Lucie & Guenter STEGEN
| Town/City | Goulburn (NSW) |
|---|---|
| First name | Lucie & Guenter |
| Last name | STEGEN |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Date of Birth | 1930/31 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1953 |
| Submitted by | Manuela Bennett |
Story
It was after another of those wars to end wars and it was tough in post-war Germany. My parents decided to migrate to a new land with their young daughter.
The long sea journey on the ship Fairsea was an exciting time for my young parents – socially meeting others in the same situation. Apparently I enjoyed the trip too, though Mum said the sea sickness was appalling.
As a family we arrived at Bonegilla much to Mum and Dad’s horror – the heat and the flies! We weren’t there long before we left for Geelong and a migration centre. Dad had work as a fitter & turner at Ford. The photos of that time show a gorgeous young couple at dances, enjoying themselves and embracing a new land as it embraced them. The language barrier never phased them – they just adapted. I asked Mum once if they ever regretted the move and she said no, because they made their own family and had good friends, but they did miss their families. The tryranny of distance on a personal scale.
Sadly, they have both passed away now and I am so pleased I saw this advertised on SBS and I can write this little piece of their history for them.