September 2024

From the city of canals to driving the Snowys

"My dad, Renato Brinis, migrated to Australia from Italy in 1952 in search of a better life."- Loredana Brinis

For Renato Brinis, coming to Australia was a means of finding employment to send money home to his family and to build a bright future for himself.

Like many, he began his Australian journey at the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre, arriving in March 1952.

After two weeks at Bonegilla, Renato took the first job he was offered, however it involved driving … coming from Venice, the city of canals, there were no cars to learn how to drive! Renato embraced the opportunity and quickly taught himself.

And so began his Australian journey.

Read more [[link removed]] about Renato’s story, written by his daughter Loredana Brinis.

📷 Family album of Loredana Brinis

First job in Australia With his family as a child [middle, sailors outfit] Newcastle beach, Australia Surfers Paradise, Australia with his wife RENATO'S STORY [[link removed]] Arrival by train

"They said everybody out and there was a big bonfire and a few buses."

Read Gyõrgy Bànsàg's amazing recount of growing up in Hungary, surviving Stalingrad and taking any chance he could for a better life [[link removed]] ►

The Pearman's journey

A young expanding family, it was 1960 when Len and Violet decided to emmigrate from Malta to Australia. After a brief stay at Bonegilla, immigration laws at the time meant that Len had to secure a job before his family could follow him to Sydney. Read the Pearman family story [[link removed]] ►

Spring school holiday fun

Saturday, September 21 to Sunday, October 13

Open 10am to 4pm daily

Get the family together and spring into the past at Bonegilla Migrant Experience, with loads of fun, exploration and discovery these school holidays.

Step into the shoes of a migrant and take part in immersive experiences and hands-on activities the whole family can enjoy.

Drop-in gardening sessions; Paper quilling workshops (bookings required); Scavenger hunt; Look and find; Traditional games; Guided tours; and, Low sensory session, plus much more!

Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the historic grounds or pick up some freshly made scones from our Welcome Centre to enjoy for morning or afternoon tea.

SPRING IN [[link removed]] Writing a memoir

Saturday, September 14, 12pm

Join author Nova Weetman during this special Write Around the Murray workshop. In our historic surrounds, Nova will share her professional tips on how to capture your most important stories [[link removed]] ►

Bookings open soon

October 6 to October 15

Seniors, celebrate with a program of vibrant and exciting events including paper quilling, drop-in gardening sessions, guided tours and more. Bookings open Monday, September 16, take a peek [[link removed]] ►

The Arc memorial sculpture

We are delighted to share that The Arc memorial sculpture has been extended, with the installation of two new walls, providing space for additional commerative plaques.

All plaques featured on the temporary garden wall have made their way to their new home.

The Arc memorial sculpture commemorates the individuals and families who arrived at Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre between 1947 and 1971.

Engraved plaques are available to purchase anytime for inclusion in the sculpture, and can include your family name, given names and place of origin.

Cost: $243 per plaque

Order by Friday, October 11 if you would like your plaque in place before Christmas, as it may take up to eight weeks for installation.

ORDER ONINE [[link removed]] Trove for family history

Are you trying to piece together your family history and their life after Bonegilla? If you’re unsure where their journey led them afterwards, Trove is a great [[link removed]] resource to explore [[link removed]] ►

Arolsen Archives

For many families, finding a link to Bonegilla sparks an investigation of family history. For displaced persons who were living in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, England and the Western occupation zones of Germany, there may be a few more answers. Explore the Arolsen Archives [[link removed]] ►

Now open, new Virtual Volunteer roles

Connect remotely and volunteer from home

Our Virtual Volunteers will contribute to ongoing projects which support preservation, education and research at Bonegilla Migrant Experience, beginning with our first large project, ID card transcription.

Thanks to a grant, we are able to digitise the National Archives ID Card Collection, however some pieces of the puzzle in making them more accessible are still missing.

As part of this role, we will enlist your assistance to format these cards that will allow us to answer common questons such as:

How long did people stay at Bonegilla? How many children came through the centre? What do the employment codes mean?

To register your interest as a Virtual Volunteer please email [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]?subject=Virtual%20Volunteer%20-%20Bonegilla%20Migrant%20Experience].

Are you local to Albury Wodonga? Join us onsite at our volunteer morning tea on Friday, October 4 at 10 am.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST [mailto:[email protected]?subject=I'm%20interested%20in%20the%20Virtual%20Volunteer%20role] Access Bonegilla history, online

About to launch, the new online database includes a digitised Bonegilla Collection and past images from the site. Search Albury LibraryMuseum's database [[link removed]] ►

Save the date to Discover Bonegilla

Saturday, November 16

Mark your calendar, and keep on eye on our socials [[link removed]] as we get ready to unveil this exciting event. Prepare for a day of migrant history with panel discussions, authour talks, guided tours, talks and more.

Upcoming guided tours

Step back in time and join us on a guided tour as you learn about the fascinating history of the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre.

Explore the original camp buildings, hear shared stories and truly walk in the shoes of the 320,000 migrants who made this their first Australian home.

Guided tours depart from our Welcome Centre at 11am on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday each week until the end of October with additional guided tours scheduled for:

September

Friday, September 6, 11am Saturday, September 14, 2pm Friday, September 27, 11am Monday, September 23, 11am

October

Monday October 7, 11am Thursday, October 10, 11am Monday, October 28, 11am

SEE WHAT'S ON [[link removed]] We'd love your feedback

Have you recently visited us at Bonegilla Migrant Experience? Feedback is always welcome. The information you provide helps us better what we do every day. Complete the quick survey [[link removed]] ►

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is general and is not offered as a complete or definitive statement of the relevant facts. Third party comments and information do not necessarily reflect the position of Wodonga Council and are provided only as a matter of interest, we therefore take no responsibility for the accuracy of third party material.

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