The Collins Dictionary defines “immigration” as the act of coming to live permanently in a foreign country. Therefore, it could be said that the first immigrants to Australia were the forbears of the Australian Aborigines who arrived on the continent via the islands of New Guinea and Maritime Southeast Asia an estimated fifty thousand years ago. The late 17th century onwards saw the continent experience its first coastal arrivals after earlier journeys by European explorers. However, Australia’s immigration numbers exploded with the end of World War II, when Australia became home for a number of the dispossessed, predominantly from Europe. Immigrants come with the expectation of starting their lives anew and having opportunities that would
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Although both poets came from different beginnings, with Loewald was born outside of Australia and then immigrating to Australia, and Zervos being born within Australia, the poems written by the two writers describe similar circumstances and experiences.
The poem Be good little Migrants illustrates the struggles that immigrants undertake and the expectations held for them to meet. The line ‘be good, little migrant’ is repeated throughout the poem, allowing the audience to understand the significance of the phrase. The repetition of this line expresses the idea that the migrant is being patronised within society. The poem begins with the listing of reasons why immigrants should be grateful, “We saved you from starvation, war, landlessness, oppression,” suggesting that without ‘us’, you would not be safe in which you should “display your gratitude, but don’t be heard, don’t be seen.” This, coupled with the following stanzas, proposes that immigrants are seen only as cheap provision of labour and non-union work. The poem continues to suggest that the cultures and languages held by other countries are not welcome in Australia, “Learn English to distinguish ESL from RSL,” “write music, and dance to our tune. Our culture must not dull”. It’s a way of saying that you need to change in order to be like us otherwise you’re not welcome here. Nevertheless, many have found that even if they ‘play by the rules’ and become a meaningful and contributing member of the community, they will never be welcome because, as the poem clearly expresses, they are continually met with the ideal that Anglo-Saxon Australians are the only true
Although both poets came from different beginnings, with Loewald was born outside of Australia and then immigrating to Australia, and Zervos being born within Australia, the poems written by the two writers describe similar circumstances and experiences.
The poem Be good little Migrants illustrates the struggles that immigrants undertake and the expectations held for them to meet. The line ‘be good, little migrant’ is repeated throughout the poem, allowing the audience to understand the significance of the phrase. The repetition of this line expresses the idea that the migrant is being patronised within society. The poem begins with the listing of reasons why immigrants should be grateful, “We saved you from starvation, war, landlessness, oppression,” suggesting that without ‘us’, you would not be safe in which you should “display your gratitude, but don’t be heard, don’t be seen.” This, coupled with the following stanzas, proposes that immigrants are seen only as cheap provision of labour and non-union work. The poem continues to suggest that the cultures and languages held by other countries are not welcome in Australia, “Learn English to distinguish ESL from RSL,” “write music, and dance to our tune. Our culture must not dull”. It’s a way of saying that you need to change in order to be like us otherwise you’re not welcome here. Nevertheless, many have found that even if they ‘play by the rules’ and become a meaningful and contributing member of the community, they will never be welcome because, as the poem clearly expresses, they are continually met with the ideal that Anglo-Saxon Australians are the only true