Immigration from Lebanon to Australia occurred in three waves: the first from around 1880 to the 1920s, the second from 1947 to 1975, and the third from 1976 to the present.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Archived copies of The Daily Advertiser provide a snapshot of the year Nabiha Koriaty arrived in the Riverina.
“Riverina farmers suffered through the worst part of a relentless two-year drought the area had ever experienced.
“By early summer, the situation for many farmers had quickly deteriorated. Stock water dams had become hard clay beds, storage levels at both Burrinjuck and the Hume Dams became critical, stock were travelling stock routes by the tens of thousands and the Murrumbidgee River reached low levels – posing enormous water supply problems for centre downstream. Most Riverina centres imposed water restrictions on residents.” – The Daily Advertiser, January 1968.
“The State Government announced they would build a college of advanced education in Wagga. The announcement ended a long battle of lobbying by the Riverina University League.” – The Daily Advertiser, September 20, 1968.
Nabiha Koriaty, 77, arrived in Australia back in 1968, not knowing a single word of English, but her faith provided a pillar of strength.
Nabiha was born in a small town in southern Lebanon in 1941, at the height of World War II and said God has always been by her side.
“When I was a month old, my family had to leave their home because of the fighting and climbed over the icy mountain to a safer town,” she said.
“I got sick and couldn’t open my eyes, there was no doctor and the townsfolk all agreed I was dying.”
Nabiha said her parents were told the only thing they could do was to leave her in a church overnight.
“If God wanted me to live, then they would find me the next day,” she said.
“My mum and dad came to see me the next morning and saw that not only was I alive, but there was also nothing wrong with me.”
Nabiha said the decision to move to Australia started after her husband lost his job and was struggling financially.
“We were thinking of Canada, because my aunty lived there,” she said.
“I had a dream that I was living in Australia and saw all the houses and me driving a car.
“My brother decided to help us to move to Australia since we didn’t have our own money.”
After organising a sponsor and the visas, Nabiha and her husband, Karam, had to travel separately.
Karam spoke no English and worked hard to earn money in order to bring Nabiha over as well.
“There was no support from the government,” she said.
“He worked two jobs. One in a factory and working as a printer to save money for my ticket.
“He couldn’t afford a plane ticket so we have to come by boat.”
Her first memory of Australia is arriving after spending 31 days on the boat.
“In the middle of the sea, it was really rough,” she said.
“Everybody thinks we are going to drown and they were scared, but with my faith, I was at peace.
“I left everything in Lebanon, except my Bible.”
Nabiha said the prospect of the move was daunting.
“In Australia, I had no family, no language and at first when I came to Melbourne I had no one,” she said.
“I lived in a house owned by the church and we used to put shillings to make the hot water go in.
“I had my daughter in Queen Victoria Hospital and we had no one next door except the factory, so when I went to the hospital, I went in a truck.”
Nabiha said when the nurse asked her what she wanted to call her daughter, she had an idea straight away.
“I asked what the name of the hospital was and she said ‘Queen Victoria Hospital’,” she said.
“I told her to call her Victoria.”
Nabiha said she was happy and worked hard.
“When my baby was one month old, I asked the factory to give me a job,” she said.
“I earned $7 a week.”
In 1973, Nabiha and her family relocated to Wagga and moved into a brick house in Peter Street.
At the age of 33, her dream came true and she got her drivers license.
"I would go to the shops, but I can’t see anything so I draw picture for it."
- Nabiha Koriaty
“It made everything easier,” she said.
Nabiha said she loves Wagga and in 1989, Nabiha’s Kitchen was opened, tempting customers with falafel, baklava and more.
“It is my second home,” she said.
“I started at first in the Sunday Markets selling my food and then I came and looked at this room.
“There was a rusty ceiling and lots of problems, but I knew I could fix it.”
Nabiha’s husband said no to the idea, but she went behind his back and rented the store because she knew she could take up the challenge.
“I fixed it and I signed over the house so if anything went wrong, they would have taken the house,” she said.
“With God’s help I did it and he didn’t know for a while.
“I didn’t sell only food, but I would feed the homeless and students come from the university and would want to share a meal.”
Nabiha said over the years she has provided food, jobs and a place to connect for those in the community who have needed it.
“I like helping young people to cook, if they have healthy food they can do anything,” she said.
“That’s why I am here, I like to help.”
Nabiha said she has no intention of slowing down, despite being in her seventies.
“I never sit down and I love it,” she said. “I will always tell people how much God has helped me.”
Nabiha said she is grateful for the support of Wagga.
“I love bringing people together,” she said. “I have travelled the world – France, Italy and England – but I love Wagga best, it’s true.”
Nabiha said people ask when will she retire.
“I say God give me the job, when I retire he take me up there,” she laughed.
To any new arrivals in the community, Nabiha said to have faith.
“Anyone is welcome here at my store, for whatever they need,” she said.
Over the next five weeks, The Daily Advertiser will continue to share the stories of some of those who have moved to Australia, one from each decade.
Some to escape war and devastation, and some for love.
Related:
While you’re with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to you inbox each day at 6am from the Daily Advertiser? To make sure you’re up to date with all the Wagga news sign up here.