Cedars of Lebanon

DUNEDIN LEBANESE COMMUNITY DIGITISATION CENTRE 

Lebanese immigrants began arriving in Dunedin from the latter part of the 19th century. They wasted no time in settling in to the NZ way of life. Known as the “quiet immigrants”, they worked hard to establish themselves. A strong work ethic and sense of purpose compelled them to, somewhat ironically, become shining examples of the Scottish brand of stoicism that was so valued in the Deep South. They gained a reputation as hard-working, god-fearing folk, who valued family, education and a strong sense of community. By the early 20th century, second generation Lebanese were making major contributions to NZ life locally and internationally. The passing of the generations, globalisation, multi-culturalism, assimilation and a blending of cultures, have all played their part in the erosion of the Dunedin Lebanese community’s history. In recent years there has been a concerted effort to gather and record that rich history via a number of different mediums. The problem with storing information on traditional platforms is they can deteriorate, become outdated, inaccessible or be limited by physical access. Given that so much effort has gone into preserving our history in recent times, the next logical step was to ensure that it was preserved permanently on a global platform. The Dunedin Lebanese Community Digitisation Centre offers the opportunity to do that as well as to have it properly annotated, cross referenced and maintained by a highly skilled team of professionals at the Dunedin Public Library. Our ancestors sacrificed much to give future generations the opportunities they never had. We can repay them in part by leaving a legacy that captures our past. It is with deep love, great respect and enormous gratitude that we dedicate this centre to them. “Remembrance is a form of meeting” – Kahlil Gibran With humility and pride, RICHARD JOSEPH PRESIDENT