Who is the applicant?
The applicant (or ‘patron’ as referred to in the online form) is the member of the family who
is purchasing the plaque on behalf of the family. All communication
between Bonegilla Migrant Experience and the family will take place through
this person. Payment, queries, proofs and the final certificate
will all be carried out by, or directed toward, the applicant on
behalf of the family.
What if there are a group of us purchasing a plaque
for our family?
We ask that if the plaque is being requested by a family group, that
one person is the applicant (patron) and shares the information with other
family members involved in the purchase. When the group is happy
with the result, approval of the plaque
details should be forwarded by the applicant. This process avoids
inaccuracies and the need for a replacement plaque to be made in the
future.
What is the process and timeline?
The online plaque ordering process usually takes around eight weeks from application to installation, provided the following stages are completed:
- Apply online and pay. An auto-confirmation message will be sent immediately.
- A confirmation letter and proof are emailed within four weeks from an @wodonga.vic.gov.au source. Check your spam folder if you cannot find the proof.
- Check carefully and approve or note corrections promptly via return email. If errors are not corrected and requested by the applicant before approval and engraving, a replacement corrected engraving will cost an additional 80 per cent of the plaque’s initial fee.
- Hard copy notification and certificate of plaque installation is sent by mail and should arrive four weeks after approval of proof.
- An electronic version of the certificate will be sent to the applicant around three to four weeks after the hard copy has been sent.
If you cannot apply online, it is possible to apply manually by completing and emailing a PDF application form with payment made in person or over the phone. If this is the case, please request a form by email at [email protected].
If you are unable to apply online or use email, an application form can be obtained by contacting Bonegilla Migrant Experience on (02) 6020 6912. The use of surface mail for receiving and returning the application will delay the process.
Timelines may also be extended when the applicant requires errors to be corrected or changes to be made where additional proofs are sent and considered, or during holiday periods.
What size are the plaques and how many words can be included?
The plaques are approximately 150mm by 85mm in size and family details are laser engraved onto 1mm thick stainless steel. Each plaque is rivetted to The Arc memorial sculpture wall. Rather than specifying the number of words for each line of the plaque we prefer to collect the relevant information first. When a Bonegilla Migrant Experience staff member sends the proof, they will advise if there is insufficient space and make suggestions on how to adjust it.
Who can be included as part of the plaque?
Individuals, couples and families who arrived at Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre between 1947 and 1971.
What can we include as part of the plaque?
Please see typical layouts and content below for a couple (left) and a family (right):
You can register in the following ways:
- Individual - Surname and given name, for example, SMITH, John.
- Couple - Surname and given names, for example, SMITH, John and Jill.
- Family - Surname and given names, for example, SMITH, John, Jill, Mary, Jack.
As you can see it is possible to add variations of the spelling of the surnames and first names depending on available space.
Our family has ordered and paid for a plaque. How do we find out where it is in the process?
Please see timelines and steps above. If you have applied and paid online and you haven’t received a proof within four weeks, please check you spam folder for emails from an @wodonga.vic.gov.au email address. If you are not able to find any confirmation from Bonegilla Migrant Experience, please call or email our friendly team.
Can we include my mother’s or grandmother’s maiden name?
Yes, your mother’s or grandmother’s maiden name can be added if there is enough room for additional names on that line, for example (nee Smith).
There were two parents and multiple relatives in our family that arrived over multiple years, can we include them on the one memorial plaque?
No, each memorial plaque is limited to a one-year period, for example ‘1947’ or ‘1955’. Each plaque is placed on The Arc memorial sculpture wall under the year of arrival of the individuals in that family. The family members from each separate arrival should have their own plaque that is mounted against the relevant year.
My father/mother was known by an English version of his/her name. Can we include this as well?
Yes, see the example of the design in reply to the question, “What can we include as part of the plaque?”
Can we include middle names?
Yes, however, we would not recommend this if there are many individuals named on the one plaque, as space is limited.
Our parents legally changed their last name to make it easier to spell and pronounce. Can we include the original spelling?
Yes, you can include the original legal name shown upon arrival and have the commonly used name following in brackets. This is subject to space requirements and character limits. See the example of the design in reply to the question, “What can we include as part of the plaques?”
We don’t know the exact date our family arrived in Australia, at Bonegilla. How can we find the date?
Each person or family group at Bonegilla was registered with an ID card which recorded dates of arrival, departure and more. You can search for these details online at idcards.bonegilla.org.au
You can also access the date of arrival online via the National Archives of Australia.
My father’s name is spelled incorrectly on his Bonegilla ID card. Which spelling should we use?
You can include the original legal name shown on arrival adjacent to the commonly used or Anglicised name in brackets subject to space requirements and character limits.
Our family is planning a visit to Bonegilla Migrant Experience, when will the plaque be up on The Arc memorial sculpture to view?
Once you have received your certificate in the mail this serves as confirmation of installation on The Arc memorial sculpture wall.
Please read the eight-week timeline and process in the “What is the process and timeline?” question above, as well as advice regarding possible delays.
Please contact Bonegilla Migrant Experience via email or phone if it has been eight weeks since you have ordered your plaque and you have not received notification, or if you are planning a personal or family visit to view the plaque.
Our parents came from different towns, can we include both under in the country of origin?
Possibly – subject to word limits and space available on the plaque. Include the information in your order. We will notify you during proofing stage via email if there is insufficient room or if the request is problematic.
One of the family members was over 16 and had their own card. Can they be included as part of the same plaque?
Yes, if they were at Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre at the same time as the rest of the family.
My sister/brother was born while the family was at Bonegilla. Can they be included as part of the plaque?
Yes, their name can be included on the plaque.
My sister/brother was born in Australia after my family left Bonegilla. Can they be included on the plaque?
No, The Arc memorial sculpture is limited to individuals, couples and families who arrived at Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre between 1947 and 1971.
Can we include the ship name that the family arrived in Australia on the plaque?
No, from the beginning of the memorial plaques project it has been a consistent approach not to include the ship name (or how people arrived).
My family that arrived at Bonegilla was very large. Will all the names be able to fit on one plaque?
More than likely. We make every effort to include all family members on the memorial plaque. Although this is subject to space and character limit, the font size may be varied to accommodate. Please include all the names and other information indicated in the order form. When we send the proof via email we will advise if there in insufficient space and make suggestions on how to adjust.
Another family member had a plaque made and we noticed there are errors. How do we fix the mistakes on the plaque, and is there a cost?
The fee to replace a plaque containing errors is 80 per cent of the current plaque cost. It is important the applicant checks the proof very carefully (we advise that this should also involve discussion with other family members) and notify Bonegilla Migrant Experience of any errors. We do not send the proof details to the engraver without the applicant’s approval of the content.
Can we get a second copy of the plaque as we have a specific private location we would like to put it?
Yes, the fee to re-copy the plaque is 80 per cent of the current memorial plaque fee.
We are not sure if our family arrived at Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre. How do we find out?
Each person or family group at Bonegilla was registered with an ID card which recorded dates of arrival, departure and more. You can search for these details online at idcards.bonegilla.org.au
You can also search online via the National Archives of Australia.
What a great idea The Arc memorial sculpture is! Can we get a plaque put up on the wall if our family arrived in Sydney (or elsewhere) and stayed in an immigration hostel there.
No, sorry. The Arc memorial sculpture is only for individuals, couples and families who arrived at Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre between 1947 and 1971.