Cornelis Besselink

Story

We were 20 years old. We knew each other from 12 years old and wanted to get married. No way was it possible to get accomodation unless we moved in with parents. We earned good money but the future in our eyes did not look too bright so we decided to immigrate. After considering the many options we settled for Australia, a country we knew nothing about. I went first as self paying migrant (no assistantance was possible at that time) Left Holland December 1949 with the “Volendam” arriving at Melbourne January 1950. We were allowed to stay 3 days on board. Mr AVJennings visited the ship looking for tradesman to work in Canberra. I thought Melbourne was a big city but Canberra the capital must be much larger. So I with many others accepted a train ticket and off we went. We were put up in Riverside Hostel and started work just after Australia Day at Westridge (Yarralumla)

There was a brickyard a couple of brick houses belonging to the brickyard and paddocks.

I was a painter and signwriter and was kept busy. I saved enough money to bring my lovely bride out, she arrived at Melbourne during May 1950. We married by proxy only days before her departure from Rotterdam with the “Sibajak”.

After 6 weeks sailing, [Impressions on Arrival] we thought Australia was 50 years behind Europe but we loved it .

There was no housing to be found. My wife worked at the ambassador of South Africa, living in and I was allowed to move in as well. It was a nice flat we had till Hendrika Besselink nee Brandt my wife fell pegnant and we had to move out. In the meantime because no accomodation was to be had 5 Dutchman including me decided to built our own houses. Jennings organised that each of us 5 got a nice block of land for free at Yarralumla and Jennings assited us with finance. I had the last house because I was the yougest of the group. It turned out the best house as we learned as we went along. We all worked hard after work hours.

My brother came out (later our sisters and our parents also settled in Canberra by 1956 our family was united) we started a Painting Contracting business, Besselink Bros. And we never looked back. We were and still are the main Painters in town. Painted all the main buildings in Canberra, such as both Parliamant Houses, Duntoon House, Nat Library. Court house, etc.

I started the Master Painters Associated in 1955 and was involved in Dutch clubs and Soccer clubs.

I could write a book but I stop now.

Cor Besselink

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