Post-event reflections (added 6 March 2024)
The lecture and exhibition by Dr. Nonja Peters was well-attended by members of the DACC and the Dutch Club NAQ, as well as by interested members of the public. Attendance was approximately 35-40 people, and Dr. Peters received keen questions from the audience. After the presentation, the audience was invited to walk through and view the exhibition with Dr. Peters; coffee and tea with Dutch nibbles generously supplied by the Dutch Club provided a great opportunity for post-event networking.
The event 2 March 2024
With the generous support of the NAQ, the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre was delighted to present this lecture by Dr. Nonja Peters, visiting from Perth, to the wider Dutch community in Queensland.
The Exhibition was developed by the research organisations: Huygens ING, KNAW Humanities, Cluster Amsterdam and School of Arts and Humanities an the Edith Cowan University Western Australia.
This presentation forms part of the international exhibition “Dutch-Australian Migration Stories,” hosted by the NAQ from February 18 till 1 April which also features the compelling narrative of the Brisbane born Jennifer Tucker who runs the Amsterdam-based Australia Business In Europe.
Please register before February 29: dutchaustraliancc@gmail.com
In this seminar, Dr. Nonja Peters will explore the Maritime, WWII Military, post-war Migration, and Trade (Mercantile) heritage—referred to as the Four Ms—shared between the Netherlands and Australia. This historical connection dates back to 1606 when Captain Willem Janszoon and his crew arrived aboard the VOC ship Duyfken at the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in present-day Queensland, marking the first recorded European contact with the Great Southland. Notably, four VOC shipwrecks were discovered on the Western Australian coast between 1629 and 1727.
During World War II, the American, British, Dutch, and Australian Command (ABDACOM) forces were allies, while the Administration of the Dutch East Indies (NEI) was in exile at Camp Columbia (Wacol), Brisbane, Australia.
In this presentation, Dr. Peters will delve into the Four Ms and discuss the ongoing collaborative efforts between our two countries to preserve and celebrate this shared history for future generations.
About Dr. Nonja Peters:
Dr. Nonja Peters, PhD (Anthropology UWA), a Visiting Researcher at the Huygens Institute for the History of the Netherlands, is a distinguished Western Australian historian, anthropologist, museum curator, and social researcher. Her current focus lies in the aforementioned Four Ms, particularly exploring the sense of place, identity, and belonging of migrants, along with the digital preservation of migrant files in both home and host countries. Dr. Peters is renowned for her commitment to bridging the gap between academia and the public, with numerous publications, museum exhibitions, magazine articles, TV documentaries, and government reports to her credit. She collaborates internationally with academics, research institutes, heritage organisations, and local communities in both Australia and the Netherlands.
Dutch Australian Cultural Centre:
Jorien van Beukering, the DACC’s Executive Office Manager, will emcee the event.
The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre is a registered charity and nonprofit organisation. Our mission is to preserve and promote Dutch-Australian culture and history in both Australia and the Netherlands. We publish a free monthly e-newsletter, and warmly invite you to subscribe at dacc.net.au
Netherlands Association Queensland
Margreth de Graaf, President of the NAQ will welcome the delegates.
For numerous Dutch immigrants, the distance from their families in the Netherlands and the process of adapting to their new lives in Australia posed significant challenges. It is from this perspective that the club has consistently provided support to its members and guests, fostering a sense of community and extending a warm welcome. For many Netherlands families and their descendants, the club is a home away from home where people can come to meet and celebrate their history, traditions and culture.
Dutchlink Brisbane:
Dutch organisations in Brisbane collaborate under the banner of Dutchlink. Other members include the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Queensland, Borrelclub Brisbane, Duyfken School, and Dutch Radio Group Brisbane. The group is supported by the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, Mrs. Marjon Wind.
