For many, reading this book will evoke memories of an Australia very different from the one we know today. Although it was not apparent at the time, nor for some time to come, their journeys which would eventually change the nature of Australian society.

Of the over one million displaced persons resettled after the Second World War, Australia's intake of 180,000 was second only to that of the United States of America. These immigrants brought with them to Australia little more than their hopes, dreams and aspirations of a better life in a new country unaffected by conflict. Australia at that time, however, had little experience of cultural plurality. In the haste to 'populate or perish' a new immigration scheme was born but no forethought had been given to impact which immigrants from non-English speaking backgrounds might have. Consequently, there were no infrastructures in place to cater for the needs of large numbers of people from diverse cultural backgrounds who were quite simply expected to 'assimilate'.

Although the better of two choices compared to the horrendous task of salvaging some semblance of former lives in war-ravaged Europe, life in uncongenial migrant hostels must have seemed little better than the one which assisted passage, did not take into consideration the skills, talents or professional qualifications of the individual. Indeed, initially immigrants were sent to areas where labour was most urgently needed and they were kept away from areas where industries would have competed for their labour. Families were, therefore, separated as men went off to labour on the railways and women and children were left behind to cope as best they could with life in an alien culture.

The discriminatory policies of those years meant that not only were immigrants of non-English speaking backgrounds under pressure to accurate but wealth of language skills, technical and professional qualifications and rich cultural heritages were in very real danger of being lost forever. Australia had not at that time recognised her greatest resource - people.

Despite the initial hardships and disillusionments, these immigrants worked extremely hard to improve their lives and most of all, to provide a better future for their children.

In the multicultural society which is today's Australia the maintenance of language and cultural traditions is the right of every Australian. The impact which immigrants of non-English speaking backgrounds have had on Australian society and the social, political, cultural and economic contributions which they have made are not only recognised but appreciated and supported. Cultural diversity has played an enormous role in enriching all our lives and the boat land of dreams of those early immigrants are at last becoming a reality.

Mr Paolo Nocella
Chairman, South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission