My parents and I came, in May, 1956, to be part of those 300,000 present day (then) Australians, bringing along our Dutch heritage.

My current pre-occupation is with the way this heritage is being presented to the wider community of Australians.

This program booklet was produced by www.benzane.com in the Netherlands and I was proud to have my pictures included, representing my migration, as a boy of 12, in 1956, from Gouda to Sydney.

Recently I resigned from the board of the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre. In 1974 the first of the aunts and uncles, to come and visit us, here, in Sydney, from the Netherlands, brought me a wall tile, with the saying: "De beste stuurlui staan aan wal", (The best navigators are on the shore.) In other words, it's asy to criticise. Harder to actually do things.

So, I joined that committee a number of years ago. But I don't see happening, what I'd like. I would like the focus to be on the impact of those around 300,000 Australians who claim Dutch heritage. (Their experiences. Their achievements. )

I do not believe that the D.A.C.C. needs to spend too much time on representing the Netherlands, in Australia. That's done by official representatives and business interests, etc., still linked to the home country. I'll leave these matters to others for a while. With more than 300,000 people who have a link, there must surely be plenty who can take my place!?!