Memories of Bonegilla: Recollections of an Insider

By:
Dr. Eugenia Arvanitis
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This book is the outcome of Mr Vogiazopoulos' life long goal to record the individual stories of the first Greek workers located at the Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre. These stories are a rich but relatively untapped archive of primary sources. This book presents the vivid personal experiences and memories of an emigrant who lived and worked his first years at the Migrant Reception Centres of Bonegilla. The paper discusses the book which describes complex themes of identity, history, and the struggle of belonging. The narrative of immigrant settlement unfolds to reveal the various journeys of migration as well as the reflections of older community resource people.


Keywords: Australian Migrant Experience, Bonegilla, Oral History, Community Building
Stream: Books, Writing and Reading
Presentation Type: Virtual Presentation in English
Paper: Memories of Bonegilla

Dr. Eugenia Arvanitis

Research Associate, RMIT University, Greek Ministry of Education
Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA

Eugenia Arvanitis was born on the Ionian island of Lefkada in Greece. She graduated from the Department of Elementary School Education at the University of Ioannina, Greece in 1992. In 2001 Eugenia became the first international doctoral exchange student to complete a Doctoral Thesis in Education at RMIT (Faculty of Education, Language and Community Services) from the University of Ioannina, Greece. As part of her studies she has been involved in research on Greek ethnic schools in Australia. Her research interests include multicultural educational policy and practice; ethnic community development and identity; community building education, and teachers’ training. She has attended and presented papers at several conferences in Australia and overseas.
Between 2001 and 2004 Eugenia co-ordinated and taught the Greek Language and Cultural Studies Program at the School of International and Community Studies, and was employed as the Manager of the Australian-Greek Resource and Learning Center at RMIT University, Melbourne. In November 2004 Eugenia was offered the position of Research Associate at the Globalism Institute at RMIT University, Melbourne. As part of her role Eugenia works with Professor Mary Kalantzis in developing a Learning Competency/Accreditation & Quality Assurance Frameworks for the Greek Ministry of Education (Secretariat of Adult Education). She finally engages in professional training for the Greek Adult Educational System, academic and publication activities.

Ref: B07P0139