Public lecture: WA Museum – Albany

More than one third of all Western Australians were born overseas, arriving in Western Australia from 1829 onwards as migrants, child migrants, displaced persons, asylum seekers and refugees.

Western Australian Museum Associate Dr Nonja Peters, who arrived from Holland in August 1949, has been involved in the story of migration for many years, reminding us that were those who arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs and a burning need to start over.

As part of the second year of the Harry Butler Lecture Series: In the Wild West, Dr Peters, who is also the director of Curtin University’s Migration, Ethnicity, Refugees and Citizenship Unit, will give two talks on migration to WA between 1829 and 1972.

Dr Peters said that apart from Aboriginal Western Australians, the rest of us come from modern migrant stock.

“Migrants helped make Western Australia what it is today through their contributions to the social, cultural, economic and political development of this State,” she said.

“My lecture will look at the expectation migration sets up in all those involved - governments, migrants and the mainstream community into which newcomers are to be absorbed,” she said.

“Often the reality is very different.”

Her work focuses on forced and voluntary migration and Dr Peters will also touch on some of the issues she covered in We Came by Sea which was published to coincide with the launch of the final stage of the migrant Welcome Walls at the Western Australian Museum – Albany.

The Walls are a tribute to migrants who arrived through the Albany area to make a new life in Australia and WA.

The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West is proudly presented by the WA Museum in partnership with Chevron Australia. The series showcases the work of Museum scientists, curators and associates in the areas of natural and social sciences.

LECTURE: Migration to Western Australia 1829-1972: Expectation versus reality
WHEN: 7:00pm, Thursday 19 May 2011 and 2.00pm, Friday 20 May 2011
WHERE: Western Australian Museum – Albany, Residency Road, Albany
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: 9841 4844 or online at www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest
COST: By gold coin donation.

Flora Perrella, Western Australian Museum T: 9212 3856 M: 0424 027 646