Memories of Greta Migrant Camp will be shared at the next meeting of the Maitland and District Historical Society.
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Former journalist and now author Alek Schulha, will address the society and its guests on Tuesday, May 3 in the society's rooms at 3 Cathedral Street, Maitland from 5.30pm.
Built as an army training camp at the start of World War II, the facility at Greta was converted for use as a migrant camp in 1949.
Over 11 years 100,000 displaced, persons, stateless people, migrants and refugees were housed there after fleeing Europe at the end of the war.
Alek's book, Beneath the Shadows of Mount Molly Morgan, includes more than 130 individual stories from former residents or their descendants.
Some of these stories had remained untold for 70 years. The book was published in 2020 and has sold more than 7000 copies.
Alek was a journalist who worked for The Maitland Mercury and The Newcastle Herald. In retirement he has worked on histories of Mai-Wel Industries and the Greta Migrant Camp and he is currently working on additional stories from former residents of the camp.
Members of the public are most welcome to attend the talk, but the society requires that attendees are vaccinated against COVID-19. The society asks for a donation of $5 to cover the costs of refreshments before and after the talk.
People wishing to contact Maitland and District Historical Society can do so by email (maitlandhistorical@gmail.com) or by phone (0468 438990).