Darling Harbour, Tu Do
The "Tu Do" is a wooden fishing boat moored at the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour. It arrived in Darwin on 21 November 1977 with 31 Vietnamese refugees crowded on board with their hopes for a better life in Australia echoed in the vessel's name, which means 'freedom'. The first 'boat people' fled the turmoil of South Vietnam in simple coastal fishing craft, often unsuited to a long ocean voyage.
A fine vessel. Moving story. Nicely preserved
ReplyDeleteImagining the the desperation of 31 people to board this small boat for such a long voyage.
ReplyDeleteIt does look small. That many people packed into that? Wow.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how they survived these long trips on such small vessels.
DeleteIt makes you think about what people go through to get to our countries.
ReplyDeleteNeat ship!
ReplyDeleteVery nice boat! Arianna
ReplyDeleteIt may not be suitable for escaping over long distances, but from I can see, it's an attractive little vessel.
ReplyDeletejanet
It looks a lot better now that it has been restored.
DeleteFine looking boat, but not one for an open ocean crossing. Those refugees were desperate to take such a risk. Hope their dreams were realized.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I'm there I stand and look at this little boat, so different from the others, and think what hard experiences it had.
ReplyDeleteIsrael also took in several hundred Vietnamese boat people in the late 1970s. You can read about the 150-200 who are still here: http://www.timesofisrael.com/35-years-on-where-are-israels-vietnamese-refugees/