Susan Haris
| Town/City | Lennox Head |
|---|---|
| First name | Susan |
| Last name | Haris |
| Country of Origin | Hungary |
| Date of Birth | 22nd January 1923 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1949 |
| Submitted by | Susan Perrow |
Story
Susan Haris was born Feher Zursanna on 22nd January 1923 in Budapest, Hungary. She belonged to a loving middle class Jewish family and her memories are of an idyllic childhood up till her 17th year. This ended with the news of Jewish people soon to be persecuted in Hungary. Susan and her family survived by separating, changing their identities and working many different jobs to avoid being traced. These were difficult times of hard work and hunger. At one point towards the end of the war, in a brave effort to defend her friends hiding in a cellar, Susan was abused by a Russian soldier who had discovered their hiding place.
At the end of the war Susan met and married a fellow Hungarian, Laci Haris. Together they decided they wanted a new life in a far away land (Australia) without always being under the watch of Soviet ‘big brother\’. With the help of a ‘people smuggler\’ they set out in a group one night to walk many miles through the snow to cross the Hungarian border into Austria. This was extremely dangerous but fortunately their group made it safely across. Susan and Laci lived in refugee camps, first in Vienna and then in Paris, while waiting for their visas. They then travelled down to Genoa and boarded the ‘Surriento\’ for its four weeks journey across the ocean – the ship’s last voyage. They arrived in Sydney on 26th September, 1949.
Susan writes that their first impression was the wharf at Woolloomooloo, and the ugly chaotic city beyond. Their first accommodation was a rented room in Petersham, but when the landlady discovered that Susan was pregnant she quickly evicted them Ð apparently the last thing she wanted was a ‘pregnant refo\’. Together with other Hungarian friends they then moved into a flat in Tamarama.
Within 5 months of arrival Susan\’s first daughter Ann was born at Paddington Hospital. She recalls needing a Hungarian-English dictionary to communicate with the nurses. A year later a second daughter Juliet was born, blind and profoundly retarded. Juliet only lived two years. Several months after she died, Susan gave birth to a third daughter Judy. Judy was born with polio and sadly only lived a few weeks. These were extremely difficult times for Susan as Judy\’s death was also the beginning of the end of her marriage. Her remaining daughter Ann lived until 19 and then was tragically killed in a motorbike accident.
(Contribution to Australia) Susan eventually moved to a home in Beecroft. Once Ann had started school, she found time to follow a strong calling to work in education, particularly for children with disabilities. She began with some classes in her own home, then worked for six years at Inala School in Pennant Hills. In 1966 she founded ‘Miroma\’, a school for children with disabilities in Vaucluse. For many years the initiative was supported by parents and funded by the Commonwealth Government. In the 1980’s Miroma made a transition to adult services and today (2009) it provides quality day services for around 50 clients, with up to 20 staff over two sites.
Susan\’s other main contributions to Australian society have been her involvement in the founding of Parsifal College, a Rudolf Steiner Adult Education Centre, at which she worked as a lecturer for many years, and her founding and seven years editing of ‘Protea\’, a NSW Anthroposophical Journal. In 1973 she co-founded AWCH Ð the Association of the Welfare of Children in Hospitals, and in 1985 co-founded the Vital Years Seminars (National Steiner Early Childhood Conferences). In 1999 she was awarded an Outstanding Senior Citizen award.
Throughout her life, no matter how difficult things were, Susan was a person who always seemed to find the positive in life. At the age of 85 she wrote her life story and the title of her memoirs captured this quality so beautifully Ð Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones.
Her strength of will coupled with her love of humanity touched many people. She had a quality of recognizing people\’s needs and tasks and finding ways to help them realize their potential. She is a wonderful example of how a single immigrant has enriched Australian society in so many ways.
As the writer of this story of Susan\’s life, I know I can speak for hundreds of people who are very grateful that this Hungarian Jewish woman came to Australia in 1949 and put down her roots here. Despite all her losses and hardships her tree prospered and many have been nourished by her fruits.