Hans and Helga WOHLTMANN
| First name | Hans and Helga |
|---|---|
| Last name | WOHLTMANN |
| Country of Origin | WEST GERMANY |
| Date of Birth | 1929/1926 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1950/1951 |
| Submitted by | MICHAEL WOHLTMANN |
Story
They left West Germany ,mainly due for economic reasons West Germany at the time was in a very bad way ,due to World War 2. Hence they came to Australia for a better economic future for themselves and their future children.
Hans Wohltmann came to Australia via Brasil ,and arrived at Sydney on the 22 November 1050.He jumped ship and reported to the local Police station and asked to remain in Australia as a German deserter.
Helga came out the following year and arrived in Brisdane on the 25 May 1951.They both came out by ship..
Both of them then had to go to far northern Queensland and worked in Innesfall and Tully on the sugar plantation.
They worked there for about a year and then bought a motorbike and drove with their life possessions [one suitcase]to the riverland in South Australia.They worked and lived in a town called Glossop.It was in Bamera that there first child was born -Michael.
They stayed here for a few years and then moved to Adelaide.
Hans obtained his first real job in 1955 , as a process worker for the British chemical company -Imperial Chemical Company-ICI. He worked for ICI, for over 33 years and was promoted as a supervisor for the last 15 years of his Tenure.
From 1953 to 1964, Helga lost 2 sets of twins. In 1964 there second son Hans-Jurgen, was born.
Their impressions of Australia at first were very negative. The information, or should I say propaganda given by the migration officials were like “chalk and cheese”. Their earliest recollections was the blandness of food. Especially those fritz and tomato sauce white bread sandwiches!
In 1956 , my father would educate his Australian workmates by taking Limburger cheese sandwiches to work. Many of his Australian workers would say to him, Hans have you not changed your socks for a week!!!!
The other early impressions were the haircuts of Australian males. Those short back and sides!1-No style!
Both the very, long long hot summers and those flies were very hard to take.
Another early recollection was the anti-german feelings and sentiments.
Father was often called a “blockhead” and crout”. Later on this improved to you”New Australian”
Over time things steadfastly improved and like so many other “New Australians “THEY ADAPTED TO THERE NEW COUNTRY.
However my mother always lived in a dual world. Her feet were in Australia ,but her spritit and mind were always in Germany. All her life she was very homesick.