DescriptionThis interview consists of one video recording. Rougina Haifa was interviewed on 20 June 2019 at Studio 2166 in the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Alinde Bierhuizen.Interview SummaryRougina arrived in Australia as an eighteen-year-old, having fled her home country of Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War. The violent conflict between different religious and political groups started in 1975, when Rougina was still at school. She remembers: ‘My mum picked us up from school and we never went back to our home. We didn’t have a piece of tissue from our house.’
The family moved around to different places in Lebanon and Syria to be safe, but eventually decided to move overseas. The Australian Government offered assisted migration to people affected by the civil conflict and Rougina’s older brother was already living in Sydney with his family.
After spending six months in Cyprus waiting for their Australian visas, Rougina arrived with her parents and four siblings in Sydney on Easter morning 1977.‘When I arrived in Australia I was so dizzy from the airplane, for nearly one week I stayed in bed... Everyday when I got up to walk, I couldn’t, I had never been in an airplane before this distance. After that I started walking, go outside, meet people, go shopping and I tried to go to TAFE to study again.’
For Rougina it is clear that keeping the family safe was the most important reason to leave Lebanon. Australia provided that safety, as well as the opportunity to study and work.
Even though she has never been back, Rougina has very fond memories of her homeland and speaks proudly of Lebanon. One way to stay connected to her culture is by cooking. A large cookbook with traditional recipes is treasured by her and her family. ‘tabouleh for salad, kibbeh,sambousek, all these meals we make together at home. We love to make it at home.’Date20/06/2019IntervieweeRougina HaifaInterviewerAlinde BierhuizenDuration00:11:59Transcripts availableNoRightsFairfield City CouncilAccess conditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public useNotesThis interview forms part of the exhibition 'Treasures from Home' which was on display at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery from 24 August 2019 to 15 February 2020.
