migration museum

Last week I found myself wandering through the Immigration Museum. It wasn’t something I intended to do, the amazing grandness of the building sucked me in and I was so glad it did, it far exceeded my expectations.

The exhibit was incredibly moving. It offered an insight to experiences I could never fully understand.

 I recently conducted a two day style and confidence workshop for an amazing group of women who have sought refuge in Australia. I’m so lucky to be a part of their journey in becoming independent, confidant and empowered women.

Immigrants have had an incredible impact on shaping Australia. Just look at the Coles Myer Group.  I discovered the founders were two Jewish brothers who faced exactly what today’s migrants experience. The business was originally comprised of door to door sales of buttons and fabric ...'not every one welcomed a Jewish hawker" . 

The challenges immigrants face are mind blowing. Leaving behind your family and friends, your job, everything you know and trust. Going to a country that speaks a different language, facing isolation, racism and the unknown, all for a chance of equal opportunity.

I was born here. I don’t feel  being born here gives anyone the entitlement to say who can come and who cannot , being born here simply means you’re lucky.

Ricardo Knitwear -
A Melbourne based  company  founded
by Polish migrant; Richard Charlupski
 who arrived in Au. in 1950 . He established his
business 8 yrs later.The company
was largely reliant on Italian migrants as Charlupski
believed they were the best in the industry.

Old fashioned life jacket in an immigration ship
display. (I'm not sure what year the set up was based on but
it was very eye opening. They had a horrific medical kit complete with
hack saw! Another eye opener was the toilet,
which was more like a wooden box with a hole on top; complete with sound effects)   

Simcha and Elcon Baevski
Founders of Myer