‘But no one can say he was hungry’: Memories and Representations of Bonegilla Reception and Training Centre

A nation divided: A qualitative exploration of Australians' attitudes towards the date of Australia Day

“…However, signs of date-change support were evident in the data. A higher percentage of participants were found to be in support of date change than the proportion found in existing grey literature polls and surveys (Institute of Public Affairs, 2023;Pennay & Bongiorno, 2019;Roy Morgan, 2023). A higher percentage of participants aged under 35 were also in support of date change, aligning with existing polls (Institute of Public Affairs, 2023;Pennay & Bongiorno, 2019;Roy Morgan, 2023).…”

“…Scholarly research has begun to uncover demographic and sociodemographic predictors of support for celebrating Australia Day on January 26, such as age, racism, traditionalism, and patriotism (Fozdar et al, 2015;Lipscombe et al, 2019;Mortimer-Royle, Webb, McLinton, Clark, & Watkins, 2024;Pennay & Bongiorno, 2019). Mortimer-Royle et al (2024) found these factors to be significant predictors of support for January 26 in a 2022 survey of more than 550 Australians.…”

Marginal or mainstream? Migrant centres as grassroots and official heritage

“…Other entries also draw on more contentious episodes, some referring to well-worn debates about Bonegilla's public history -the food (see Pennay, 2012) and the riots over lack of work (see Bosworth 1987). Another former resident uses the opportunity to reminiscence about Bonegilla in order to recall first sensory encounters -taste, sight, sound, through which she makes sense of her feelings of fear and experience of strangeness:…”

Place-Making and the Finsbury/Pennington Migrant Hostel

“…Among the strongest memories of Finsbury/Pennington, and indeed about migrant centres more generally, are connected to the food and the communal dining rooms in which it was served (Postiglione 2010;Pennay 2012;Agutter & Ankeny 2017). Therefore the inclusion of a giant cup, plate, and cutlery with Commonwealth catering markings represent part of the canteen kit issued to former residents on arrival and doubles as a unique play space for children (Figures 4-5).…”

“…Similarly, reunions initiated the collection of histories at centres such as the West Sale Holding Centre(Synan 2002).7 We draw the reader's attention to the well-documented discussions of the Bonegilla Centre as an example of the contested and contrasting narratives and agendas of the various stakeholders. See for exampleWills 2009, Persian 2012, Pennay 2012, and Dellios 2015b; more generally in regard to retrospective commemoration seeAshton & Hamilton: 2008.…”