Mihai Pansaru (Pinzariu)
| First name | Mihai |
|---|---|
| Last name | Pansaru (Pinzariu) |
| Country of Origin | Romania |
| Date of Birth | 8/24/1939 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1949 |
| Submitted by | Sonia Muir |
Story
Mihai Pansaru (Pinzariu) 1927-1984
My father was born in Romania in 1927. His village of Bogata in the far North East of the country was occupied by the German army during the Second World War and formed part of the Russian Front. After the war when Europe was in disarray, Mihai left Romania to work in Czechoslovakia before deciding to immigrate to Australia. He returned to Romania as an Australian citizen with his Australian born Romanian-speaking wife in 1973. He had not seen any of his family in 32 years.
Mihai travelled to Australia on the Hellenic Prince ship which left from Italy in November 1949. He spoke no English when he left Europe. As Mihai had very little money and lots of spare time during the voyage, he worked on-ship as a waiter to ensure his pockets were full when he arrived in Australia.
Mihai sailed through the Heads at Sydney Harbour. He spent the first two years in a migrant camp in Newcastle and worked in the steel industry before pursuing his own mining interests. His English language skills blossomed. Mihai read a wide range of books and daily newspapers throughout his life with a particular interest in politics. He married Veronica Crainean in 1959 in Brisbane. After a short stay in Cairns they settled on a farm and established a banana plantation at Hopkins Creek near Chillingham in Northern NSW where they raised three children (Tania, Sonia and Adrian). Despite no Romanian language, all three have made a pilgrimage to Bogata with their partners, realising the importance of connecting with Mihai\’s past and sustaining family bridges across the globe.