3 December '07, Sinterklaas visited Abel Tasman Retirement Village again. It was so good to be joined by *Hanna, on violin, this year. It made, playing the accordion, forSinterklaas, these local students and the residents, an extra pleasure - Jo M., OzCloggie. MORE HERE.
In May, 1956, my mother and I posed in the doorway of the hut to which we (my father, mother and I) had been assigned, when we arrived in Australia, in May, 1956.
The relatives, back in the Netherlands, would have to see where we were. No. We were not happy but made the best of a bad thing. No. We were not feeling priviliged. More deceived. But we survived and things got better.
Bonegilla: where waters meet The Dutch Migrant Experience in
Australia
Compiled and edited by Dirk and Marijke Eysbertse
Published by the Erasmus Foundation, 2006 (3rd Edition)
GPO
Box 3123
,
Melbourne
3001
ISNN 0 646310054
Early this year my Greek-Australian friend sent me a newspaper article about Gerard Willems, who is an acclaimed Australian pianist. Gerard came to
Australia
as a child and is now 60 years old.
He still remembers thinking in 1958 that “he had landed on Mars” when he arrived from the
Netherlands
at a migrant camp in
Wollongong
. In the intense heat of the Australian summer, the newly arrived families were expected to survive in Nissen huts surrounded by a barbed wire fence. Have we heard all this before, or is it that we are hearing it all again, anew, afresh, every day on the news?
What is this phenomenon of putting up displaced families in need, for indefinite periods of time, in what can only be described as socially remote, sub-standard and militarised zones? And why isn’t there a constant public outcry about their plight?
Dirk and Marijke Eysbertse, after enormous amounts of research in both Australia and The Netherlands, lovingly put together this account of the Dutch migrant experience in the 1950’s and 1960’s at the migrant camp Bonegilla. More here.....
Keep Australia Beautiful New South Wales is challenging beach communities up and down the coast to enter this year's Clean Beach Challenge.The Clean Beach Challenge recognises coastal communities that focus on restoring and improving the biodiversity in the local area, dune conversation, education programs and initiatives that protect the delicate beach environment.The competition is now in its eighth year and aims to foster community pride, public awareness and tourism in the area.Tathra Beach is the current state winner of the overall beach challenge and Keep Australia Beautiful is calling for more entries from the south coast.Nominations close on July 18.
If you read Dutch, you will understand this: Volg mijn verhalen over mijn 'reilen en zeilen', hier,hier en hier!Bookcrossing is also very popular in the Netherlands. Just as it is in Australia. More here.
I've found BOOKCROSSING ("giving books wings", in other words, sending books, which are still interesting but unlikely to be read again, on their way, to be shared with the world and keeping track of where they go. MORE HERE.
So far, I have left the first books, outside the door, of the D.A.C.C., 85 Market Street, Smithfield ( in the back of the Dutch shop.) I hope you find them. Read the one(s) you like and pass them on!!)
ENTER YOUR FAVOURITE BEACH in the Keep Australia Beautiful, Clean Beach Challenge!
When I was little my aunt ran a small shop, selling cigarettes and cigars. She called this her 'hobby'.
She loved chatting with the customers and telling them that smoking was bad for them. I often still mention, here, in the Dutch shop, where a bell rings, when you enter, how I always had to shout: Blijf maar (Don't come out.) PLEASE
After staying away from it, for all these years, I have now joined the board of the Federation of Netherlands Societies, here, in New South Wales.
RECEIVED: I'm looking for Gerard, Jennifer or Marianne van Marwijk. Last time I've seen them is in the 1960's. They lived in Fairfield NSW. Does anyone has any idea where they are, or if you're one of them. Please contact me on elstveit@hotmail.com
I have been attending an "Oil Painting for Beginners", course, at Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea.
The theme fitted my interests perfectly. We were asked to copy the wave, originally done in pastels by our teacher, and then the theme was sea-scapes, which I did my way, using my favourite beaches as subjects ( Smoky Cape North, Nambucca, Maroubra North End and Samurai.)
UPDATE: Have changed to a different class, at Hazelhurst. Am still painting. The teacher, in this class mentioned that she liked the portraits that I was doing. So I concentrated on that for now...........
Martin's latest EP , contains 7 tracks which have been the staple songs at his gigs when playing originals.
Mijn zoon zong dit voor het eerst, 3 jaar geleden. *Alchemy Quatro* was a band. Martin was part of this band and recorded its music about 5 years ago
.
Pack Up and Go - Inpakken en Wegwezen - Exhibition. MORE HERE
( In its first year we (the then FBAofNSW) entered Cobblers Beach, in the Keep Australia Beautiful Clean Beach Challenge NSW, and it was successful in winning the Friendliest Beach Award, for the Sydney Region. On that occasion, I showed the K.A.B., C.B.C. judge around the beach.
The following year, I was invited to be a judge myself and have enjoyed taking part every year. Looking for ward to September. My method of judging includes taking very, very many photographs, to help me recall what I was shown, while judging. I have scattered these pictures all over the www. ONE website is this one.)
Here come the judges.....On Monday, 21 August, 2006
Judges in the 2006 Clean Beach Challenge, attended another Judges Training Day, held in the Murrumbidgee Room, at the Departement of Environment and Conservation Head Office, Sydney.
We were all now well-prepared to visit the beaches, from in September. (I cannot believe that's me, this photo. There's almost two of me!!) More info: here!
Very much into BOOKCROSSING, at the moment!! Giving away, i.e., giving wings to books that should be shared rather than left untouched on my bookshelves. My Bookcrossing bookshelf: HERE........
OFFICIAL BOOKCROSSING ZONE that I look after: 85 Market Street, Smithfield - through the Dutch shop, in the furniture section.
