Today we take for granted the cultural mix that is
Australia's population, but what of the people
who created this diversity?
What is it like to have come from somewhere else
and settled in Australia? And what does being an
Australian really mean?

We're told that everyone has a story to tell - and
I thought it would be interesting to hear some of
them. The stories of the ups and downs of adapting
to life in Australia, and to provide a window on
the experience of leaving one home in order to create
another.

I'd like to hear from everyone - no matter what
their heritage and background.
It would be interesting to compare notes.
And to learn from each other.

What a great idea! My family apparently goes right back to the first fleet (in chains properly!). I was born in the Mallee but moved around a bit as dad was a chippie always on the move. We finally settled in a medium sized town in the west of Victoria where Mum and Dad had a building business that went belly up around the same time GST was introduced. Dad started working in the health system as a head of maintenance and engineering and has been there ever since. Growing up in a rural town was great and surprisingly culturally diverse. Everyone knows everyone and all are judged by their character not their looks or creed. If it where not for people coming to Australia from foreign shores we wouldn't have a lot of the health services, food or friendship we enjoy and are forever grateful. I think the "Aussie Spirt" is still alive and well in rural Aus where anyone who is willing to give it a go is more then welcome. Been Australian to me is putting in some effort, overcoming what seem to be impossible odds, leading a hand to those who need it and been able to laugh at ourselves. Like most Aussies I am "mongrel bred" with a splash of English, Irish, Scottish, German and goodness knows what else in the mix. To me looks and race can go jump, if your friendly, kind, cheerful and a little mad I will happily call you mate. And if we disagree? Well isn't that what Aus is about? We can "discuss" something til the cows come home, and be friends again tomorrow.

Dear Bec,

What a wonderful post. Thank You so much.
You've certainly captured exactly what I feel
about Australia. My parents were forced to leave
Lithuania after World War II. They lived in
displaced persons camps in Germany for several years
before emigrating to Australia in 1949. After several
years in holding camps my father managed to buy a small
house near Parramatta - which is where I grew up.
I was born in country NSW. My family is a bit of a
mix as well. Lithuanian, Russian, German, English,
and Scottish - with a recent addition from China.
And my parents did the hard yards for all of us and
instilled in us the right model to aspire to.
Work hard, study hard, and the possibilities are endless.
I can't imagine living anywhere else in the world.

My in-laws are stud-farmers in country NSW (my son has
a prize-winning bull named after him). Being Australian
to me means believing in fairness, tolerance, and respect.
My parents taught me the importance of service, mateship,
and sacrifice. Which I've hopefully passed onto my
children, and they'll do that to theirs.

I love the diversity of this country, its one of the most
unique and rewarding aspects of living here. I love the
openess, the honesty with which we can say what we think.
And I think we're lucky not only to have a home here, but
also to hve found our own sense of belonging.

Beening a Australian for me and my family is very very good as far as the country is so. But a lot of Aussie people are racist and treat anybody they don't like badly. Just look at all the poor boat people with no other place to go they pick here and end up with lots of bigots and racists. There are many racists on this forum even. Far tony people from the Liberal Party also. I reckon all politics should be banned and until they do that I'm not speaking any more about it on this forum. Even today all the discussions is about politics only, nothing else except this one. This is boring all the time. So no more for me until they Ban all politics from this forum only!

Lexi
Does it mean having you kids jobs stolen by imports that you weren't even asked if you wanted them here.
Does it mean being bashed and raped by people from a continent where that is the order of the day.
Does it mean having your religious beliefs trashed by people who believe that infidels should be killed on sight.
Does it mean seeing certain cultures running small businesses without any belief in the Australian Taxation system.
I fought wars in all of these countries as an Australian UN peacekeeper
and I saw what these people are capable of.
Now I see them here in Australia in the streets of a night and we are unarmed.
Get real Lexi the world is not a patch of roses but Australia is a rosy patch ripe for the taking.

Dear misanthrope,

Thank You for coming into this discussion and I
am sorry to hear that you're not going to have
your say any longer because you're sick of
politics. Many of us are tired of politics - but
it is an election year, so inevitably this subject
is going to be popular. But you can always start a
new discussion yourself on any topic of your choice.
You may be surprised to find how many other people
agree with your take on things. Give it a go.

That's another thing that's great about this country.
You've got so many choices open to you. You don't have
to be locked in to any particular stereotype and you've
got the freedom to make your own way in your own time.
We all have our biases - however
I've spent most of my entire adult life here and I've
never had a problem with being accepted. My parents
came from another country, they explored things with
new eyes, and automatically they saw things differently,
but at the same time that's how we add something. We
learn from each other.

Anyway, I hope to see you posting in the future.
It would be good to read what you have to say
because I feel thay you've got a lot to contribute.