By TARA McGRATH
WHEN a group of residents sought to mark the long, proud history of the Enterprise Migrant Hostel in Springvale, it wasn’t hard to settle on a symbol for the project.
They agreed that whatever idea they came up with, a rose had to be incorporated into the design.
“When the migrants came to the hostel on a bus from the airport, they saw a beautiful rose garden at the hostel,” project convener Merle Mitchell said. “They saw that the roses had been nurtured and kept safe, so they thought they would be too.”
The hostel – now the Lexington Gardens Retirement Village – housed migrants from the 1970s until the early 1990s.
First, an exhibition about the Enterprise Hostel was held at the Melbourne Immigration Museum in late 2008, triggering community interest in a permanent tribute.
Then the group got funding to set up a website about the hostel and consulted the community on how to mark its history.
One committee member came up with the idea of naming a rose after the hostel, but Mrs Mitchell was at first sceptical about the practicalities. “But we went down to Portland and grower Treloar Roses were very keen to get involved.”
Mrs Mitchell said the Enterprise rose would celebrate the contribution of refugees and migrants to society.
“Springvale was very different from other areas. It had diversity and they were encouraged to maintain their culture and language, while still become a part of the community.”
The rose, which will be introduced by Treloar Roses, was announced at the retirement village last Sunday to a crowd of about 150 people.
A rose garden being planted at the retirement village is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Prints of the rose by botanical artist Heather Duggan can be bought as a bookmark or card and funds go towards future projects for the hostel. The rose will be available in July.
For information, visit enterprisehostel.org.
