Migration Help
12th November 2009, 03:23 PM
THERE’S a red suitcase on display at the Immigration Museum that holds more than clothes.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:S_B9eVBAEtJ1GM:http://www.oup.com.au/__data/assets/image/0004/181399/Journies.jpg
For Cuc Lam and her husband Minh, it symbolises their journey from war-torn Vietnam to a new life in Australia about 30 years ago.
Their story has been written and illustrated for primary school children in The Red Suitcase (http://www.oup.com.au/primary/learning_exchange/the_little_red_suitcase_and_journeys)
“Many schools invite me to talk about my journey,” said Ms Lam, who was recently elected to the management committee of the Migrant Resource Centre North West Region.
“I love to do that because it is a contribution. I want to share with the community as a refugee what we’ve been through.”
Multiple copies of the book have been purchased by a Hobsons Bay primary school to be used with grades 3 and 4 students next year, as part of a unit on immigration.
Altona Primary School teacher Trisha O’Driscoll said the book would help children understand why people migrated and what hardships they went through.
“It gives it a human face,” Ms O’Driscoll said.
“Studying that book brings it down to a level that children can understand.”
The book tells of how the Lams, disguised as fishermen, left their ravaged country by boat and were rescued days later by the Malaysian Navy before being placed in a refugee camp.
When they learnt they had been accepted into Australia, Ms Lam didn’t want to arrive carrying nothing.
“I sold my wedding ring,” Ms Lam, a former Maribyrnong councillor recalled.
“Luckily it was a diamond, but I didn’t get much. They knew we were refugees so put the price down.
“I bought the red suitcase and a few decent clothes to come to Australia.”
The couple arrived in July 1978. But sadly, not all of Ms Lam’s family made it.
“My sister sent her two children six months later but the boat they were on sank and my niece and nephew drowned,” she said.
“The guilt I feel about my niece and nephew. It brings back a lot of memories.”
They have returned to Vietnam on several occasions and continue to send money to Ms Lam’s sister.
“I went back with my daughter (Carolyn) to show her where we escaped,” she said.
“It has changed a lot since I left. I can’t even remember my village.”
Like hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants, the Lams have overcome many cultural and linguistic barriers over the past three decades.
“The good thing was the freedom,” Ms Lam said.
“At that time I was young, took risks. We had nothing. But you have to manage.”
As well as raising their three children and working, Ms Lam is well-known in Brimbank for her heavy involvement in many community organisations including the Western Region Health Centre, Western English Language School, International Toastmasters and Rotary.
“Australia is my home now. I’m very, very happy to be living here. That’s why I always want to contribute to Australian society.”
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:S_B9eVBAEtJ1GM:http://www.oup.com.au/__data/assets/image/0004/181399/Journies.jpg
For Cuc Lam and her husband Minh, it symbolises their journey from war-torn Vietnam to a new life in Australia about 30 years ago.
Their story has been written and illustrated for primary school children in The Red Suitcase (http://www.oup.com.au/primary/learning_exchange/the_little_red_suitcase_and_journeys)
“Many schools invite me to talk about my journey,” said Ms Lam, who was recently elected to the management committee of the Migrant Resource Centre North West Region.
“I love to do that because it is a contribution. I want to share with the community as a refugee what we’ve been through.”
Multiple copies of the book have been purchased by a Hobsons Bay primary school to be used with grades 3 and 4 students next year, as part of a unit on immigration.
Altona Primary School teacher Trisha O’Driscoll said the book would help children understand why people migrated and what hardships they went through.
“It gives it a human face,” Ms O’Driscoll said.
“Studying that book brings it down to a level that children can understand.”
The book tells of how the Lams, disguised as fishermen, left their ravaged country by boat and were rescued days later by the Malaysian Navy before being placed in a refugee camp.
When they learnt they had been accepted into Australia, Ms Lam didn’t want to arrive carrying nothing.
“I sold my wedding ring,” Ms Lam, a former Maribyrnong councillor recalled.
“Luckily it was a diamond, but I didn’t get much. They knew we were refugees so put the price down.
“I bought the red suitcase and a few decent clothes to come to Australia.”
The couple arrived in July 1978. But sadly, not all of Ms Lam’s family made it.
“My sister sent her two children six months later but the boat they were on sank and my niece and nephew drowned,” she said.
“The guilt I feel about my niece and nephew. It brings back a lot of memories.”
They have returned to Vietnam on several occasions and continue to send money to Ms Lam’s sister.
“I went back with my daughter (Carolyn) to show her where we escaped,” she said.
“It has changed a lot since I left. I can’t even remember my village.”
Like hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants, the Lams have overcome many cultural and linguistic barriers over the past three decades.
“The good thing was the freedom,” Ms Lam said.
“At that time I was young, took risks. We had nothing. But you have to manage.”
As well as raising their three children and working, Ms Lam is well-known in Brimbank for her heavy involvement in many community organisations including the Western Region Health Centre, Western English Language School, International Toastmasters and Rotary.
“Australia is my home now. I’m very, very happy to be living here. That’s why I always want to contribute to Australian society.”