Ralph Alexander Boesel

Story

Ralph Alexander Boesel

Born 01.02.1966

Arrived in Australia 16.08.1967

on Flavia – Visa 671311006

Eldest of three sons to Otto Gerhard Boesel and Elizabeth Boesel (nee Hahn), Ralph was born on February 1, 1966 at the Stadtskrankenhaus, Hildesheim, West Germany where the family resided at 42 Tilsiter Strasse. In June that year a visit was made to Reinsdorf-Sud, near the Lutherstadt Wittenberg, East Germany to visit Otto’s family and introduce Ralph. As an Australian, and a foreigner, Elizabeth was able to travel by car and take Otto and Ralph with her. Elizabeth had also been able to take a car across to the East, although unaccompanied, for Christmas and New Year in 1964-1965. With the car it was possible to visit other family in Lutherstadt Eisleben and go on picnics – a rarity for the family.

It was planned to return to Australia permanently and to leave mid-year 1967. However, ship schedules were thrown into disarray by the June, 1967 Six-day War in the Middle East. Long-term friends of Otto, the Rohnkes, provided emergency accommodation for the extended period before the revised embarkation on July 11, 1967 and Otto was able to help them with some building work. It was the Rohnke family who drove the three to Bremerhaven.

The number of ports en route were reduced so as to make up some time; short stops were Southampton, Cristobal (Panama), Papeete (Tahiti) and Auckland (New Zealand). There had just been a major earthquake in Peru and the passage across the Pacific was bow clear of the water then into the trough and the stern doing the opposite as waves emanating from the eruption were still very intense. The pool had to be closed with only a bucketful of water remaining. Many felt very ill despite good weather but not the Boesels. It was a major challenge with toddler Ralph unsure of foot in any case. The overcast day and the cold in Auckland was a shock. These conditions persisted across the Tasman Sea to Sydney, arriving on August 16, 1967. The wait to be processed and clear the crate of furniture was miserable and cold before a reunion with Elizabeth’s parents, Dorothy and

Jack (John) Hahn and brother Ian. The family lived a few weeks with Elizabeth’s parents and Aunt Lillian Tranmer at Roseville.

A friend of Otto’s had a house coming up for rental at Guildford to which the family moved and later bought. It was here that Ralph was joined by brother Mark on November 1, 1967 who had also made the journey in vitro.

In early 1971 the family moved to Dundas and brother Leon arrived on April 30, 1971.

Ralph was naturalised at the same time as his father April 7, 1976

In August-September 1978 Otto took his sons Ralph, Mark and Leon to visit all the relatives, from grandparents, first and second cousins, aunts, uncles and great aunts

and uncles, in both East and West Germany.

All three sons now have their own children – 10 boys and one girl.

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