Roelf & Albertje Schoenmaker

Story

SCHOENMAKER FAMILY IMMIGRATION HISTORY

Roelf was born to Annechiene and Jan Schoenmaker (farmers) in the province of Groningen, Northern Holland on December 13th 1913. Albertje was one of eight children of Lydia and Jan Kiel (farmers) from the same area as Roelf on November 28th 1910. They shared the experience of a frugal rural upbringing, a basic education to year 6 and an early introduction to hard work and responsibility so common to many people of this time leading up to the great depression. Their mutual interest in choir singing led to their introduction, courtship and ultimate partnership of a lifetime from 1936 until their deaths in 1996.

Roelf and Albertje continued to work on the land and during the first 8 years of the marriage all of their four children were born. Lydia, Annechiene, Janna and Jan (now John) arrived approximately 2 years apart during the terrifying and trying period of the Second World War. This, and the subsequent tension and fear created by the Iron Curtain Cold War period in Europe was a major factor in motivating the family to emigrate. A better future for their children was also a huge consideration.

Our family was accepted as assisted migrants to Australia in 1951. In June of that year the six of us were one of the first families to be flown to Australia by KLM and landed in Sydney 7 days after departure from ‘The Old Country’. We had left a benign Dutch summer and arrived in the Australian winter to spend our first 9 weeks high over the NSW Blue Mountains in frosty Bathurst camp. The prerequisite English lessons prior to departure did little to equip the Schoenmakers for the Aussie lingo and this combined with the Bathurst cold, the spartan cramped housing, the lack of privacy and lastly, the six seater long drop toilets. No wonder Roelf and Albertje had some reservations about the wisdom of their emigration! We children thrived! We made new friends and had adventures in this new land. Australian came easy to us with ‘shut-up’ and ‘bloody’ as early victories we brought home to our na•ve but proud parents.

The motivation to leave Bathurst and ‘get on with it\’ was strong. Roelf visited the employment office daily to peruse opportunities and the nine uncomfortable weeks finally ended with his successful placement as a farmhand. Albertje also had to run the household of three elderly residents on a sheep farm at Nunamara, a small town about 12km north of Launceston in Tasmania. The ‘live-in\’ position provided the first urgent needs for food and shelter. Schooling was available a 3km walk away at a 1 teacher 23 children school. Their small salary was subsidized by Roelf enthusiastically trapping and snaring rabbits and wallabies for the skin and meat market of the time. Albertje who had taken on the huge job of keeping house and catering for 3 plus her husband and 4 school aged children made the main sacrifices of the period. She also suffered from homesickness for Holland and her large family there. Her health suffered and two major operations were needed for her recovery. Mum and the family spirits were lifted by the eventual arrival of the family chattels and heirlooms from Holland. The arrival of a treasure chest!

Nunamara, despite its challenges for our Mum, was a wonderful introduction and induction to Australia for all the family. Roelf quickly became an Aussie with a Dutch accent, who enjoyed hunting and fishing with ‘the boys’. Albertje enjoyed social contact through the CWA and was known for her good cooking, her sharp wit and love of a good laugh.

After farming in various parts of Tasmania they finally retired to their very own home at Mole Creek where they enjoyed close contact with two of their daughters and the grandchildren until both Roelf and Albertje passed away in 1996. They are buried side by side at the Mole Creek cemetery. Roelf had lived alone for some years as Albertje had sadly contracted Alzheimers Disease and was taken into care. Their loving daughters Annechiene and Janna shared the major support for them in the latter years.

Finally, were the sacrifices Roelf and Albertje made all those years ago worthwhile, and did they bear fruit? Yes they did! Roelf and Albertje\’s strong life values were inherited by their four children and fourteen grandchildren who are now spread throughout the country and working on conceiving and raising the next generation. They can be well satisfied with their move to Australia and their future generations\’ wellbeing.

John (Jan) Schoenmaker.

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