We met our teachers Jan and Kay in the front of the big white 1800’s building. We all went inside and there we met a guide who showed us into a library where anyone can check books and computers for information about migrants to Australia. This was very interesting.

Then the guide took us upstairs to the first floor where there were big television screens on the wall showing films of many people from different countries. They were immigrants who came to Australia over the years. They came here because of maybe problems in their own country like natural disasters, conflicts/wars, or because of love/marriage, job/better opportunities in their profession, lots of space and land, for freedom or family reunions.

Our teacher explained to us that many people went through dangerous times to get here, that it was important for us to know what they underwent in their journey here.

Then we went into a big room that had displays of different migrant stories. There were lots of pictures about the history of Chinese immigrants, Italians, Greeks, Vietnamese - and how each migrant brings their own culture with them.

Many people came here with their families on big boats and in one very big room there was a model of a ship in it. It was very interesting because the boat showed how migrant ships changed over the years.

We all liked the visit to this museum because all my classmates are migrants, and our teachers and the guide helped us understand and learn a lot about other migrant people.

So I think I am very lucky I came to Australia in 1997 because after I got married to my husband I left my country to get freedom and a better life and we have it here in Australia. After 1975 my country lost its freedom and my family was in South Vietnam so we suffered a lot of injustices from the government - we lost our house and our jobs.

Today we are lucky - Australia is a lucky country that allows us to live in freedom and the people are very full of kindness in their hearts.