About Sanctuary? Remembering Postwar Immigration

“This book is dedicated to the people about whom it is written: those who stepped onto Australian soil with the hopes and misgivings of any of the pioneers before them.”

Catherine Panich

What inspired you to write Sanctuary?

My parents’ stories of living and working in the Bathurst Migrant Centre are my inheritance. When adult life took me to Europe, I suddenly had to face language, cultural and psychological obstacles. For the first time I began to appreciate the immensity of what my parents had undertaken in their decision to immigrate to Australia.

Little seemed to have been done to preserve the era of the migrant camps (1947-1952), even though Arthur Calwell’s controversial scheme for Displaced Persons had paved the way for the harmonious multiculturalism Australia enjoys today. I was concerned that an important part of Australia’s history would soon be lost. So I resigned from high school teaching and began two years of research and writing to preserve the stories of postwar immigrants.

How important was writing Sanctuary?

For me, the experience was personal and powerful. From the warm responses I continue to receive, I know Sanctuary? gave voice to people whose stories might otherwise never have been told. It continues to speak to the children of these postwar immigrants, and their children.

Hopefully Sanctuary? went some way towards preventing the era of the Displaced Person from becoming invisible. Immigration continues to be a controversial area of government policy. Much can be learned from the postwar migrant camp experience.

How did you research Sanctuary?

I interviewed over 100 people, and after media appearances many more contacted me, from as far away as Germany and USA. What began as an oral history project included documents, photos, media items and data. I focused on the migrant “camps” in eastern Australia. In order to present a broad and balanced view of this unique era I sought help from “New Australians” of all backgrounds, and people with firsthand involvement in diverse aspects of the Displaced Persons scheme. I’m immensely grateful for their generosity and belief in my project.

What is the scope of Sanctuary?

Sanctuary? is comprehensively indexed and has been included in secondary and tertiary reading lists.