The Bonegilla Migrant Experience
Block 19 Today
Passionate past residents volunteer at Bonegilla
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BONEGILLA migrant camp was Jean and Lucie Van Aken’s first home in Australia and almost 50 years later, their hut at Block 19 remains.
The couple, originating from Belgium, arrived at Bonegilla Reception and Training Centre on January 6, 1962 with their two small sons via Port Melbourne.
Now living in Springhurst, the couple volunteer at the revitalised Bonegilla Migrant Experience about three times per month.
For 1947 to 1971, Bonegilla was the largest and longest operating migrant reception centre in Australia.
As the first Australian home for some 300,000 post-war migrants from more than 50 countries, Bonegilla stands as testimony to the immigrants who came and settled here.
Mr and Mrs Van Aken did not come to Australia on necessity or in search of work like many other migrants affected by World War Two and its aftermath.
Lucie said it was more a case of adventure and making a better life for their young family.
“No other country was interested in a young couple with two small children,” she said.
“We were very young, in the 23 to 25 year age group.”
Jean said there were 12 families from Belgium on the boat to Australia, with only around three of them remaining in the area now.
“When we left Europe, we didn’t know what transport we were getting or where we were leaving or arriving, other than we were coming to Australia,” he said.
“We took everything in good faith.”
Mr and Mrs Van Aken are current members of the North East Multicultural Association (NEMA) and the Bonegilla Migrant Experience Advisory Committee.
They lived at the Bonegilla Reception and Training Centre for around eight to nine months before moving to Melbourne where Jean worked as a panel beater.
Later, Lucie and their two sons joined them at Maribyrnong Migrant Hostel, where she began working in the kitchen.
They moved to Wangaratta on impulse and have been in North East Victoria ever since.
When Wodonga Council signed a memorandum of understanding with AlburyCity, Parklands Albury-Wodonga and the Bonegilla committee to ensure Bonegilla's place in Australia's migrant history was not forgotten, the couple wanted to be involved.
They both said the Bonegilla Migrant Experience, located just outside of Wodonga, has been wonderfully restored.
“We meet a lot of people while volunteering there and some have sad stories and some have good memories,” Lucie said.
“Everyone has different stories and have been there at different times.”
The Bonegilla Migrant Experience team is seeking more volunteers like Mr and Mrs Van Aken to interact with visitors to the site.
They will also assist with the collection of history, general administration and improving experiences for visitors to the centre.
Wodonga Council will offer full training and ongoing support.
For more information, please contact site co-ordinator Chelsea McLaren on (02) 6022 9223 or visit www.bonegilla.org.au.
Bonegilla Migrant Experience is open seven days a week from 9.30am to 4.30pm, and the visitor centre is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
Please phone (02) 60 20 6912 for extended times during public or school holidays.