Summary

Photo showing Cuc Thi Lam (nee Tran), taken in Vietnam. Cuc Lam escaped from Vietnam in May 1978, with her husband, and spent time in a refugee camp in Malaysia before gaining a refugee visa for Australia. This is one of the few personal mementos she brought with her.

Description of Content

Black and white photograph of Cuc Thi Lam (nee Tran), taken in Vietnam. Cuc is sitting on a boat on the river, she wears square framed glasses and a dress with a large floral print.

Physical Description

Black and white photograph.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
This collection demonstrates the risk and desperation involved in the refugee experience. It is extremely rare to acquire objects from refugees, as by the very nature of the experience, people carry little if anything with them, and what they do is usually lost or thrown away. It helps tell the story of Vietnamese immigration, which has played a significant part in the history of immigration to Australia, and assists in representing the period post 1975, when Australia's new political and social policies of multiculturalism were being implemented. This collection also provides further insights into life in one of Melbourne's principal migrant hostels - Midway in Maribyrnong. Finally the collection traces a life beyond the immediate refugee and settlement experience to demonstrate how migrants find their way in a new country, establish lives and assume leadership roles in their local communities.

More Information