Summary

Information sheet issued by P&O Orient Lines, headed 'Today's Events' dated 30 November 1961. This issue gave a greeting to all Scots on St Andrew's Day and advised that the ship was to be travelling along the north coast of Sumatra and passing in to the Malacca Strait. A description of Sumatra was provided as well as dertails of the concert hour, restrictions on children at afternoon teas and the St Andrew Night Dance.This information sheet is one of a series issued to passengers on the P&O Orient Lines ship 'SS Stratheden' on its voyage from England to Australia, 7 November - 13 December 1961, collected by James and Mary Ward on this voyage.

The 'SS Stratheden' was a passenger liner with the P&O Orient Company that ran the Britain-Australia route along with voyages from India to other parts of the world. Commissioned in 1937, the 'Stratheden' was used as a troopship during World War II and ran the Australia run taking passengers from Britain to Australia and other Commonwealth countries. After the war the 'Stratheden' returned to passenger service, eventually sold in 1967 and renamed the Marianna Latsi. The ship was later sold for scrap and broken up in 1969.

Part of a large collection of material relating to the migration and settlement of British migrants to Australia in the 1960s under the 'Bring Out a Briton' Scheme. It documents in particular both the migration experiences of James and Mary Ward and their three children who arrived in Melbourne on the 'TSS Stratheden' from Yorkshire in December 1961; and the Burke Road East Malvern Methodist Church's sponsorship of a number of English families, including the Wards, under the Scheme. The Church's support included temporary accommodation for assisted families in a neighbouring house. The 'Bring Out a Briton' Scheme (1957-1982) was part of a Commonwealth Government initiative which offered subsidised ship fares, accommodation and support to encourage migration from the UK to Australia after World War II.

Physical Description

Single sheet of paper, with proforma header printed in green ink and text printed in black typescript.

Significance

The Ward/Barlow Families collection is of national significance in documenting British assisted migration to Australia post-World War II. The collection provides a comprehensive snapshot from the commencement to completion of a British assisted migration experience and illuminates post-war immigration policies and procedures which favoured British immigration into Australia.

The collection of almost 400 items comprises a unique body of documentation with intersections between personal, community and government narratives that explore British post-World War II assisted migration. It includes photographs, personal correspondence, documents and objects offering a rare glimpse into the role of the Australian and British governments, Methodists Church sponsorship and community engagement in assisting and welcoming British immigrants to Australia. Assisted British migration was a constant theme of Australian immigration history until the early 1980s. Government initiatives such as the 'Bring Out A Briton' scheme had an enormous impact on the composition and size of the Australian population, making the Ward/Barlow collection of broad social and political historical significance.

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