diverse times

Following the return from our family holiday to Greece in 1976, my mind often wandered. I tried to comprehend what it would have been like for the immigrants back in the 1950’s and 1960’s leaving behind their loved ones in the hopes of an improved lifestyle in Australia.

My parents provided my siblings and I a childhood filled with an abundance of love. We had everything we could ask for – guidance, security and family. Being so fortunate and thankful for the comforts during my childhood made my thoughts veer to the migrants less fortunate – leaving everything they knew behind in the hopes of an improved lifestyle in a new country.

Most migrants (such as my parents) did not have their parents near by, nor were able to see each other for many years. In the very beginning there were no phones and the only means of communication was through letters, which usually took a good month to arrive. Imagine the anticiaption of parent’s back home in Greece waiting to hear from their children that had migrated … to hear their voices, to be reassured they were safe? It made me think of the families left behind in Greece. What went through their minds? How did they move forward? Would they ever see their dear children again?

Though as courageous as the Greek race is, these people did move forward … there was no other way. This is the answer I received when conversing with the elderly in the village, when I returned as an adult. The ones that were left behind were also left with profound pain. They went on to say, they carried with them an aching heart hoping and praying their children that immigrated had made the right decision and in turn would live fullfilled lives. Life was for living, the villagers were often heard saying and this is what they intended to do. The same mindset had fallen upon the migrants towards their new lives in Australia.

Families supported each other, friends helped each other, no questions asked. My parents missed out on sharing so many milestones with their own parents – their marriages, the birth of their children and so on. However many new friendships were formed, distant family stayed close and together they leant on each other.

And in saying this, they were the pioneers of their time – leaving behind incredible stories of integrity and courage. Stories our generation and the generations to come are priveleged to discover.