Ricardo & Natividad Dompedro
| First name | Ricardo & Natividad |
|---|---|
| Last name | Dompedro |
| Country of Origin | Spain |
| Date of Birth | 23/9/24 23/12/27 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1963 |
| Submitted by | Isabel Hooley |
Story
My parents, Ricardo and Natividad Dompedro, migrated to Australia in 1963 from Spain with my sister Nati, brother Richard and myself (all under 12 years old), arriving on the 26th January 1963, Australia Day. What a fitting day to arrive in this wonderful country. On arrival we were taken to Bonegilla and were housed in Block 21. Bonegilla was our first home here. For years I have heard stories of hardship from my parents of their early days in Australia. Settling in a strange and different country was very difficult and challenging.
One of the stories that remain vivid in my mind is my father recounting the nightmare of the day he left Bonegilla. My mother, sister, brother and I were left behind at Bonegilla whilst my father left for Sydney to try and secure housing and work. Over the years we have heard my father recalling how he arrived at the train station at 7am but because he could not speak English did not know what train to take and was still there, sitting at Albury train station late in the evening. When the train guards were going home they rang the Police and my father was taken inside a small room whilst he was questioned but he could not understand a word they said. He just kept showing them his Passport. One can only imagine what my father was feeling at the time. He had had no food all day, nothing to drink despite the very hot summer weather and had no idea what would happen to him or his family back at Bonegilla. Eventually a Portuguese man was brought in and was able to communicate with my father in broken Spanish/Portuguese. At 11 pm that night my father finally boarded the train to Sydney with no food and unable to buy any, due to language constraints, although he had money with him.
My parents are elderly now and my brother took them back to Bonegilla last year. What an emotional day that was. My father got out of the car, ran to the cabin and said to my brother ‘SonÉwe were hereÉthis was the cabin 44 years ago’ Try putting a price on that particular momentÉ.you can\’tÉ..simply priceless.
As the daughter of a migrant I can appreciate the importance and historical value of the Immigration Bridge and it will be a great place for future generations as testimony to the multicultural fabric of this great nation
We have added our parents\’ names to this wonderful Bridge in recognition of their great sacrifice in leaving their loved family, culture and country behind and the courage they showed in migrating so far away to give their children a better opportunity. I cannot thank you enough for this chance to acknowledge these wonderful migrants who showed incredible courage and tenacity and who worked together to realise their dreams and make Australia not only their home but made such great contribution to truly advance this great nation – Australia.
Richard Dompedro and Isabel Hooley (nee Dompedro)
July 2008