Small Town in Victoria Home to Large and Growing Laotian Population

July 24, 2004

Source: The Border Mail

http://www.bordermail.com.au/newsflow/pageitem?page_id=765873

On July 24, 2004 The Border Mail reported, "The Border [Wodonga, Victoria] is home to the largest Laotian population in the Southern Hemisphere outside a metropolitan area. And many of them will be displaying their cultural heritage at this years Ovens and Murray Football League grand final. Australian Lao Institute of Co-operation and Development president Mr Kevin Prakoonheang said jobs and sponsors for refugees in the 1980s lured the Asian group to Albury-Wodonga. He said due to the number of Laotians a community association had been formed and a Buddhist temple established to cater for spiritual needs. 'Because the settlement is so prominent, a Buddhist monk was sponsored to live in Albury to lead cultural and traditional life,' he said. 'Moving to Australia from Laos as refugees was not easy and it would have been a very difficult period for them. They needed to learn how to speak the language, get jobs and take care of their families.People in the mainstream community do need to lend a hand to these people and help to bring them into the community at large.'"