The New Australians - Migration to WA

Over the years, since the beginning of colonisation, millions have come to make Australia their home. As any migrant will tell you it is a heart-wrenching experience moving from a familiar world to one of almost complete unknowns. With transport costs being sky-high and limited space in your baggage the question is ‘what can I bring with me’. The articles in the case in front of you all belong to Dr Nonja Peters. Nonja came from the Netherlands, with her family, in 1949, when she was just five years old. After World War II, with many people having lost their home and, tragically, family members, there was a huge flow of people out of Europe seeking a new life in a new land. Nonja’s parents decided that they should emigrate to Australia as they hoped for a better life here. Nonja’s mother had to choose what would go and what would have to be left behind. She packed the essentials, such as clothes and shoes, and some of their most important possessions, such as her cherished silver spoons, but there was no room for the children’s toys. On the other hand, she brought books so that her children could be entertained and maintain their first language, Dutch. So, what would you pack into a single trunk if you had to leave your original home forever?