Living History

From the Old World to the New

Four to five years after World War 2 ended Holland was still strugging to recuperate, as was Gerrit, when he saw a slide show on Australia, our country having begun a drive for new settlers. Gerrit was so impressed he immediately went home to his wife Hendrika, telling her they would apply to immigrate with their two children, Geesje (eight) and Hendrik (three). One can only wonder if a sense of adventure inspired Gerrit or was it a desire for a better life for his family. Hendrika's response is also a matter for conjecture, but Geesje did not want to leave the only home she had known, nor a much loved aunt - her mother's sister.

Their voyage on a converted troopship began early in September, 1950. On arrival in Sydney on 13th October, they were transported to Bathurst by bus. The family's new home was a one room former army hut, water was heated on a primus stove and their first Australian meal was a hotdog. This new experience was shared by other Dutch, as well as English and Polish families. Work was available on the land for Gerrit and Hendrika - hard work with long hours, often seasonal. This involved frequent travel for the family, all over New South Wales, sometimes separation during the shearing season. They coped, but there were always added problems because of the difficulty in learning to speak and understand the language. Perhaps if Geesje and later Hendrik had been able to stay in one place long enough to attend school regularly they may have helped in this regard; as it was they had to follow the work and education was haphazard. It was to be six years before the family settled in the south east outer metropolitan area of Sydney and it seemed that Gerrit's dream was realised. A photo of him turning the soil for a garden in their first real home in Australia was published in the local paper in Holland, together with their story.

Geesje, now a teenager, was taller than average, spoke differently and found regular schooling unpleasant. Another memory of this time for her was always being responsible for Hendrik. Her previous years in Australian had taught her resilience. Her later teenage years she remembers were even happy at times. Married at eighteen to a local boy, Geesje quickly adjusted to her new Australian family, although one aspect of the culture she could never accustom herself to was reliance on alcohol and gambling for entertainment, often at the expense of time shared with wife and family. As her three sons grew they became interested in sport; Geesje supported them in every way. An often repeated saying of hers now is, "When you're young you think you know everything but you learn." This Geesje did and, despite all the trials of family life, continued to do. When her increasing unhappy marriage was dissolved her three sons were men with families of their own.

One of Geesje's few regrets is that she never saw her beloved aunt again. When the opportunity finally came to visit the country where she was born, her mother's sister had died. She speaks of having a wonderful time with her extended family but Australia is home. Living alone where Gerrit finally settled his family, he and Hendrika having moved around more before they died, Geesje is a perfect example of the type of migrant Australia aimed for in the fifties; a true settler. Grandmother to four girls and tree boys and a friend indeed to many.

Sent by 'one of the many' on behalf of Geesje, New South Wales

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