Table of Contents
Five years ago, in the midst of a pandemic and following the closure of our local newspaper, Manningham Life was established with a simple purpose: to connect and inform our community, and to tell the stories of the people who call Manningham home.
We chose the tagline Our Stories, Our Community because we believed local stories matter. They help us understand who we are, where we have come from and what connects us.
Since then, we have had the privilege of sharing many stories of achievement, resilience, service and community spirit. From Paralympians Lei Li Na and Brendon Smith to long-time local resident Susan Hudak, each story has helped tell the story of Manningham itself.
Today, that mission feels more important than ever.
As national conversations around migration become increasingly heated and divisive, it can be easy to forget that behind the statistics, policies and headlines are real people and real lives.
Here in Manningham, ours is a community shaped by people from many different backgrounds, cultures and journeys. According to the 2021 Census, 54,259 residents were born overseas, representing around 44 per cent of the municipality's population. Our residents come from 99 different countries, and nearly half speak a language other than English at home.
That is why we are launching a new series: I am. You are. We are Australians.
Through this series, local residents will share their journeys to Australia — the hopes that brought them here, the challenges of starting a new life in an unfamiliar country, and the contributions they have made to the community they now call home.
Some arrived as students, some as skilled migrants, and some seeking safety or opportunity for their families. Many faced language barriers, financial hardship or the pain of leaving loved ones behind. Yet through resilience, determination and hard work, they have helped shape the community we know today.
We hope these stories resonate with readers and, in some small way, encourage us to see one another not through labels or assumptions, but through the experiences and shared humanity that connect us.
