Where did I get this information?

from: Half a world away, viewed April 29 2012, http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/halfaworldaway/ journeytotheend.shtml Title of site, date viewed, URL

Copied text Australia was not generally the first choice of destination for many migrants, simply because not much, if anything, was known about the country. However, despite rigorous security and medical checks, it was often quicker and easier for migrants to find a passage to Australia than to the United States or Canada. So desperate were many of them to leave behind bad memories of wartime Europe and years living in limbo in camps, they took a chance on forging a new life on the other side of the earth. Notes keywords Not first choice Not much known Often quicker and easier Desperate to start new life

Information sentences Australia was not always the first choice of the country that migrants wanted to move to but it was often easier to get to then other countries, like America. When they were desperate to get away the quickest way of leaving and starting a new life suited them best. Historical Recount Journal entry

Mum didnt really want to migrate to Australia because she knew nothing about that country. It was so far away, all we knew from the books we had read was that it was hot and they had strange animals. However it was easier to get permission to go there and Mum was desperate to get her little family to a safe place.

Where did I get this information?

from: Half a world away, viewed April 29 2012,

http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/halfaworldaway/ journeytotheend.shtml Title of site, date viewed, URL

Copied text The first ships to take migrants from Europe to Australia were often former cargo or troopships hastily converted for the migrant trade. Between 1947 and 1952, dozens of ships carried displaced people, accommodating them in large segregated cabins or dormitories and offering only basic facilities. When the International Refugee Organisation (IRO) agreement ended in 1952 and the last of the displaced people had emigrated, ships carrying economic migrants tended to be of a higher standard. While the early migrant ships sailing from Europe to Australia were far from luxurious, for many people it was an adventure never to be forgotten. On board the ships there was some attempt to prepare the migrants for their new life in Australia, with English lessons and films.

The Fairsea was huge, a converted troop ship with no cabins, just huge big open spaces with triple decked bunks, so cramped you couldn't sit up straight in them. Men were

assigned to one section, women to the other. The toilet and shower facilities were one huge long one, and everywhere you went there was an awful reek of 'White King'. People threw up because of the smell not just the swell! Frank Kriesl migrated from Hungary in 1951. From http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/websitesmini/journeys-australia/1940s60s/ships-1940s70s/

Notes keywords
Cargo or troopships big open spaces Large segregated cabins/dormitories men and women separated Basic facilities Toilet and showers smells used bleach to clean Far from luxurious English lessons and films

Taken from: http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/belongings/dr exler/

Travel and arriving in Australia Australia on the SS Partizanka in early 1948. It was easier to get into Australia than America and we had family there. I was nine years old. Before boarding the boat, we went through Prague for two days and my mother wanted to replace her silver Sabbath candlesticks. She also bought this vase. We boarded the boat at Split (Croatia). It was a Communist ship and every time we came to a port, we werent allowed to get off the ship. No reasons were given. This didnt bother us as we could still enjoy the more exotic places like Colombo and Aden. The local traders on their small boats would come up to the ship selling various gifts and fruit. They would set up a line and attach baskets and send the items up to the ship. I also remember going through the Suez Canal; it was very exciting for a nine year old. There were other Holocaust survivors on the ship but we were a minority as there was still a very tight quota on Jewish migrants to Australia. Other migrants on the ship included

lively people from Yugoslavia, Greece and various other countries. My mother found a foreign language dictionary and taught me how to say thank you, goodbye and hello in English. These were the only English words I knew when I landed. It was very exciting to arrive at the Overseas Terminal in Sydney. My aunt met us at the dock. Whilst we were waiting for our luggage to be offloaded, she took me for a walk and bought me an ice cream. We lived with my aunt and uncle in their small apartment for the first year. They didnt have children and my uncle didnt speak Slovak, only German and English. These relatives used virtually their whole savings to sponsor our migration. It cost them over 150. My mother had to repay them and had to work many extra hours to do this as she was earning just 4 a week at her daily job. I was the only refugee boy in my primary school. I felt like quite an oddity there. I remember walking to school on the first few days with my mother several metres behind me, out of embarrassment. The boys were friendly and I know I learnt English very quickly. Travel and Arriving Easier to get there Werent allowed off ship Local traders bought food to ship Overseas terminal Sydney

Meet by aunt Lucky lived with aunt & uncle Mother worked to pay sponsorship School odd one out Friendly Learnt English quickly