Johannes and Nelly Wagemakers

Story

Johannes (John) and Nelly Wagemakers-Hey

John Wagemakers (Born 1917) and Nelly Hey (Born 1922) met shortly after the Second World War. They were both born in Amsterdam (Amsterdamers). At the time John was a soldier in the Dutch Army and Nelly a shop assistant/nanny in a biscuit shop owned by ‘Verkade\’. They married and in 1947 a son, Jacob (Jake) was born. In the same year the army posted John to the Dutch colony of Indonesia. John and his family were separated for two years before John joined the Dutch-Indonesian Army which enabled the family to live together in Indonesia permanently. This situation however, was short lived, as in 1950 Indonesia gained their independence. John, Nelly and son Jake sailed back to Holland to a life in Amsterdam.

By 1952 John had left the army to take up a clerical position and Nelly was a stay at home Mum with 3 children. A daughter Helena was born 1950 and another daughter Saskia in 1952. During this time countries like Canada, New Zealand and Australia were promoting immigration. John and Nelly decided that they would immigrate to Australia. The memories of warmer weather and slower pace of living they had experienced in Indonesia may have influenced that decision. For the second time in their married life, they left family and friends for a new adventure. John spoke a little English and Nelly none.

The passenger ship ‘Sibajek\’ berthed in Melbourne, Victoria in April 1956. The sea journey to Australia allowed friendships and networks to be formed but was otherwise uneventful. Upon disembarking the family was taken by train to Albury and housed at Bonegilla Migrant Hostel. Sun, sea and surf had been the expectation which was a vast difference to the reality of bushland and cold April nights. The family found it hard to settle in the migrant hostel. John was eager to find work and through networks heard that there was work available in Geelong. The family made its way to Ocean Grove a small seaside town outside Geelong and again found themselves in camp accommodation in Wyndeen Camp Park. John did find work in Geelong for a short time. In the meantime Nelly continued to make a ‘home\’ for her family and learning the language. Conditions were not always easy but both she and John were determined to commit to their new life and luckily both were blessed with a good work ethic and a sense of humour.

Whilst living in Ocean Grove,\’ on the ‘the grapevine\’, John heard of another work opportunity and place to live; a place in the Dandenongs called Monbulk. Monbulk was small town surrounded by farm land situated in the hills east of Melbourne. It had a jam factory which was one of the major employers in town. The factory was formerly known as Camm\’s Jams and had grown into a larger company during the war.

Monbulk was to become the Wagemakers home for the next 27 years. John and Nelly built two houses during that time (one in Moxam Rd and one in Camms Rd); the children went to school, joined sporting clubs, worked and integrated into the community.

Both John and Nelly worked at the Monbulk jam factory until their retirement. In 1956 conditions for factory workers were not what they are today; long hours and the work physically hard. In 1982 Nelly retired as a Lab Assistant, working her way up from a production worker. John retired in 1983 as a Production Manager after starting as a jam maker.

The family had often holidayed in Ocean Grove over the years whilst living in Monbulk. Subsequently John and Nelly built a house and retired there. They lived there for 6 years before moving to Ulverstone, Tasmania, in 1988 to be closer to family.

John died in April 1993 (the anniversary of the family\’s arrival in Australia) aged 75 and Nelly passed away in June 2007 aged 85. Both have their ashes scattered in Bass Strait. Their family, by 2009, has grown. Together with their 3 children and their spouses John and Nelly have 7 grandchildren and 5 great grand children.

John and Nelly\’s names on the memorial bridge would be befitting to their contribution, as migrants, to Australia.

< Back to the Stories