otb,

Your concern for the history of Lithuanian settlement
is touching but not believable - as you talk
about "victimhood," whereas I am talking about
history.

But that's not surprising coming from
someone who denies "black armband history,"
who doesn't see the "White Australia"
policy as being bad, who's against multiculturalism,
and the list goes on. So of course you would reject
historical facts that in your mind you feel
somehow denigrate Australia and are available in all national
library collections, immigration museums, and information
that has been recorded by reputable immigration experts
like Australia's leading Immigration authority -
J. Jupp "From white Australia to Woomera: The Story of
Australian immigration," Port Melbourne, Cambridge
University Press, 2002 (an updated version is also available).

However -
You really aren't any kind of authority - to be able to speak
on the subject of what Lithuanisns and other post world war II
immigrants went through in this country. I have not only
historical records to go on but the actual experience of my
parents, friends, and colleagues, in the Lithuanian Community
to go on. People who actually lived during those times.
I've given you heaps of sources both now, and in past
discussions - to no avai. You can choose to believe whatever
you want. What I object to is your trying to force that
information onto others. Because you frankly are not in any
way objective and choose to ignore - what you don't like.

Dear Is Mise,

May I politely suggest that you try to get a hold of the book
by J. Jupp, "From White Australia to Woomera: The Story of
Australian immigration, Port Melbourne: Cambridge University
Press, 2002. (there's an updated version available).
Professor Jupp is Australia's leading authority on Immigration.

Also the book by C. Panich, "Sanctuary? Remembering post-war
immigration," North Sydney, George Allen & Unwin, Australia,
1988.

There are of course many other sources available in any
library - as well as in our immigration museums. Any librarian
will be able to help you research this subject if you're
interested.

Cheers

OUG,

Just so that we all know that of which we are talking; your figure of 50% silver content for Sterling Silver is a tad low.

"Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925.".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_silver

Australia has more to fear from the very real threat of Foot & Mouth/Rabies outbreaks from the influx of Irregular Immigrants arriving unannounced and undetected on Australian shores via boats primarily.

In 2004 there was a boat which originated from Indonesia carrying 50 + women, children and menfolk. On board were chickens (later found by AQIS to be infected with Avian Flu) - Dogs (rabid) and a cat. They landed undetected at Roper River Bar - near Borroloola NT.

Several of the men who got ashore were found the day after they landed by local aboriginal children, severely dehydrated. 2 had in fact died the day before. Their bodies were found the next day by the NORFORCE patrol sent to the area.

Later, medical teams arrived to ascertain the condition of the others.

Luckily, all the animals on board except the chicken had stayed on the boat. Just for a moment consider the impact on our country - the primary industries for instance, and not to mention all those fluffy cute marsupials hopping around - if rabies had gotten loose?

Had the vessel been smashed in a fashion similar to the one off Christmas Island a few years ago it was a strong possibility.

RE: the condoms I observe strewn around the garden beds of the detention centre at Wickham Point when I go about my business of repairing air conditioners sabotaged and deliberately damaged by detainees made me ask the question - "DO WE NEED MEN WHO THINK IT IS OK THAT WOMEN ARE FOR PROCREATION, & (little/young) BOYS ARE FOR PLEASURE - IN OUR COMMUNITY ?"

I had a Serco escort with me, who was singularly inattentive on the job. I was watched intently by several detainees as I removed screwdrivers, gauges and spanners to do my work - all of which are signed individually in and out of the controlled areas by Serco staff. It takes on average 4 hours to get keys, get checked into and then escorted into the accommodation areas...this for a 15 minute job on average. The cost to the taxpayer is astronomical.

Dear Albie,

Thank You for your informative post.

It's a great pity that politics creates problems
that cost the nation unbelievable prices - not only a great
deal financially but as you point out could end up
with disastrous results. Surely better solutions
could be found instead of what's currently on offer.

Logic would dictate that potential refugees (economic or
others) should be allowed to arrive by plane at a far lesser
cost than currently with people smugglers. They should be
immediately processed at the air-port and depending on their
refugee status given asylum and be put on a contract work
program as migrants were in the 1950s or if unqualified
to be sent back immediately to whatever destination they
claim to originate from. This would cost millions of dollars
less than the current system that we have - and it would save
lives and not bring in diseases. After a few groups would
be sent back - maybe the message would get through.

If they sit in a detention centre for months or years - it
creates the image for others that people are not being returned
and it is safe to pursue the avenue that people smugglers offer.

Just an idea.

Dear Is Mise and Foxy,

Just to clarify the 'Ten Pound Pom' issue.

From my reading the £10 was actually the amount paid by the migrant not the government. The return fair was £120 so I'm assuming that was close to the full cost of the adult passage out here, therefore the government likely subsidised the journey to the tune of over £100.

But this is what interested me;

“Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard migrated with her family from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales in 1966, in her parents' hope the warmer climate would help her fix a lung infection. The current Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, migrated in 1960 under the £10 scheme, despite the fact that his father had already lived in Australia after arriving at the beginning of WW2 on a "First Class Only" Blue Funnel Liner, served in the RAAF and studied dentistry at Sydney University at taxpayer expense, and that his mother was an Australian expatriate living in England at the time of his birth."

So Abbott is a £10 Pom?

Brilliant.

Sorry, my bad! Here is the link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Pound_Poms