Wietske Bradley

Story

I was born in Indonesia of Dutch parents. When Indonesia was fighting for independance, our family moved to Holland. We lived there 7 years, when my parents wanted to move to Australia, for the climate and for a better future for the children. My eldest brother came out to get some ideas for us and he was involved in a motor bike accident. My parents sold the house as soon as they could and booked passage on a ship called the “Zuiderkruis” (Southerncross) My mother was in such a hurry to pack that she fell and broke her ankle.

The journey was about 4 weeks and all I remember is that we were all sea-sick for most of that time.

We arrived in Melbourne and that night were put on the “Overlander” in some old carriages. We arrived in Adelaide and were taken to Woodside camp where we stayed for a few months, while my father moved to Glenelg Hostel to look for a job as an accountant. It was the old army barracks, but we were comfortable. We had to get used to different foods and the birds were a new experience for me. We were taught mainly English, Basic Australian songs and Australian history.

We all joined my father in the Glenelg Hostel when he found work and not long after, my father bought a house on the Anzac Highway. My sister was congratulated by the minister of Education just 4 years later for coming top of all S.A. students and her English was perfect.

We all love Australia and wouldn’t live anywhere else.

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