Summary

Denny Daud first arrived in Melbourne from Indonesia as part of the Colombo Plan student scheme in 1955.

Colombo Plan Student Arrivals:

Denny Satria Daud is an Indonesian migrant, born in Bandung, West Java. During the Menzies-era Australian Government the Colombo Plan was established in 1951. This enabled thousands of students from several neighbouring countries in Asia to study at Australian universities.

Denny was amongst a number of Indonesian Muslims who came to Australia in 1955 under the Colombo Plan scheme. From 1956 to 1959, he studied chemical engineering at the University of Melbourne, 'The only university in Victoria at the time', Denny recalls. When he arrived in Melbourne there were about one hundred students assigned to study in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. Denny reflects: 'I was happy to be part of the group that was assigned to stay in Melbourne because I didn't have to travel further and Melbourne seemed like an extremely nice city'.

Settling In:

Since his student days in Australia, his friends have called him Denny. He met an Australian woman whom he married. Denny remembers: 'In the early years, there was no television but just the radio. In parks we played a lot with our four children.'

From the early days, Denny met many Australians whom he found to be friendly and courteous. During the years of the White Australia policy, he felt no racism at all towards him either on the street, amongst neighbors or at work. 'Australians are very friendly people'. However, Denny recalls, 'The most difficult period for me was after arriving in Australia when I had to study engineering and learn English'. Then he worked several jobs, but for the longest periods he worked for two companies in Melbourne, the Australian Paper Manufacturers (APM) and Plumrose, a food manufacturer.

Community Life:

Denny was eager to be involved in community activities. He was an active parent during fundraising programs for the elementary and middle schools his children attended. He was engaged with Eltham Junior Football Club as a coach and team manager outside working hours. He also worked as an elementary school volunteer after retirement for about ten years in a reading program and taught Indonesian as part of the LOTE (Language other than English) program.

Denny's hobbies were annual camping trips and gem hunting with his family when his first children were of school age. 'I started playing golf at 60, which wasn't the best age to learn, until I injured my shoulder', states Denny.

Although born in Indonesia, 'Australia is my second home', he says. Now a 90-year-old always with smile, friendly with kind manners, he lives with his extended family. Still fit, he states, 'I have been at Ocean Grove in Geelong for 20 years and complete my daily 5-5.5km workouts along the Ocean Grove beach'.

References:

Dzavid Haveric, 2019, 'Muslims Making Australia Home: Immigration and Community Building', Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.

Interview, Denny Daud with Dzavid Haveric, Geelong, 2023

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