Willemyntje Alblas
| First name | Willemyntje |
|---|---|
| Last name | Alblas |
| Country of Origin | Netherlands |
| Date of Birth | 20/03/81 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1982 |
| Submitted by | Willemyntje Alblas |
Story
I migrated to Australia as a 10 month old baby with my parents, Arie and Aly Alblas and older brother Albert from Zwolle, The Netherlands in 1982. We moved to this great country in hope of a more prosperous future. The assistance of the Dutch Reformed Church in Leongatha, Victoria, and particularly Albert and Johanna Haasjes, who open their home to us in the early weeks of our arrival, was valuable to our migration. The Dutch community in South Gippsland is particularly strong, which assisted the whole family in having a fairly smooth transition to the Australian way of life.
I grew up in a small town in South Gippsland, Meeniyan. Four sisters were born into our family in the years after our arrival: Leanne, Marcella, Carolyn and Stephanie. My siblings and I were educated at Leongatha Christian School. My father was a self employed Diesel Mechanic, with a successful machinery business. In 1997 the family moved to Ardmona in the Goulburn Valley. I successfully completed my schooling at Mooroopna Secondary College in 1999. I met my partner Darren when working after school in a local orchard packing shed. Darren and I now have three children, Connor, Jonty and Zoe. I am currently studying at LaTrobe University in Shepparton.
My parents live in Horsham where my father is using his mechanical expertise working on the Swan Hill- Horsham pipeline. My mother has been very busy raising the six children. My brother Albert married Linda in 1999 and has a son Peter. Albert is also a diesel mechanic with a successful business. My younger sister, Leanne, is a Doctor living in Melbourne. Marcella is a registered nurse working in the emergency department of Royal Melbourne Hospital. Carolyn lives in Toolamba and works in the Pathology department at Goulburn Valley Base hospital. Stephanie is completing her secondary education at St. Brigid’s Catholic College in Horsham.
Our settlement in Australia has been an enormously positive move and we all love this great country. However we will always be immensely proud of our strong Dutch heritage and will continue to celebrate our merged Dutch-Australian identity.