Children of new Brimbank migrants face a “huge struggle” fitting into Australian society and retaining their cultural heritage, an acclaimed historian says.
Anna Clark’s new book Private Lives, Public History has been influenced by a series of interviews with 25 residents associated with various community groups at Brimbank.
Due for release next month, the book aims to analyse “historical inheritance” and how personal histories are passed down through the generations.
Clark said a group interview at a Brimbank migrant resource centre revealed a level of anxiety among new migrants.
“They spoke about the struggles of their kids to fit in with an Australian lifestyle and identity … while trying to retain an identity from where they came from,” she said.
“It’s a huge struggle. They might be learning Australian history at school, but their parents were really trying hard to get them to remember the stories of their cultural background.
Clark said resource centre staff told her many parents were trying to get cultural funding to “do things from where they came from”.
“Cooking, art, with a historical theme, because they’re really anxious they’re going to lose it all. It’s not something we have to think about. Doing this research, you realise what you take for granted.”
Clark conducted interviews with a Victoria University group in St Albans, at a seniors centre and a youth group.
