Summary

Doll, female child wearing a blue dress, brought by eight year old Sirpa Hakkinen on her migrant voyage onboard the P&O liner S.S Strathaird from London to Australia September-October, 1960. It was one of a small number of personal belongings she could pack when she migrated to Melbourne with her family from Finland. It was purchased for her by her parents in Sweden while they were in transit, to replace the oversized doll which she was not allowed to take with her. Sirpa never named the doll and she only ever had the original clothes she is currently wearing.

Sirpa Sinikka Hakkinen left Finland at the age of eight with her parents Taisto Kalervo and Marjatta Hakkinen and her five year old brother Ari on a ferry bound for Sweden and then trains and ferries to London to board the 'Strathaird which departed Tilbury on 13 September 1960. They had considered migrating to America but decided upon Australia. They sailed via the Suez Canal and commenced learning English during the voyage before finally arriving in Melbourne and being sent to Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre in northern Victoria.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
It is challenging to represent the experiences of migrant children through testimony and material culture and this collection of children's shipboard menus, photographs and toys enables the museum to explore themes of children's experiences during migrant voyages, food consumed, activities participated in and objects brought with them.

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