Globalization and Cultural Identity in Australia

Author

Senjov-Makohon Natalie (Melbourne, Australia)

a Doctor, an academic researcher and experienced pedagogue. Scientific interests: cultural identity; newest techniques of education.

Globalization and Cultural Identity in Australia

Abstract

Geelong is an agricultural, production and industrial centre. Ukrainian emigrants have found work in the local business there and, that is the most important – they have brought own cultural heritage with them.

Our first Geelong settlers have started to travel to Australia from Galicia (the present Western territories of Ukraine) in 1890s–1910s, the times of Austro-Hungarian Empire existence. Life in Galicia is difficult, that’s why an alternative has appeared, either to stay in exigency in Galicia, or migrate searching for better life.

A considerable part of the population has chosen the second variant. People migrate to Argentina, Brazil, the United States of America, Canada, Belgium and France. A certain group moves to Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Hercegovina. It is easier to migrate to Bosnia as this territory has been subordinated to Austro-Hungarian Empire. Quite a few perturbations and changes happen in people lives.

The population composition has changed at the beginning of World War I. Many young men have been mobilized to various armies to support Empire martial ambitions. In 1914 in Galicia the volunteers have been mobilized to fight at the Russian front after a short period of drill. In Bosnia young Ukrainians have been mobilized to Austrian army of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen. In November 1, 1918 they have taken Lviv. However, persistent hostility turns out to be a destructive phenomenon to implement Ukrainian independence.

Ukrainian young men return home to Bosnia. They have lost friends in the battle and got into the centre of a new political and social structure. Ukrainians stay in the villages till World War II. They have settled there before World War I and busy themselves with farming or trade at the suburb.

In 1939–1945 the former Galicia is a part of Europe, which has sustained the largest human casualties. An issue how to save own lives has been put sharply before Ukrainians by the war. This self-preservation lasts on the farms and labour camps of Germany. The refugees conditions of life have been pitiful ones. However social, cultural and political activities have developed sense of identity. Cultural life in these camps has secured the extension of assignment of Ukrainian values, language and moods.

At the same time migration from Yugoslavia has taken place with the beginning of the Soviet-Yugoslavian confrontation concerning the national independence of 1948 and split between Stalin and Tito. In such a way a path to the West has been opened and migration into the world is encouraged. Ukrainians become mobile again. In 1950 they have emigrated to Italy (Trieste), where create community. It has seen actively to the preservation of cultural heritage and identity.

The Plast organization is of the first rank significance. Besides the realization of scout actions, the youth has studied Ukrainian language and traditional heritage (e. g. dancing and singing in the chorus). Many Geelong representatives are known as the chorus participants. At last, at the end of 1953 Ukrainians have betaken themselves to sea voyage from Yugoslavia to Australia to join the emigrants from Ukraine in Geelong. Though the life of these families has been broken, they always consider themselves as the Ukrainians. They know their cultural heritage and traditions, maintained by generations.

The first Geelong inhabitants have created community, religious centres. They have built own People’s house and a church. They have accomplished all building works themselves. In 1972 an article on Ukrainian Sich Riflemen, who live in Geelong, and also a photograph have been published. These men have been refugees, soldiers of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen early in life and meet in Geelong many years later.

Education, descent of culture and heritage have been extremely important things for Geelong population. The community committee has thought, that the Union of Australia Ukrainians (Geelong) is right for such work organization. It is obvious during the whole Ukrainian emigration to Geelong, which has started in 1948, that women and the Union of Australia Ukrainians in Geelong are of a great importance in Ukrainian community establishment. Its uniqueness in Geelong consists in two branches of emigration. 

  In 2018 this cultural centre has celebrated 70 years of continual development and preservation of Ukrainian cultural originality and heritage. This study is a tribute to many Geelong representatives, who can be conditionally divided into two groups. The first of them has been exiled from Ukraine via Germany. The second one has emigrated from Yugoslavia because of Tito and Stalin actions. These two groups, or two branches, have joined efforts and knowledge for the development of unique Ukrainian identity. Their abilities, behavior and unique qualities have given them the sensation of appliance to Ukrainian community, though they belong to two different branches. They desire to increase the life standards by the way of globalization and connection between people, who have created an opportunity for constant economic development and interchange by knowledge and ideas among various communities. Ukrainians have formed new communities and united their cultural knowledge and skills, crossing territorial borderlines to generate new cultural experience and improve the local communities experience.

Our Geelong inhabitants have formed community and developed cultural identity in Australia for seventy years. At the same time these people have created a unique cultural identity to preserve own traditions, language and for adaptation to life styles, unknown for their forerunners.

Keywords

Australia, Geelong, globalization, cultural identity.

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