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The British armed forces stationed in Malta employed thousands of
civilians at the docks and various other bases. These forces were being faced down as
Malta was preparing for independence. Many civilian employees were being retrenched
and thousands more were to follow.
Like many of his workmates the Young Migrant decided to try his luck elsewhere so he
boarded on an Italian ship, the "Castel Verde", to migrate to
Australia. Like most other migrants, he received little or no preparation of what
lies ahead in a foreign land ten thousand miles away.
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The first big trauma was the fact that he had to leave behind his
family, friends and his safe and serene environment. Embarking on the ships was
hectic but somewhat an exciting new experience, but reality set in as soon the ship moved
out of the harbour. This was not a short day trip to Sicily but a long voyage to a new
destiny. |
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While the ship was heading towards the breakwater at Malta's
Grand Harbour, in Valletta, he had a good look at the beautiful harbour and surrounding
towns. He could not help thinking that he will no longer belong to the community of
which he belonged since birth. His family came alongside the ship on a small craft to wave
goodbye, but as the ship steamed ahead they quickly disappeared from view. |
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From Malta, the ship sailed for the port
of Piraeus in Greece where more migrants were to be picked up, making the ship
extremely crowded. People were bunked in small dormitories clattered with 40
beds or more. The Young Migrant was fortunate to be berthed in a cabin of five with
his Maltese friends. The ship needed some maintenance and had to stay in port for 48
hours. With some of his ship friends, he took this opportunity to visit Athens and
Acropolis. |
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Port Said was the next port of call
where the passenger had time to go ashore and visit the hundreds of peddlers set-up at the
port. The journey through the Suez was tedious and boring as all one could see was
sand on both sides of the canal. The Young Migrant was hoping that the next
stop at Aden would be more enjoyable. |
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The capital of the United Arab
Emirates was very hot and dusty, but it was of great relief to be back on
terra-ferma again. Aden was a very primitive city and the natives very poor. The
Young Migrant felt sorry for the scores of children running in the streets begging for
money, but with limited finance himself he could not offer too much help. The 24
hour stay in Aden was a relief that the passengers needed to prepare for the journey to
Colombo. |
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The ship entered Colombo for refueling and
to pick up cargo for the long trip ahead, but here the passengers were ordered to
stay on board. The trip from Colombo to Australia, a nine thousand mile
journey across the Indian Ocean, was a nightmare for those on board. The rough seas
caused many passengers to become seasick, and to make it worst, the ship doctor only spoke
Italian. The Young Migrant got used to the rough seas as he quickly acquired his
sea legs. This part of the journey became more pleasant, as those who were not sick
got involved in various entertainments and started to use the ship's pool,bars and other
facilities. |
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Three weeks later "Land
Ahoy" the ship entered the Australian waters and docked at the Western Australian
Port of Fremantle. There the passengers also had time go ashore and visit the
town The Young Migrant and his friends had enough time to visit Perth as well.
The Great Australian Bight lived to its reputation, as the four-day crossing was rough and
stormy. Most of the passengers aboard were preparing themselves to disembark at their
destination at Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay, |
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31 days after leaving the Grand Harbour in
Malta the "Castel Verde" docked at Station Peer, Port Melbourne. More than
half of the ship's passengers disembarked in Melbourne, where a number of their
relatives were waiting, but many young migrants had to board various steam trains to take
them to their destinations in country centres around the
State. |
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Most of the young men were to be stationed
across rural Victoria. Several of them were to work in mine fields, while others
were to be stationed in large farms. The Young Migrant found himself on a farm
run by a Maltese farmer. The final part of the ship's journey was to New South Wales,
were the rest of the migrants were to end their journey and leave the ship. |
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"Sydney or the bush" is an old
Australia adage. All of the friends that the Young Migrant made on the trip had to
board the ship again for their final journey to Sydney. However many of these youths
also faced long and exhausting train trips to the country stations as soon as they arrived
in Sydney. |
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A typical Migrant work site of the
time
The Young Migrant found himself in a strange
country, boardin a the bush hut ready to start work the
next morning. Going to work was God sent as at least he kept his
mind occupied, but at night, when he
was alone, the horror of homesickness struck him hard. Being an
assoted migrant he had signed up to
stay in Australia for a minimum of two years.
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Melbourne today
More then five years later, Our Migrant settled very well in his adopted
country. he is no longer a
young and impatient youth looking for the pot of gold. Today he has a
wife, children and also grandchildren. Since leaving his homeland
nearly half a century ago, evry aspect of his life has changed except
for one thing. He still regards himself as maltese and still call
Malta home.
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