“Small World, Big Family” was first exhibited at the Australian National Maritime Museum in 1995 to commemorate fifty years of post-war migration. These portraits show the rich diversity of people who have migrated to Australia. From Lithuanian refugees who arrived in the immediate aftermath of World War ll to a doctor from Hong Kong in 1991, Sarah documents families and individuals from around the world.

Hover your cursor over the images to see details.

Yaw Glymin with Lisa and Kiti, 1995

Yaw was born in Sunyani, Ghana, and worked as a studio musician with local artists, recorded demos with Brian Eno in Ghana and worked on the West Coast of Africa on promotional tours. Yaw recorded with his band OSU in London in 1983 for Shaka productions. He came to Australia via Asia and new Caledonia in 1985. Yaw helped to form Australia's premier Afro/Caribbean band, Kalabash, playing all over Australia including expo 88 in Brisbane. He worked for four years for the Department of Education teaching African drumming and storytelling, giving school children all over the country and insight into African culture. Yaw became an Australian citizen in 1990 and in 1995 he was playing with The Real Groove at the Riva Club in the Sheraton on the Park.

Michael (Mick) Tubbs, 1995

Mick was born in the village of Breatof in Lincolnshire, England, in 1935. At 15 years of age he came to Australia under the auspicious care of Dr Barnardos Homes from an orphanage in England to Barnardos Farm School, Picton.

Mick was a farm worker for six years then worked as a factory worker and political organiser until he was admitted to Macquarie University as a provisional matriculant at the age of 40. He was later admitted as a student of law at that university where he graduated in 1980 with First Class Honours. Mick was admitted as a barrister at law in July 1980 and in 1995 he was practising as a barrister.

Gladys Silva and her daughters Rossana and Sandra, 1995

Born in Montevideo, Uruguay.

“I arrived in Australia in June 1974 with my husband and our two daughters. We left Uruguay not knowing much about Australia, saddened at leaving all our family behind, fearful and at the same time excited with the prospect of beginning a new life in this country. Upon our arrival we were greeted at Sydney Airport by Immigration staff who, although friendly, spoke only English. We of course only spoke Spanish. At the airport we were given a colour badge although we did not know at the time this indicated the migrant centre we were going to be allocated and we were driven to Westbridge Migrant Centre in Villawood where we were to remain for the next six months.”

Marcille Cameron, 1995

Marcille was born in Matale, in the hills of the tea growing country, and then educated by Welsh nuns in a boarding school convent in Ratnapura, “the land of the gems”. She migrated to Australia with her one-year-old daughter, Tammy, in 1973.

In 1995 Marcille was working as a policy officer in the Utilities Planning section of Sydney Water.

Luigi and Eleni Coluzzi and members of their extended family, 1995

Eleni was born in Greek Romania and came to Australia in 1950 with her brother on board an American warship. On arrival they went by train to an immigration centre in Bathurst where they spent three months. Eleni then moved to Sydney and she worked in a glass factory and a milk bar before she married Luigi.

Luigi, a champion boxer born in Rome, came to Australia in 1954 for his first fight here. He met Eleni on a trip to Australia a year later at an Italian Ball in Melbourne. Luigi gave up boxing in 1957, after winning Australian and European titles, when he opened the famous Coluzzi coffee bar in Darlinghurst which was still in operation in 1995 when this portrait was made.

Alan Subkey, 1995

Alan was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1964 and came to Australia with his parents and brother on the Achille Lauro at the age of two.

In 1995 Alan was studying for a BA in Ancient History at Sydney University and working as a fire fighter at Alexandria fire station.

Mary Thompson, 1995

Mary was born in Dingle, the most westerly town in Europe ("next parish, Boston”) in County Kerry and came to Australia several times before deciding to settle here. She completed general nurse training in Dublin and studied and worked in the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London. Mary migrated to Australia in 1988 and helped to set up the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre which has clinics all over Australia.

In 1995 Mary was working as medical advisor on the ABC drama series GP.

Sam and Fruma Baskir, 1995

Both born in Kaunas, Lithuania, Sam and Fruma arrived in Australia in December 1948 as family reunion migrants. Fruma was pregnant and gave birth to a son, Victor, in 1949. Sam found a job in the motor industry and later studied accountancy. He qualified as an accountant in 1962 and worked with a major Australian manufacturing company until his retirement.

In 1995 Sam and Fruma were “both retired, enjoying the fruits of their labour and the opportunities that this country offered in such abundance.”

Sheryl and Duncan Johnstone with David and Kyla, 1995

Sheryl was born in the small country town of Middelburg in South Africa. She has a BA in Languages and a postgraduate Diploma in High School Education. Before coming to Australia Sheryl was a language teacher and she also worked as a buyer for a large retail organisation.

Duncan was born in Johannesburg and has an Honours degree in Social Work. He worked as a social worker in lower socio-economic communities and has been involved with making educational programs for television. Duncan also worked in the rehabilitation of birds after shipping disasters on the coast of South Africa.

Duncan and Sheryl spent six months sailing around South America and the West Indies and in 1989 they migrated to Australia. They settled in Sydney with their two children and in 1995 Duncan was working for a film production company.

Ayla Bozdag, Nawal Amasheh and May Chung, 1995

Ayla was born in Adana, Turkey, and came to Australia in 1969 with her parents and three siblings. Ayla worked as a Health Worker for six years with Women's Health in Industry, an umbrella group of the Leichhardt and Liverpool Women's Health Centre. She then worked for Cabramatta Community Centre as a Welfare Officer for three years.

Nawal was born in Jerusalem where she studied Midwifery and General Nursing. She worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for 25 years as a nurse in health centres in refugee camps before being promoted to Area Nursing Officer. In 1989 Nawal came to Australia on a UNRWA scholarship sponsored by Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA to study post-graduate Community Nursing at Cumberland College of Health Sciences. After returning to Jordan, Nawal and her family decided to move to Australia.

May was born in Hong Kong and in 1979 went to the PRC to study Medical Science for six years. She practised as a physician in China for one year before returning to Hong Kong where she passed her doctors examinations and practiced as a physician for 18 months. May then worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative. She came to Australia at the end of 1991 and studied Marketing Management and advanced Chinese and English for interpreting and translating, which she completed in 1994. May worked as a casual interpreter at Ontrack Employment working with people with disabilities.

In 1995 Ayla, Nawal and May were Bilingual Liaison Officers at Auburn Hospital.

The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Harbord Ward, Greenwich Stake, 1995

Church members are from eight different countries: England, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, Philippines, Russia and Tonga.

In 1995 Viliami Naulu from Tonga (3rd from left, back row) was working as an Administration Officer for the Onshore Refugee Program, Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.