Hans John Lorraine
| Town/City | Sydney |
|---|---|
| First name | Hans John |
| Last name | Lorraine |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Date of Birth | 19/03/23 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1940 |
| Submitted by | Anne Lorraine |
Story
Hans Lorraine (originally Lowenstein) was born in Osnabruck, Germany, but due to the persecution of Jews under the Nazi regime, he was forced to flee in 1937. Hans was 13 years old and on his own, the rest of his family remained behind. At this stage he had no idea where he would end up or what would happen to his family.
Initially, Hans found refuge in Britain and attended the Bedford Modern School from 1937 – 39, where he had to learn English. He spent time in Ashford and then High Wycombe working as an upholsterer’s apprentice, 1939 – 40. In 1940 he was interned as an “enemy alien” and transported from the U.K. to Australia. Hans was then 17 years old.
Hans spent 8 weeks on the HMT “Dunera” which travelled from Liverpool via Cape Town to Australia. He was an internee with 2,200 others under armed guard and found it to be a very unpleasant experience. The Dunera landed at Sydney and the internees disembarked but they were shunted off to Hay, NSW, without delay. His first impressions of Australia were that it was hot and dry but he received a generally friendly reception, even from the internment camp guards, and there was plenty of food!
Internment for Hans lasted 2 years, 1940 – 42, in 2 camps, Hay and Tatura in Victoria. He then entered the Australian Military Forces, the 8th Employment Co., where he spent 4 years and was discharged in 1946. In 1947 Hans became an Australian citizen and in 1949 he changed his surname from Lowenstein to Lorraine.
Soon after that, Hans settled in Melbourne where he studied Architecture and qualified in 1950 with a Bachelor of Architecture, Melbourne University. In that year he also married Judy, who had also graduated as an architect. Both of them traveled to London where they worked, 1951 – 54, and used as a base for travel to the rest of Europe. Despite not knowing what had happened to his family until after the end of the Second World War, they were happily able to reunite with Hans’ parents. Both Ernst and Elisabeth had survived, even though Hans’ father spent time in a concentration camp and lost other relatives there.
On returning to Melbourne, Hans and Judy settled in Toorak. Hans continued working as an Architect and they had 2 daughters, Sue (born 1955) and Anne (born 1958). In 1966 Hans and Judy separated, later divorcing in 1969. Hans then remarried and he and Margaret moved to Sydney, where he worked, full time, until he was 75 years old! He retired in 1998 and lived most of that time in Neutral Bay. Over the years Hans had enjoyed painting in either oils or watercolours but there were often many years between creations. On retirement he resumed his painting career, which he described as “amateur” but which has been extremely prolific and successful, selling many to friends, family, locals, neighbours and international visitors.
Hans and Margaret have moved to a retirement village, Mackillop Grange, in Mosman, NSW. In 2008, they still enjoy getting out to exhibitions, the theatre, films, concerts and, Hans’ favourite, the Opera whenever they can. Hans continues to paint and many of his artworks adorn the units, corridors and offices of the retirement village, especially when they have become his subjects.