Immigrant history goes on display

By Melissa Meehan
IT’S BACK.
Over 100 people welcomed the Enterprise Hostel back to Springvale last Thursday night.
It’s the first time a major exhibition has been brought to Springvale from a Melbourne Museum, and it was received with open arms.
The story shared by new Australians is another first, as no history of any migrant hostel has been recorded in this way.
Organiser and the woman behind the exhibition, Merle Mitchell said it encompassed the “wonderful cultural diversity of the City of Greater Dandenong”.
“It is a great example of what can happen when a group in the community comes together to make a dream come true,” Ms Mitchell said.
Enterprise residents found a welcoming community upon their arrival in Springvale.
“We said you are welcome, form your cultural groups, build your places of worship and maintain your culture,” she said.
“There are lessons to be learnt from history contained in this exhibition.”
She said she hoped the exhibition would make a small contribution to help people share their histories with their families and others.
“They came here at a time when Springvale was growing, we welcomed them and they stayed in the area,” she said.
“They brought their skills, their knowledge and taught us so much.”