Award-winning community pioneers Jun Relunia, former Blacktown councillor Linda Geronimo-Santos and Central Coast based community leader Emily Rudd, and their families and friends, came to the unveiling of the National Monument of Migration program held at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Their names, as well as more than 1,200 others representing 73 countries had been added to the memorial wall on Sunday March 20, the eve of Harmony Day. There were 23 names in total from migrants who originated from the Philippines, which meant the country ranked ninth in the countries represented at the unveiling.
The ceremonies were attended by about 1,500 people from Sydney and around the country in addition to online audiences who watched via live stream. Audience heard a poignant and pressing range of personal accounts and reflections on migration and of being in Australia.
Guests enjoyed performances by award-winning Tina Ranoso Bangel who migrated to Sydney with her parents at the age of three. Tina had been active in the Australian Filipino community throughout her life. Accompanied by Nono, a well-loved guitarist in the Filipino community, Tina performed songs that are loved by Filipinos around the world, some which reflected on the migrant experience.
The National Monument to Migration honours the thousands of migrants who have travelled across the world to call Australia home. Each year, more names are inscribed on the bronze-panelled wall which faces Darling Harbour and Pyrmont Bay – historically the site where many migrants first arrived.
The Monument features over 30,000 names from over 200 countries and for the first time, names from Afghanistan, Gabon, Sierra Leone and Somalia have been inscribed.
“The arrival of waves of migrants on Australian shores is a key story in our national maritime history. The National Monument to Migration honours the migrants who have helped shape our nation and, collectively, their stories speak to who we are as a nation. It is a celebration of multicultural Australia,” said Tanya Bush, museum Interim Director.
‘The experiences of the names inscribed on the Monument speak to universal themes such as love, adventure, family, safety and striving for a better life. Some are journey of loss and sadness some of triumph but, ultimately, all speak of hope.’
‘We are grateful to our donors to the Migration Heritage Fund, which supports the museum’s ongoing commitment to telling the nation’s migration story.’
At the event, the program acknowledged the support of The Australian Filipina magazine, Radio Tagumpay and the Kababaihang Rizalista, Inc for inviting donors to support the program.
More donors are invited to contribute a brief story about the person being honoured and a brief biographical note is published on the museum website. The museum is amassing a selection of stories from these names; stories that, in turn, tell the story of modern Australia.
The museum is now accepting names for the next panel on the monument before the next closing date of June 30, 2022. For further information go to www.sea.museum/support/national-monument
The Australian Filipina magazine is proud to support this program. Writer Violi Calvert spoke at the event in 2021 and was one of the names inscribed on the wall the same year. Editor Michelle Baltazar was also one of the donors this year.