Plans to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Greta Migrant Camp on October 18 have been called off with organisers claiming they had no funding and no time.
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The decision will disappoint hundreds of people in Maitland and others who were born at or grew up in the camp, which was one of Australia’s largest migrant reception centres.
This may also have been the last opportunity to take part in a ceremony at the site of Greta Migrant Camp because of expected plans to develop the area.
Maitland Cr Henry Meskauskas, who was three years old when his parents arrived at the camp, said he was very disappointed the 65th commemoration would not be held.
“This part of our history will now go down the drain – history of which I and many thousands were once a part,” Cr Meskauskas said yesterday.
“It is very disappointing that funding for celebrating the 65th anniversary was not obtained.
“We need something to show people the history of that camp, remembering the thousands of people who went through it.”
Cr Meskauskas said it would not be long before people once at the camp would no longer be around.
“Here was an opportunity to do something and this could be the last year the site will be available, because certainly it will be sold off.”
George Boyko, who said he was the event co-ordinator, told The Mercury: “There has not been enough time to plan for this.
“I could also not get any funding for it – and applying for funding takes time.”
