JACOB (JACK) van BRANDWIJK
| Town/City | LAURIETON |
|---|---|
| First name | JACOB (JACK) |
| Last name | van BRANDWIJK |
| Country of Origin | HOLLAND |
| Date of Birth | 30/05/35 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1/8/1957 |
| Submitted by | LEUNTJE ROELOFJE van BRANDWIJK |
Story
Reason for leaving homeland – HE WANTED TO SEE WHAT AUSTRALIA WAS LIKE AND IF HE LIKED IT; SAID TO HIS PARENTS AND SISTER, HE WAS ONLY GOING FOR 2 YEARS. IT TOOK 22 YEARS BEFORE HE VISITED THEM WITH HIS FAMILY.
About the Journey – HE CAME IN A KLM CONSTILATION AIRCRAFT, WITH HIS FRIEND JOOP HAMERSLAG, IT TOOK 5 DAYS.
Impressions on Arrival – A FRIEND WAS SUPPOSED TO PICK HIM UP AT THE AIRPORT BUT DID NOT ARRIVE AT ALL. THE SOCIAL WORKER OF THE DUTCH PROTESTANT CHURCH TOOK HIM TO THIS FRIEND’S PLACE, WHO THEN FOUND A BOARDING HOUSE FOR HIM AND HIS FRIEND IN ASHFIELD, SYDNEY. IT TOOK A WHILE BEFORE THEY FOUND WORK. ONCE WORKING, HE NEVER LOOKED BACK. BECAME A BUILDER FOR 25 YEARS IN SOUTH WEST ROCKS, NSW, AND STAYED UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 2006. HE LOVED THE FREEDOM AND OPEN SPACES. TRAVELLED AROUND THE COUNTRY IN A CARAVAN WITH IS WIFE FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS OF HIS LIVE.