Johann Staufenberger

Story

My mother with my sister (5 months) me (7 years) and our grandparents must leave Nova-Pazova at the 6.October 1944 – about WW2. With the last train to Austria (Braunau-Camp), became a place in Lerz-Waldzell (township Ried). Went there to school about 4,5 years till 1949. As stateless persons we left Austria for Germany – back to the home to our ancestors – they left Germany more than 200 years ago. Since springtime 1949 we lived here in Schopfheim – near Swiss Border-Basel. Went to school till 15. After 3 years apprenticeship start working as a joiner. 1957 I had to go to the Federal Armed Forces. Now the hard days came with the training at the paratrooper-camp. 1960 March I left the Army back home. With my VW-Car and friend Dieter we start working in Frankfurt. Here we heard from the agreement between the German and Australian Govt.-Tradesman can migrate to Australia! That\’s it – D – is baker and pastry-cook – I am a joiner. In Hanau we made the fitness test and a few weeks later our permit was here. November 1960 the ship Castel Felice left Bremerhafen with me on board.

5 weeks to Melbourne. Via Gibraltar-Suez Canal-Indian Ocean-Perth-Melbourne. A few weeks in Bonegilla. Than a job in Melbourne. Later on in Cooma-SMA (Snowy Mountains Authority) as a wood-machinist. 1963 back to Germany from Sydney with the dutch ship Oranje. Over NZ-Wellington-Fiji-Hawaii-Acapulco-Panama-Curacao-Florida-New York-South Hampton-Amsterdam-home – a beautiful trip. 1970 something was pulling on me. In Genova on board – Angelina Lauro – to Canary Isl.- Capetown-Amsterdam Isl.-Melbourne-Sydney. D.\’s place – working in Sydney. 1971 back again with Chandris Line to NZ-Auckland-Tahiti-Panama (Bilbao)-Azores-Rotterdam-home. 1974 Moni my wife and I getting married. 1978 our son Tim is born – wonderful -. 1980 Down under again by Qantas – Frankfurt-Damaskus-Bahrain-Singapore-Melbourne-Sydney-Xmas time with D. and family in New Port. A beauty. We picked a motorhome and drove along the coast up to Gympie – Rainbow Beach -Tim\’s heaven, working in coloured sand! Back to Sydney 1981 return home by Qantas. December 1981, the next wonder – our daughter Tanja is born. Now we had a few years to work hard. 1996 – Tim nearly 18 – Tanja about 15 – time to widen their horizon. Up we go to our sunburnt country – from Frankfurt by NZ-Airline to Los Angeles (12000 km) – Auckland (12000 km) to Cairns about 3000 km together nearly 27000 km – a marvellous flight. The hired motorhome was ready to drive – up to Port Douglas! On board – the big Quicksilver catamaran to the Agincourt Reef Pontoon. Snorkling – glassbottomboat along the Reef – good food – a wonderful day. From Port Douglas down to Cairns. Tanja made bungy-jumps from the Hackett-Tower. A visit to Kuranda – super! Down the coastline – Townsville – Airlie Beach – Tim Dive course. Rockhampton – Bundaberg the good Bundy-Rum – every town to Brisbane – Surfers Paradise – Byron Bay – Coffs Harbour – Gosford – Dieters place – left the motorhome on the Camping ground. By hired car to Sydney. The city we like – oh happy day. With George, a relative, we give the car back to Hertz. Goodbye Sydney and friends. On board NZ-Air it goes to Fiji Island. Landing in Nadi – we went to Lautoga and made our cruise by Blue Lagoon to the Jassawa Group. Unforgettable. With a hired car we go around the island down to Suva – a beauty. Back to the airport – up we got to Hawaii – Honolulu- the Chevy-Van was ours for the next 9 days. Driving to the lodging place in Waikiki. Warm and sunny – it goes to the beach – pacific water on the golden sand. To the left Daimond Head – behind us International Marketplace – a busy Island. Visit Pearl Harbour – Honolulu and made a trip around the Island. Incredible I hardly could cop the lot. The days went by – up we go to Los Angeles -the hotel St. Monica- the next day with the bus to Universal Studios – great fun – Kevin Costner\’s Water World – a hit. 3 days too short – back we go to Frankfurt (Germany) – with 14 peaces of luggage in the hired car back home. A big wonderful trip with my family. Super ! Thanks NZ-Airways- with the 747 over 50000 km – landing happy and healthy in Frankfurt. Now many years of hard work are coming. December 2008 the Aussie-fever was back again. My wife Moni told me – I need a few weeks off – I want over Xmas to Australia – okay I\’m too. She got the money and away we went. Frankfurt – on board by Qantas – Singapore – Sydney – Coffs Harbour. Dieter and Zelda\’s place – 1 week (wow). By bus (Greyhound) to Brisbane Xmas time.

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