Sargon Hallaby Oral History (1934-2014)

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DescriptionThis interview consists of four audio recordings and transcripts. Sargon Hallaby was interviewed on 2 August 2003 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Marilyn Oshana. Interview SummarySargon Joseph Hallaby was born in Kirkuk, Iraq, in 1934 and is Assyrian by culture and religion. His father’s name was Ishu Hallaby and his mother was Lydia Kalayta. Assyrians were the indigenous people of Iraq and fought with the Allies during both the First and the Second World Wars.

His father had moved to Baghdad for more opportunity for work, then to Kirkuk. Kirkuk was a large oil area of Iraq and very wealthy, and his father found employment as storekeeper at one of the pump stations. A year or so later the family joined him at Haditha, near Kirkuk. There were 3 siblings. His schooling was in Kirkuk at an Assyrian college until his father called for them to join him.

Sargon learnt English mainly from his father but later had a thorough education at Basra where he began work as an apprentice technician. He went to Tripoli and had training there for his job. He married in 1960 and had three boys. Sadly his wife passed away from cancer not long after.

Iraq had become very anti-Christian and, as the Assyrians were Christians, it became difficult to find work, especially in government positions, unless you were Muslim. Because of this discriminatory situation, religious intolerance and increasing safety issues, Sargon decided later to migrate and because his parents had already come to Australia, it was his choice. He brought his three boys with him.

He loved the country right from the start and settled in the Fairfield area because there were many of his friends and countrymen there, as well as Assyrian churches and clubs. He was a little disappointed though that he did not see kangaroos jumping in the street.

Sargon obtained work immediately at Telecom because he spoke English and was a technician. Telecom is now Telstra. He remained there for 2 years and then went to STC as a technician where his work was in the early days of computers in Australia.

Assyrian people in general, particularly the men, spoke quite good English on migrating which they learnt working with British and other Europeans on the oil fields.

Sargon remarried in 1978 and at the time of this interview had a daughter.

His interview tells much of the history of the building up of the Assyrian community in Fairfield City and the clubs, churches and sporting facilities. He tells that although they may have no actual country of their own, that they appreciate wherever they live and, although obeying the laws of the particular country, they also have very strong traditions within their own community.

Details

IntervieweeSargon HallabyInterviewerMarilyn OshanaDate of interview02/08/2003DurationTotal interview 01:40:25Transcripts availableYesRightsFairfield City Council Access ConditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public use

Connections

Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldAssyrian CommunityCollectionAll Oral HistoriesThe Ashurbanipal Library Collection - Assyrian Community

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