Central to this emotive work is the narrative of a journey seen through the eyes of two young Australian Vietnamese children. It is the notion of family — both its strength and its survival across generations.  It is an opportunity for a safe and better future.

A large sculpted boat form, its surface reminiscent of an ocean, provides the first staging for the narrative. Here the boy releases a lotus into this vast sea, symbolising the start of the long and hazardous journey bravely undertaken.

Six lotus flowers travel toward the horizon where a beacon stands tall — a guiding light to a new beginning, shelter and home.  The five lotus flowers on the boat, in the formation of the Southern Cross, are symbolic of democracy and freedom. The boy holding the final lotus flower combines with the lotus flowers on the boat to represent the six stars on the Australian flag, a symbol of a new home in Australia.

The emancipation of the lotus is a powerful symbol— a metaphor for rising above adversity, commitment and optimism for the future.  Yet this action is suffused with remembrance, evoking reflection. Lotus flower is also a national flower of Vietnam.

The Monument promotes empathy for all Refugees within the broader community by conveying the themes of this epic journey — Freedom, Future, Resilience and Gratitude.

On behalf of the Australian Vietnamese community in South Australia, the Association thanks the many South Australian companies, artists and tradies who worked on this significant project.

Images: Jenny Scott

At the side of the stone form, two bronze life-size figures of young Vietnamese children play. They place a bronze lotus flower upon the surface of the ‘ocean’ that is imagined from the polished granite surface. The lotus flower mimics a weathered boat cast upon the vast ocean.   This becomes the pivotal point where a conversation begins about the Vietnamese Boat People, their heritage and their legacy.  Further adrift, upon the ocean’s surface, float six bronze lotus flowers, free and travelling steadily toward the guiding beacon ahead.

The beacon at the pathway’s end stands tall: its black and white stone banding reminiscent of the nautical way-finders guiding vessels safely into shore.  Grounded in rock, the beacon stands on a natural slate base about 3.5 meters round.  Four words are etched into the base — Freedom, Future, Resilience and Gratitude. Simple yet powerful words forming the bedrock of the Vietnamese Boat People’s experience.

Inside the beacon is gold leaf detail, a shimmering horizon of optimism and dreams yet to be realised.  The gold-leafed element also symbolises a precious gift given, exchanged between two cultures.  For one, the gift of a better life, and in return, an offering of gratitude from the Vietnamese Community to the Australian people.

Before being resettled in western countries including Australia, America, Canada, France and Italy, most Vietnamese Boat People stayed in refugee camps around South East Asia.  The names of these large refugee camps, where hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees stayed, are paved on the Monument:

1. Pulau Bidong, Pulau Tengah and Sungei Besi (Malaysia)
2. Palawan and Bataan (Philippines)
3. Galang and Kuku (Indonesia)
4. Whitehead (Hong Kong)
5. Hawkins Road (Singapore)
6. Songkhla, Sikiew and Phanat Nikhom (Thailand)

Many reports state over half of the Vietnamese people who escaped Vietnam by sea died before reaching safe harbour.  These are some sentiments Vietnamese Boat People expressed about their journey, now paved around the Monument:

1. “Under the cover of night, our boat sailed into the unknown”
2. “We escaped our homeland to find freedom and peace”
3. “Exhaustion, hunger and thirst battered us day by day”
4. “In the darkest hours of fear, we could only close our eyes and pray”
5. “Many experienced great suffering and loss, yet clung to hope”
6. “Our perilous journey brought us to Australia – a country we now call home”
7. “The cries of sorrow on the boat turned to cries of joy once we saw land”.

Boat Dimensions: 4.1m long x 1.4m wide, weighing 4.5 tonnes

Beacon Dimensions: 3.35m high x 0.8m wide, weighing 1.7 tonnes

Monument’s Footprint:  15.5m long, 5.2m wide

Granite sourced from Black Hill Quarry, SA & managed by Tillett Natural Stone Industries, Hindmarsh, SA

Photos: These photos are courtesy of Jenny Scott. We thank her for the use of these photos

Channel 9 News