Carl CHRISTIANSEN

Story

Carl Victor Christiansen was born on the 11th January 1904 in Svendborg, Denmark. His father’s name was Kaj Wilhelm Christiansen, and Kaj was a sailor. His mother’s maiden name was Agnes Christophersen.

At some time, Carl Victor Christiansen assumed the given name of ‘Vic’ and he was known by his Australian family, friends and workmates, as Vic. He will be referred to as Vic in this document.

Vic’s known brothers and sisters were: Kaj Wilhelm; Agnes; Sven; Einer; Vera Viola; Ella May; and Ebba. Dates of birth, or their approximation, for any of the siblings is unknown. We believe that Vic and his family moved to Odense when he was about 3-4 years of age (i.e. 1907-1908). Vic left school when he was 15 (1919) and worked as a cook-deck boy on a sailing ship for a short period.

Vic was later apprenticed to a cabinetmaker in Copenhagen where he undertook both technical college and evening classes. It was during these evening classes that Vic was asked to write an essay on the subject of travel; where he would like to go, and why. Vic wrote about Canada. The essay must have been well written, as a short time later Vic received a letter from a Danish Parliamentarian stating that whilst the parliamentarian could not arrange for Vic to visit Canada, he could arrange passage to Australia as he (the parliamentarian) had a son in Western Australia.

Vic left Denmark on the ship MS Asia in September 1923; arriving in Sydney, Australia, in April 1924 (he was then 20 years of age). Whilst Vic had originally intended to travel to Perth, Western Australia, he had already spent 7 months on the ship and didn’t wish to spend another month at sea.

Vic travelled widely and worked in a number of wood machining/cabinet maker jobs after arriving in Australia. He also played in a number of brass bands (as an amateur) in both Queensland and New South Wales.

Vic eventually settled in Sydney, continuing to work as a wood-machinist and cabinet maker. He married Elsie May Ramsey on the 25th June 1937, at the Congregational Church, Sutherland NSW.

Vic was naturalised on 22nd January 1941, in Sydney. An interesting aside to Vic\’s naturalisation is that even though Elsie was born in Australia, she had to acquire British Nationality, which was also granted on 22nd January 1941.

Vic formally changed his surname (family name) to Christie in December 1944, and he and his Australian family were known by that surname from that time.

In June 1945, Vic was appointed as a full-time technical teacher at the former Sydney Technical College on a salary of £417.2.3 (approx $834.22) per annum. He later rose to the position of Head Teacher at the College. Vic also authored a number of wood-machining related articles for national and international professional magazines.

On 27th June 1958, Vic was appointed as a Justice of the Peace for New South Wales.

Vic retired from the workforce in June 1967 and he and Elsie relocated to Nowra on the NSW south-coast, where they built their retirement home.

During their 57 year marriage, Vic and Elsie lived in Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Nowra, Leumeah, Engadine and Heathcote (all New South Wales).

Vic died peacefully at Heathcote NSW, in August 1994, aged 90 years. His wife Elsie died peacefully at Heathcote in June 1999, aged 89 years.

They are survived by a daughter Ella, and son Carl (and their respective families), living in Australia.

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