Rodriguans have been migrating to Australia since the 1950s. The first families were the Calamels. For those who have been to Rodrigues, the colonial house of the the Calamels still stands near the Francois Leguat's Place. The house is now occupied by the well-known, Ben Gontran.
The wave of Rodriguan migration to Sydney and Melbourne happened in the late 1960s. Among the families who came by boats, the big ones, Patris, and Galileo, were the Castels, the Roussetys, the Meuniers and the Raffauts. Ademar Roussety and his family were the first to settle down in Melbourne, according to Marie Fidou Templin, Secretary of the Club.
The largest diaspora of Rodriguans is in Melbourne in the state of Victoria, Australia. There could be around 2,000 Rodriguans living in Melbourne. They came from the regions of Port Mathurin, Oyster Bay and La Ferme.
The community of Rodriguans in Melbourne is not only vocal but visible through the Rodriguan Social Club of Victoria which is a model of solidarity and success.
I was very impressed when I walked into the clubhouse of the RSCV for the first time on 19 February 2012. While the interior decoration of the club is very original, the atmosphere is also welcoming.
It is immediately felt that all the members are very connected to the club as a building but more so as a group who shares the same commitments, the same values and the same passion. There is a great feeling of belonging and solidarity among the members. What is more impressive is the cordial, friendly, community and family atmosphere that prevails at the club house where anyone and everyone feels at ease straightaway.
The Rodriguan Social Club of Victoria is one of the most successful ethnic clubs of Melbourne where the community is gathered frequently for social and cultural activities. There is so much happening at the club that Emission Kontak has developed a slogan when referring to the club, " Il se passe toujours quelque chose au club Rodriguais."
The RSCV, commonly known as " Le Club Rodriguais" is the only Rodriguan Club in the world. This year it is celebrating its 18th anniversary. The club was founded by some well wishers who had a vision for the community and a hub for the members and non members to meet and celebrate their culture and legacy. It did not take long for the club and the Rodriguan community to position themselves as a unique community and distinguishing themselves from the other communities and clubs all while forming part of the wider Australian society.
The RSCV is also different from the other Mauritian clubs of Victoria. This is not to say that there is animosity between these two groups as it used to be in Rodrigues in the 60s and 70s, but instead there a cordial and close friendship between Mauritians and Rodriguans in Melbourne. There are many Mauritians born as well as some Seychellois who feel a strong sense of 'appartenance' to the Rodriguan club. This is due to the shared creole culture, the friendly atmosphere and the many social and cultural activities which fill the leisure of the many baby boomers of Melbourne.
The RSCV is also different from the other Mauritian clubs of Victoria. This is not to say that there is animosity between these two groups as it used to be in Rodrigues in the 60s and 70s, but instead there a cordial and close friendship between Mauritians and Rodriguans in Melbourne. There are many Mauritians born as well as some Seychellois who feel a strong sense of 'appartenance' to the Rodriguan club. This is due to the shared creole culture, the friendly atmosphere and the many social and cultural activities which fill the leisure of the many baby boomers of Melbourne.
The history of the club is a successful one. It can be classified as a model of democracy.
While the club is under the leadership of a Central Committee, it operates with full disclosure and transparency. Power is decentralised, all the members are involved in one way or another in the running of the club. In politics we call this participative democracy a new and modern paradigm which is gaining momentum and more consideration.
This model is working perfectly for the club. It is a strategy which allows the RSCV to reach its aims, goals and achieve its many objectives. It keeps the bond among members while focussing on the bigger picture, "OUR Club OUR Culture ".
The establishment of the club and now having their own clubhouse is a milestone for the members. They feel a sense of pride for what they have achieved. It is a dream comes true, as was put to me by the actual President, Cyril Appadoo. It is also a dream that they are living in the reality. A baby that has being taken care of with much attention and which has grown and developed. It is now a fully proud grown-up, 18 years old.
The other intangible, but how big, achievement of the RSCV is the way they are keeping the Rodriguan's legacy and culture alive, in a western city of Melbourne which is also very multicultural. The club has consistently and frequently put forward the values of their cuisine, music and dances.
The Rodriguan Community of Victoria has made their culture, and their country of origin known to the wider Australian Community through their frequent participations in festivals and other cultural events. like Globe to Globe, La Faya or Moumba.
There is no doubt that the Rodriguan community of Melbourne and the RSCV have positioned themselves strategically, strongly and conspicuously on the social and cultural landscape of Victoria .
Bravo a Fidou, Cyril, Mikel. Leo et les autres and Happy Birthday to the Klib Rodrigue.
No comments:
Post a Comment