Australia Day - a minor side note

Up on one of our walls in the living area is a framed certificate given to my mother on the 10th January 1958, who was then just nine years old, marking her crossing of the equator on the boat bringing her and her family to Australia.  The Australia Day long weekend made it fifty years since they arrived here from Finland, another part of the post-war migration history of this country.

I've often thought what it must have been like for my mother's family, leaving the familiar surrounds of Lappeenranta to make a new life on the other side of the world in a country they'd barely heard of.  It's a beautiful little town.  From what I understand, my grandfather discussed it at length with his neighbours and good friends, the Tarjavaaras, and they made a joint decision to come out here.  Pappa was doing ok for himself as a builder, and I've gotten the impression over the years that a possible political career through the trade union was also in the offing, but along with many other Finns they decided to move on.  I think they considered Canada (similar climate at least) but for whatever reason Australia was the final choice.

So here I am, here we all are, fifty years on.  At last count my grandparents' family of five has grown to include six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, with me as the southern outpost here in Canberra and my uncle, Ossi, the furthest up north in Cairns.  My mother, to her credit, actually organised a reunion of sorts in Sydney for all those who travelled aboard the ship, the Skaupa I think it was.

I'm now thinking about marking the anniversary this year by organising for their names to be added to the Welcome Wall at the Australian National Maritime Museum, but we'll see.  Would be best to run it by the family first, perhaps.