Summary

Black and white photograph of vendors in felucca boats taken by Alpo Koivistoinen at Aden while onboard the P&O liner S.S. Strathaird during his migrant voyage from London to Australia September-October, 1960. Alpo and his family had left Finland with two other Finnish families - the Hakkinens and the Ahonens - and they all travelled from Helsinki to Stockholm to London and then via ship to Australia.

The photograph relates in particular to Sirpa Sinikka Hakkinen, who 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. They boarded 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.

Description of Content

Five men in a boat on the ocean.

Physical Description

Digital photograph

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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