Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition in Benalla, Victoria | Community organisation

Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition

Locality: Benalla, Victoria

Phone: +61 439 001 918

Address: Hut 11 Samaria Rd Benalla Airport 3672 Benalla, VIC, Australia

Website: http://benallamigrantcampexhibition.blogspot.com.au/

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25.01.2022 Do you know your family history? You can start your family research journey using the resources on our website. Migration administrative records, including Bone...gilla ID Cards, passenger and ship lists, are held at the National Archives of Australia. The Bonegilla ID Cards exist for most people who came through the centre and provide information on the dates they arrived and left, where they went to, the ship they came on, the block they lived in, and more.

25.01.2022 Rest in peace now Stanny Niedzwiedzki. I thank you for all you have done for the Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition. One of the camp kids forever. x

24.01.2022 Vote 1 Gail O'Brien , and we will see a Councilor who is prepared to do the thorough research and the listening that is needed in that role. There will be such opportunities in regional tourism soon when the restrictions end -we should be placed to make the most of our tourism assets including the former migrant camp site.

23.01.2022 That is fabulous news. People who want to purchase the Benalla Migrant Camp Short Film (as DVD), the history Book or pick up a copy of the self guided map, can do so now. It will be a relief to find a new normal...

21.01.2022 A project some of our followers may be interested in. No doubt some of our family members were slave labourers for the Nazi regime having no choice in where they worked. Survival was the main priority.

20.01.2022 A while ago I posted that our latest project is installing site signage that matches our self-guided walking map (which you can get for free by downloading it from our website www.benallamigrantcamp.com.au or by picking a copy up at the Benalla Visitor Information Centre). Once the signage is installed, visitors with an interest in the history of the site will be able to walk through the main gates which are still in place, read a large interpretative sign and then follow nu...mbered markers. On the markers will be more information and historical photos to show what the site looked like in its day. You will see markers for: the main gates, the camp well cover, the supervisor's office, the hospital, the canteen/shop, the school , the creche, the chapel, the store room etc. And furthermore, for those who cannot walk the site, we are also going to put a virtual 'tour' on our website. As you all know , the site is State Heritage Listed and owned by our Council and on the basis of these two simple facts, things will take their time before the signs are actually in place. We will however make an announcement, of that you can be sure. We have paid for the graphic design of these signs (they look amazing) and we have also raised sufficient funds to have the signs made including their frames. However we are hoping that Council will agree to install the signage - watch this space. See more

20.01.2022 This is something a little unusual... but when I saw these flowerbeds they reminded me of the patterns on blankets , tablecloths, cushions etc that came all the way from Latvia to the Benalla Migrant Camp in Australia. Beautiful

19.01.2022 More great work from Arolsen Archives, this time focused on Displaced Persons which I’m sure is of interest to most of our followers.

19.01.2022 So very well said Puna. Thank you #spiceupbenallawithpuna .

18.01.2022 The Benalla Migrant Camp is part of the history of Benalla. Benalla Tours is working with the Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition to have guided walking tours of the site. We will keep you informed. See High Country #visitbenalla #visitvictoria Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition #benallatours #ridehighcountry #enjoybenalla #destinationmelbourne #visitmelbourne #historicalsites

18.01.2022 The Benalla community, and the Benalla migrant camp community in particular, have lost a unique beloved character in 'Stanny' (Stanislaw) Niedzwiedzki who died of cancer yesterday. I was very sad to hear these news because Stanny was one of the people behind the push to save the camp and a wonderful personal support to me. 'Don't you worry, we will back you all the way.' was one thing he said to me several times just when I needed to hear it. His little van, came to my aid mo...ving the collection around several times. He was such fun to be around. When we had a drink after the successful State Heritage Listing of the camp, he told me I was part of the camp family now. I treasure that memory. I will add the Niedzwiedzki story to our website soon (luckily it was recorded). Of course Stanny and his good mate Les featured in our short film which I will share again here on this Facebook page shortly. I know many people will want to know the funeral details, and as soon as I know them, I will add them to this post. My condolences to Stanny's family, his sister Janetta, his good buddy Les. Rest in peace my friend. x See more

17.01.2022 Yesterday Andrew Donaldson called in to drop off all the filmed material he has recorded for us (off and on) since 2013. On these two hard drives are our recorded interviews and footage from exhibition openings at Hut 11, the special opening at the now demolished Latoof and Callil clothing factory in Coster Street and finally, the migrant camp reunion in 2017. I would like to acknowledge Andy‘s professionell camera and editing work which made managing those projects a pleasure. Andy also did plenty of extras for us, without charging. How lucky were we that someone with such an amazing background in film and tv lives right here in Benalla! Thank you !!!

16.01.2022 Bored with staying at home, try researching your family, start with finding their Bonegilla cards, here’s how.

15.01.2022 Thank you to Andy Donaldson who did some digital formatting, so I can now share with you a DVD of the 1988 Benalla Migrant Camp Reunion. The original film was donated to us by the Madej Family. There are some speeches at the start, then some performances inside the former camp hall, then a lot of people gathering at the front of the hall and talking to each other. I am not sure who filmed this event, do you perhaps know who it was? I have very little information about it except that the Reunion was held at the former Benalla Migrant Camp site (next to Benalla Airport) as part of the Bi-centennial Celebrations, and it was organised by Benalla Shire. Who of you was there, and what do you remember? Do you recognise anyone? I would be interested in your feedback.

15.01.2022 I am sorting through my documents and found something I would like to share with you. On 17th July 2019 Jacob Chacko, a former Benalla resident wrote a letter of support for our (ultimately unsuccessful) fight to avert the gifting of the now State Heritage Listed huts. It was a wonderful, excellent letter, and it moved me. Here is a paragraph from Jacob's letter: "Benalla’s migration story is not one trapped in time. It is an evolving story, welcoming new waves of migration -... each wave contribution to the social and economic fabric of our community. The Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition is not just a sterile snapshot of post-war immigration, it speaks to a broader, complex picture of cultural and social dislocation, segregation and family separation, assimilation versus multiculturalism, and sheer hard work in the face of adversity. It is a story that newer migrants relate to strongly and feel a part of. " ( Apologies to Jacob for pinching one of his Facebook photos)

15.01.2022 Now here is a nomination that makes me very confident that the tourism potential of the former Benalla Migrant Camp Site will be understood and promoted. Good luck Linsday Thomas, you have got my vote as well !! Great interview in the article below. Linsday has been a great supporter to me (and a substantial sponsor) for the migrant camp project over the past 7 years (with his wife Anne) and I have known him (and liked him) for over 15 years. Now I feel quite hopeful that a number of promising candidates are providing Benalla voters with options.

14.01.2022 Great support from a local councillor, thank you.

14.01.2022 I wanted to share with you a page from the Benalla Migrant Camp School enrolment book. The source of this book is the Public Records Office of Victoria, where any member of the public could look it up amongst archived Deparment of Education Files, for the Benalla Aerodrome School, as it was called, 1949-1960s. We spent the best $100 ever, printing all the digitised pages out for our exhibition visitors. So much joy for our visitors in finding one's name (even if it was sligh...tly misspelled)!!! One of our committee members, Anna Castles nee Brunner spent long hours typing up the entire enrolment register into an Excel sheet, which we could then sort alphabetically, and print out as well, so visitors did not have to flick through the hundred or so pages to find their record!! Anna's typed information was used successfully when we built our website. Now occasionally I get a request to go in and FIX spelling. I will not do this and here is why. Look at the historic enrolment book. Can you see that the name was mispelt by the teacher or administration person who made the enrolment, in the first instance? Our mission is not to spell 100% correctly, but to copy a historic document -mistakes and all. It was probably mispelt because of language difficulties. Let's leave this as a little mystery, and enjoy the conversation it creates. We have now donated this book and Anna's decoder booklet, to the Benalla and District Family Research Group, so that former residents researching their migrant past, can view it whilst Hut 11 is closed.

14.01.2022 Today I would like to share with you my favourite comments out of our visitor book for the Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition Jan 2013- Nov 2019

13.01.2022 The cheerful person behind the mask is Alison Angus, our Council's Tourism Coordinator. Alison runs the Visitor Information Centre in Mair Street Benalla. She is holding samples of our new Benalla Migrant Camp Self-Guided Heritage Walk Brochures/Maps, after I dropped a big box around the other day. Benalla Migrant Camp Inc. has printed and developed these from our own fundraising for use by the many visitors and locals who are interested to learn more about the site - and still find no sign, no information there to indicate this once was an important site with a rich, interesting history to tell. So ... when the restrictions are over pop around to the VIC and pick up a copy or call them on 03 57621749 during business hours and they will mail you one. Also, the Visitor Information Centre still carries/sells our history books.

13.01.2022 Remembering the end of WW2, 75 yrs on.

12.01.2022 During the Lockdown times, I had a Zoom Meeting with the Arolsen Archives. This meeting was arranged by Helen Topor (a former Benalla Migrant Camp child resident) who has used the Arolsen Archives in Germany to do research in connection with information about her father. The Arolsen Archives are interested in linking up with us, so people anywhere in the world, searching for relatives that migrated to Australia, and ended up at Benalla Migrant Camp, can be linked up. There is a lot of work in preparing this database and seeking permissions, so it might not be a quick process. But I am keen to do it. Anyone interested in volunteering to email contacts and also make phone calls can contact me through this Facebook site.

11.01.2022 I would like to share with you the photos and stories of the Bednarski Family, contributed by their daughter Patricia. (If anyone knows any more about the photos, or knows the family, or has a contact for the Limanowski family, please leave a comment. Patricia will be reading this post.) The Bednarski Family World War II In June 1943 Antoni, Rozalia, Francisych (Frank) and Marian were captured by the German army in Maniewicze Poland and transported to Krakow and then onto a r...Continue reading

11.01.2022 Now that we are finished with filming, Benalla Migrant Camp Inc. (our exhibition project) decided to donate our Video Camera, microphone and stand to this group of young people for their Live4Life youth mental health program. On July 28th ( before masks were mandatory) I met with the Benalla Rural City Council's Youth Development Coordinator Stephanie Brack (and the Live4Lifers) to take a photo and mark the occasion. We applied for funding for this equipment from the Benalla Small Grants Program in 2015, so it is wonderful to be able to return it to the community at the conclusion of our work. We look forward to the camera being put to good use to produce on-line video clips for the youth programs in our town.

10.01.2022 I have some exciting news. I have now finished cataloging our collection, and part of this was taking a photo of every single item. I had wonderful help with this task, and would like to acknowledge the assistance of Jane Coyne, Lindy Saul, as well as Karl Phillipson, who has also developed our website (via his business, Codegarden). As a result of this huge task finally being ticked off, you can now visit our website www.benallamigrantcamp.com.au and view The Collection in big beautiful photos. Please go and have a look, particularly if your family has documents or items in our collection. There are 185 items for you to view, as you work your way through a virtual tour of the Exhibition. (Photo Credit for the Polish Dancing Costume photographed at Hut 11 in 2015 is to Helga Salwe Photography.)

09.01.2022 We were planning a get together for later this year but with the current level of restrictions in Victoria an event is not possible. Our plans will carry over to 2021 when hopefully we can all socialise again. Stay safe everyone and take care.

08.01.2022 SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE Halyna Koscharsky (formerly Nytczenko) was a pupil at the Benalla Migrant Camp School from 1949-1952. She would love to get in touch with Miss Egerton who was then a very young teacher. Can anyone help with leads or information?

08.01.2022 In case you haven't caught our video yet, I have just uploaded it to Youtube as well. I just watched it and the resolution is poor. so bear with me, I will have another go tomorrow.

07.01.2022 There are some really good news to share. We have developed and printed for you, a self-guided walking map of the former Benalla Migrant Camp Site. It allows locals, family history visitors and migration heritage tourists (once they are allowed, and Covid19 restrictions are lifted) to re-imagine life at the camp, via 17 points of interest from the main gates in. Without signage in place at the site itself, it is still going to be a little difficult to make out exactly where b...uildings stood but we are working on that too. Please pick up a printed copy of this map at the Visitor Information Centre, once it re-opens, or call them on 03 57621749 (#enjoybenalla) to have one mailed to you. We are also really happy to tell you that local tour company #BenallaTours (#VisitBenalla) will offer guided walking tours of the former Benalla Migrant Camp site from next year, including opening Hut 11 to the public - but more of that when things are a little more clear as to timelines etc. As always, we had generous help from a number of volunteers. Jim Klopsteins spent many hours developing the map featured in this walk, based on his memories as a child living at the camp. Helen Topor and Jim Klopsteins read through a draft, as did Professor Bruce Pennay OAM, the Bonegilla historian and Steph Merry (nee Swist) whose family lived at the camp, also commented on the draft. Edit: Benalla Migrant Camp Inc. is pleased to fund this map from our own fundraising over the past 7 years, and we printed the maps locally (supporting local businesses). #flyingpigsdesigns #benallaprinting #benallaruralcity #migrants #migrationheritage #benallamigrantcamp #postwarmigration See more

06.01.2022 In these strange Corona Virus times, many families loose their parents in aged care facilities and are left to reflect on their parents’ lives in the context of being isolated. I thought I’d share this article- at least one of the migrants came to Australia via the Bonegilla Migrant Centre.

04.01.2022 Meet Benalla Rural City Election Candidate Justin King. He is running for Council in 2020. It is time to elect a new Council (in October) and I will be looking at the candidates for the upcoming Council elections through a Migrant Camp Exhibition lense, and share with you what I personally think. The current Council is a sad disappointment to our project. Crs Scott Upston, Barb Alexander, Peter Davis, Willy Van Wersch, Bernie Hearn, Don Firth and Danny Claridge will go down... in history as the Council to gift State Heritage Listed huts to groups who do not value their heritage. Their report which proposed the gifting included the statement that giving away the huts had no financial implications for the community. In other words, they were worth NOTHING. No mention of their value as heritage structures, as tin sheds even. It is unbelievable really, given that they were given State Heritage Listing based on their social, historical and cultural value to the State of Victoria. This Council’s actions have spoken louder than any words they might come up with in the lead up to the election. The former migrant camp site has no hope of progress without Councillors understanding the issues on that site, and being supportive of its heritage. We know the current Council cannot and will not do this. Justin King contacted me and asked how our project was going and how he might be able to work with us, should he be elected. Justin prepared this statement: Covid presents us with a unique opportunity to hit the "re-set" button on how we promote our tourist attractions and I am keen to explore this as I feel we could incorporate the migrant camp into this more and give it greater publicity. I feel that you and your valued volunteers need someone who will listen. Well I hear you, I am listening and yes if elected I will help to: Promote the migrant camp and commit to having council work with you and to play an active role in the future of the museum. I will do this and more if elected. I am ready to give Justin my own vote. Benalla is a small patch. We’re only about 14,000 residents and there are 7 Councillors. Some of the current Councillors got in on the strength of a handful of votes, so please make yours count. Sabine Smyth, Chair of Benalla Migrant Camp Inc.

03.01.2022 Do you know this Kaminski family? Jerzy & Paulina Kaminski and their children Janusz & Krystyna. Arrived in Australia February 1950 eventually settled in Adelaide. We have had a request by a person searching for this family. It’s a long shot but someone may know of relatives and maybe provide contact details. They have searched NAA and Arolsen archives and have all that information, at this time are looking for extended family here in Australia. Message us if you can help, thanks.

03.01.2022 A disappointing council decision last year has led Benalla Migrant Camp Exhibition volunteers to canvass candidates' views before they vote.