Willem Hebels

Story

I had just turned 11 and in 4th Class at school, when my father announced that we would be going to Australia. He explained that there would be more opportunity in Australia. He had been affected by the devastation after the war and the lack of job opportunities. He had made inquiries and had been accepted by both Canada and Australia for an assisted passage which amounted to about $20. I remember the feverish activity before we left, saying goodbye to family and friends and packing our suitcases. It was hard leaving our cousins and grandparents because we would not see them again.

We left Rotterdam on the 15th December 1950 on the Johan van Oldendenbarnevelt. Our journey was to take us through the Suez Canal to Aden. In the harbour of Aden we were surrounded by small boats all trying to sell us something. We saw boys diving for coins when we tossed them in the harbour. The ship was staffed by Indonesian waiters who would flick their towels at the young boys whenever we came close.

Our first impression was seeing the low coast line of Western Australia and arriving in Fremantle. My mother was shocked at seeing a number of drunks in the park near the wharf and she wondered what kind of country we were going to. On arrival in Sydney we were sent to the Bathurst Immigration Centre. The conditions were primitive but it was here that I tasted my first banana. We had only been in Bathurst for a short time when we were sent to Uranquinty near Wagga. There were 5 families in a wartime concert hut. My father was sent to Canberra to work and we saw him rarely during the next 6 months. It was in September of 1951 that we were sent to Batlow on an orchard about 6 kilometres on the Tumut Road. I went to the Batlow Central School and was put into year 7 (then called !st Year). After doing my Intermediate Certicate at Batlow I continued my education by travelling to Tumut High School by bus everyday. I successfully completed my Leaving Certificate and started work as a trainee Experimental Officer with CSIRO Animal Health and Production. During the Billy Graham Crusade of 1959 I was converted and applied to go to Papua New Guinea as a teacher. I was trained at the Australian School of Pacific Administration at Mosman and went to PNG in 1960. My postings were to Kavieng, Pindiu and finally as Science Master at Bugandi High School in Lae. I was married to Heather Williamson in 1964 and in the following year we went to Vanuatu. Gary our oldest son was born just before we departed for Vanuatu. I took charge of the Presbyterian District school at Hog Harbour on the Island of Santo. Pupils came from long distances and had to grow and cook their own food. It was a very remote location and we were supplied every 6 months from Australia. Some of Vanuatu’s leaders including the Police Commissioner were graduates of this school. Our second child Deborah was born in Vanuatu in 1965. Our youngest Rodney was born after our arrival back in Australia in 1969. On returning to Australia I taught at Bennett Rd Public school, Warrimoo PS, Oxley Park PS, Llandilo and finally for 11 years as Deputy Principal at Glenbrook PS.

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