives with her husband, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and brother in Glenroy. She is busy studying hospitality and working in a restaurant. She says she misses her friends in India sometimes, “but I can talk to them online.” Despite this, there are many things that Bhajau likes about her new life in Melbourne, “firstly, I like the educational opportunities available in Melbourne, and I hope this will provide me better opportunities to find work. Secondly, living and studying here is a great way to improve my English and help me to be more sociable. The people in Melbourne are very friendly.” Bhajua is focussed on creating a better life in Australia.
Elizabeth
Hadfield local Elizabeth remembers fondly her home town of Wroclaw, Poland. “In 2016 it was named the capital for culture in Europe” she says proudly. Being a keen tennis fan Elizabeth enjoys going to the Australian open and has joined the Glenroy tennis club.
“I am a pensioner. I often go into the city. I love the parks, sports stadiums. Sometimes I go bike riding along the river or down the coast. I also enjoy meeting friends at the Polish festival.” Elizabeth says.
As to what the future holds, Elizabeth is unclear, “I took my money from Poland. In the future I might have to find work because Australia is very expensive for foreigners” she says. However, despite the uncertainty Elizabeth is full of hopes for what life could hold. “I would like to travel around Australia and the world. I would like to live a few more years in Australia and then perhaps go back to Poland. I often dream about a small house on the coast as I love the water and swimming.”
Marina
Marina left her home of Moscow, Russia, in 2014. “Moscow is a very delightful city. There are lots of beautiful buildings, churches, art galleries, parks. In ancient times it was called golden-domed Moscow because of the many churches. Several parks in Moscow are UNESCO listed.” She misses this about Moscow, but she doesn’t miss the politics.
Marina loves the “lively and friendly” people in Melbourne and enjoys living in Pascoe Vale with her husband and daughter. She is currently attending English classes and wants to do volunteer work once she feels her English is good enough. For Marina her future is in Australia, “my dreams are to become an Australian citizen and see my daughter go to university” she says.