Yet again, the wonderful author and historian, Dr. Criena Fitzgerald is about to publish another new book. I have read some excerpts and have seen some of the wonderful photos that will be used and I can highly recommend it.
FOR A BETTER LIFE
YUGOSLAVS IN THE GOLDFIELDS 1890–1970
As so many of us are migrants or the descendants of migrants to Australia, no matter our forefathers’ origins, there can be no better way of appreciating our present circumstances than to read of the travails experienced by those who came before us. What they achieved has largely raised us to where we are now.
For a Better Life is an in-depth history of the experiences of Yugoslavs on the Western Australian goldfields. From the 1890s these self-funded migrants helped shape the economically important gold mining industry, working as boggers, truckers, and machine miners as well as cutting wood for the industry on the woodline. The lives of the migrant women are also vividly brought to life through their letters and oral testimonies. The book tells the story of their migration journeys and government controls on their work and freedom in Western Australia.
These migration stories brought vibrations of a distant European world and what Western Australia made of them and their ‘foreign baggage’ is central to the story, as also is the fate of the immigrants themselves.
This is the first history to examine the race riots of 1934 from the view of an affected migrant community, and the work offers an intimate and frightening glimpse into the shattering effects of the looting and burning of the homes of those migrants.
For those who trace their origins to the geographical region once patched together under the descriptive entity of “Yugoslavia”, Dr. Fitzgerald has developed a treasure trove of history made up of ordinary people and their stories interwoven with world events but particularly with notions and prejudices that make their success and contribution to Western Australian society all the more remarkable.
For others who do not share this ancestry, the writing is just as poignant and relevant for there have been few, if indeed any, instances of immediate acceptance shown by those who staked prior claims to citizenship of this country. We may thrive in our nation but truly “we have stood on the shoulders of giants”.
There will be a launch both in Perth and in Kalgoorlie, hopefully in September. This would make an ideal gift for a family member for Christmas and a valuable addition to anyone’s library.
If you wish to be kept informed, you can send us a registration of interest to: moyasharp@outbackfamilyhistory.com.au
Moya Sharp
Latest posts by Moya Sharp (see all)
- The Count of Mount Remarkable – - 11/05/2024
- A Massacre at Laverton – - 11/05/2024
- Reinsman of the Roads – Fred Crews - 11/05/2024
Leave a Reply