We asked Hunter residents to share their family stories of Greta Migrant Camp. The personal accounts we received were ones of sadness, love, fear and triumph.
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Here is a small glimpse at the Hunter’s story:
“My mum and dad were there... Janina Klimowicz and Emil Mihalkow (Mitchell) they were Polish. Mum used to tell me great stories about Greta camp- silver city. Dad became a real estate agent and helped relocate many migrants. Dad spent time in Auschwitz (he was Polish but was trying to help some Jewish friends escape), he was an amazing man who passed away in 2007.”
- Karin Blanchard
“My grandparents, Peter and Rosa Zoneff, my uncle Herman, my dad Peter, his sister Johanna, were all at Greta camp after coming here from Austria in 1949.”
- Sandy Hancock
“My parents Jan and Janina Orlowski were at the camp they came over from Poland in 1949 with my brothers. My sister was born while they were there and I was born after a bought a house in Ward street Maitland. Haven't many pictures as they lost everything in the 1955 flood.”
- Henry Orlowski
“My parents Helena and Piotr Tyczynski and my sister Jan arrived at Greta Camp from Poland in 1949. I was born at Greta Camp in 1951.”
- Stephani Herbert
“I moved to Greta in 1949 with Polish parents and my twin brother My name at that time was Longin Wozniak and we were there for 4 year before moving to 21 Ward street Maitland . I left Maitland after the 1955 flood and the family moved to Sydney . I am living in Caringbah and I still have memories of the life I had in that period which I'll never forget.”
- Anthony Alexander
“Mother in law and family from Germany in 1955 [were in Greta Migrant Camp].”
- Suzy Simon
“My parents, brother and sister arrived 18th December 1950 and I was born in 1951, so I was made in Germany and born in Australia.”
- Clarissa Bowa
“My father in law went there from Italy around 1949/1950. One of his brothers was born there.”
- Leah de Marchi
“Yes my grandmother went there from Germany after the war. She was there with her husband, my father Dimitri who was a toddler and she was pregnant with her son Harry who was born there.”
- Angela Sutton
“Yes my grandparents with my aunt and mother [spent time there] when they came here from Ukraine.”
- Nicole Sherringham
“My dad, uncle and grandparents were here.”
- Carmen Bell
“My sisters in laws did and they were very proactive there I believe ...”
- Roslyn Williams
Do you have a story to share? Email jessica.brown@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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