Matthias Fillip
| Town/City | KINGS MEADOWS |
|---|---|
| First name | Matthias |
| Last name | Fillip |
| Country of Origin | Austria |
| Date of Birth | 28/03/13 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1954 |
| Submitted by | Elisabeth Williams |
Story
I am relating this on behalf of my father who died in 1993. My parents wanted to make a better life for themselves and me, their daughter.
We arrived on one of the ships in which the sleeping arrangements were large bunk rooms and husbands and wives were separated. The journey seemed endless as excitement about our arrival mounted. When we crossed the equator the celebrations were enjoyed by everyone and we knew that we did not have much longer before we arrived in our new country.
We arrived at Bonegilla migrant camp and were astonished at the accommodation in nissen huts. We also had difficulty coming to terms with the food as we were not used to chops and three veg for dinner or toast and jam for breakfast. We did however come to love this country deeply and had many productive and enjoyable years. We would not wish to live in any other country.