If you stayed in this camp, we need your story. Any information is highly appreciated. If you see it here, we'd still like to hear from you. Corroboration is important. We will always need more information.
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Iann Chai Sysney, Australia Fond memories. 26 months on refugee island. From 1978-1980.
Refugee boat. PK0694. Pending info. Family parents with 2 kids on arrival. Depart plus 1 to Australia. Arrived: Departed:
A few of my earliest memories as a 2 yo from this place.
Never waste food. I recall what starvation was like.
I recall hearing news my grand father passing away.
Water from well.Powdered milk. Can Sardines. Instant noodles
Following adults up the hill to forage for fire wood.
Adults telling furphies, putting a whale in a water hole. Probably a myth to keep kids away from danger.
Walking the plank to renew daily constitution.
Movie night. Families gathering on beach. I recall 2 movies Nutty professor with Jerry Lewis and Emperor of the North Pole: Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine.
Being kids, free spirited. Running around over island exploring. 2 to 4.5 yo. Kids pulling on a string in a shape of a boat, fashioned from aluminium milk tin lid and moisten dirt.
My first pet was a hermit crab. My first musical instrument is a harmonica. I still don't have time to learn to play the darn thing.
Home was a 4 post wooden peg post and walls from plastic bags.
Weekly fumigation of all households.
The oppressive heat. As kids forced to chill out by rocking on a hammock.
Passing time, still to this day I am in awe of how refugee islanders managed to fabricate model boats of the vessels that got them there, from minimal access to resources on the island. There use to be displays of such wooden boats by proud craftmans for the people, by the people. Some kind of community spirit absent in modern Western city living.
Broken thong straps were mended with disused intravenous pumpset lines, by assistant medical staff.
Some poor bloke stepped on a spiny fish. People rushed around to collect urine from kids to wash over his wounds. Actual first aid, marine creature puncture to skin is to soak in tolerable warm water, not urine!
Running on a early foggy morning, I tripped and fell onto barbed wired fencing. I have scaring on bridge of my nose to remember it by.
The joy of hearing people being accepted to a new country and their new life trajectory about to commence. The enthusiasm of hope and a chance for a better life opportunity.
Miracle story of a vessel being escorted by a whale towards the island. But they were turned away by authorities. Yet, refugees banded together and donated, milk powder and what they could to help others` plight, worst than their own situation.
Oh yeah and the morning, waking up to find my parents not with my brother and I, as my sister was being born at the medical facility.
I still consider my self a FOB. Fresh Off the Boat.
Now living in Sydney Australia. Drive an Ambulance.
Contrast of living in a first world country, sometime we lose perspective. A revisit to humble times reminds us of how basic things renders an existence of simple things still gives meaningful appreciation of our place in the world.
Music: here is a link to a medley that some of you may have also encountered of that era: https://www.youtube.com/watch…
Does any one remember what the map of the island with refugee lodging look like?
