It may be just a small red vinyl suitcase but for Vietnamese refugee Cuc Lam it’s a symbol of a new beginning in a new country.
This is a colour photograph of a small open wooden boat packed with at least ten Vietnamese 'boat people' and their belongings. The boat's hull extends well above the water, but there is no cabin. The photograph was taken in the South China Sea on 1 January 1982.
Timeline: Vietnamese immigration to Australia
Look back at the history of Vietnamese immigration to Australia.