Children
As an ex Army camp, Bonegilla was not initially designed to cater for families and children. This, coupled with a spate of child deaths in 1949, albeit from pre-arrival conditions such as malnutrition and gastroenteritis, prompted immediate improvements to the centre’s hospital and living facilities.
Special accommodation blocks were set up for families, with heated rooms, bassinettes, hot plates, feeding rooms, toy house, and play equipment. A crèche and kindergarten were built to assimilate the young and helped with language and social skills.
There was also a Create Leisure Centre for children, sports activities, and Lake Hume for swimming.
Initially, there was no school for the children of displaced persons and they had a four-five week ‘holiday’ though some did attend language classes with their parents. The Bonegilla State School opened in 1952.
Most former child residents remember Bonegilla fondly and as a big adventure. It was a place for climbing trees and going barefoot. They recall childhood fears of sunburn, swooping magpies, spiders, possums, bull ants and snakes; They did not have the concerns of their parents.