Personal stories

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Tasman’s BriefcaseA special briefcase was made in Tasmania to mark the 300th anniversary of the death of Abel Tasman. The briefcase was made from black leather, embossed with the Tasmanian coat of arms. Inside there were several compartments.The main compartment contained a carved {profile?] head of Tasman let into a

ROYAL VISITOCTOBER 25TH AND 26TH, 2006 It was weeks of anticipation for the Dutch Community in Tasmania, as they received preliminary invitations and two general invitations in the Saturday Mercury, for the Royal visit. His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange, and Her Royal Highness, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands,

THE ROOK FAMILY by Meinard Karel ROOK Compiled 2005 ArrivalWe arrived in Australia in August 1950, after a 6 week voyage from Holland on the Sibijaek. Our first land fall was in Fremantle, then on to Melbourne, where we transferred to the Taroona for the voyage across Bass Strait to

The article below is a brief resume of the life of Reg Doedens. It is structured on the ghosted auto-biography prepared by Anne Rand, with additional notes by the reviewer, (a neighbour, cadet, employee, hardware store co-owner, interviewer (for another book), family friend and fellow Christian). Some of Reg’s story

Family home built by Peter & Anneke The family home and workshop they left behind. Leaving the Netherlands forever FROM CANADIAN CHOCOLATE TO ANTARCTIC BUILDER PETER HERWEYNENWhen he was 18 years old, Jan van Herweynen was asked by his father to travel to Tasmania, purchase a piece of land and

Saturday the 21st of April was the day the Klaverjas Club “Ons Genoegen” celebrated their 50th anniversary. The celebrations started in the morning at the Lenah Valley RSL clubrooms. Players had come together from Launceston and Hobart to participate in a tournament of wits and skill (and a bit of

Martina van Munster nee Kruiff Martina’s early memories were fixed in World War II. Her family lived in Den Helder, a natural harbour on the tip of North Holland. The harbour was also a naval base, and the object of much bombing. Some of the bombs, towards the end of

The diary of G Rhee is quite unique because it was written in 1940.  Gerard Rhee was one of the first Dutch migrants to Tasmania.  There are interesting glimpses in this diary of a young man who fell in love with a local lass.  Apart from notes about his courting,

George Huizing 8/9/1938 – 27/12/2016 A newspaper clipping on my desk reminds of the last time I saw George. The clipping concerns a lost property title, in the parish of Lorainah. Property belonging to JKF von Schmidt. I quickly dropped an email to the owner – “where is Lorainah?” JKF,

We praise God for the life and witness of Bart Jan Folkerts18 September 1911 to 24 October 1999 An Association [Christian Parent-Controlled Schools] Founder and Gold Member“Now with the Lord he loved and served … a man of strength,courage and determination, a fighter for what he believed in.” “My Grace

Interview with ENGEL SYPKESat 526 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay (his home) on Friday 23 January 2015 @ 3.30 pm.Present: Engel & Marie Sypkes, Kees Wierenga. Background notes regarding the contribution by Engel to the transformation of the Grocery industry in Tasmania from corner shop to self-serve and computer based

7 Mar 1926 – 10Jul 2017 From bride to crafty great grandmother Elly with her brothers Reg and Max In May 1950, a group of 10 men, and their wives, met in the residence of Eerke van der Laan in the city of Groningen. They had met several times before,

Shaping Kingston – The story of God’s children in Kingston especially focussing on the Reformed Church – written by Historian Kees Wierenga – $40 plus postage Here are all the references for the book.  If your name is there and you would like to buy the book, then please make

​Fair Dinkum Dutch CourageDutch settlers in Ulverstone, TasmaniaCompiled by Elizabeth Nickols(27 families)Excerpts (and some additional notation by Kees Wierenga) Brandsema, Wilko (Bill) and Hendrikje (Hennie) nee Wind(pp.1 – 9, 20 photos)Wilko was born in 1910 in Stadskanaal, the son of a baker. Hennie was born a year later, her father

Below is a short summary by Kees Wierenga of the book by Liz Nickols. Names are in alpha order. Copies of the book are available from liz.nickols@gmail.comDetails noted below, especially regarding who is still alive and or where some people are living, was accurate in 2013.The summary below is quite

The new doctor There is a red book.  It is one of many books in a series.  This one is devoted to the letter ‘S’.  There is nothing in it except surnames starting with ‘S’, and the history of these names.  Because it is a Dutch book, the name ‘von

Dirk Bolt  –  architect Photos on this page were prepared for an exhibition in the Channel Museum, Margate Tasmania, as part of their display on the achievements of the Dutch migrants in southern Tasmania.                                         In October 1951 Dirk Bolt migrated

Tasman’s map – floor mosaicIn 1942, when the world was at war, two Italians were put to work to re-produce Tasman’s map in mosaic form in the foyer of the Mitchell Library, Sydney. Their craftmanship is much to be admired, and worthy of first-hand inspection. If you ask the security

The Dutch-Australian Society ‘Abel Tasman” Inc. BLUE GUM, TULIP & SPRING FESTIVALS From the newsletter of the DAS (Dutch-Australian Society), the Tasman Telegraphs, I have noted the following:[reporting of events the DAS usually lacked pertinent details, as if these facts were common knowledge. In some years there was simply no

CELEBRATIONS The van der Laans celebrated their wedding anniversary in November 1954.  There had been other celebrations – the wedding of Wim Sikkema was the first – a small gathering of six men, including the groom but no bride in August 1950.  The wedding of Rieks and Janny Wierenga in

Charlie Rook The journal below is based on the diary Charlie kept through his National Service days. It was later edited by him, and passed to this editor for inclusion in the record of achievements of Dutch migrants to Tasmania. It may be seen as the description of the life

The Vonks Bram and I decided to emigrate to Australia, the land of milk and honey (not always) in November 1959.  In February 1960 we got married, just after my twenty first birthday, and a few weeks later our application to go was approved.  We were young and full of

From Dutch schoolgirl to servant of the people ADRIANA TAYLOR It is normal for the eldest son to inherit the farm. This has been true over the centuries, and in many places in the world. Jos (Adrianus Johannes Ansems), known to all as Lange Jos, refused the privilege. He had

Adrian, Dien, George, Toni, with Adriana in front Adriana’s passport photo The original family home, although the attic room has been enlarged since the family migrated. ADRIANA TAYLOR It is normal for the eldest son to inherit the farm. This has been true over the centuries, and in many places

LITTLE  GRONINGEN  –  how did it come to be? T he beginning of Little Groningen, so named by the farmer, Geard, who sold the land to van der Laan and Pinkster.  For a discussion of this land purchase, see K Wierenga, Dutch migration to Tasmania in 1950: Motivation, intention and

thesis_full_copy_print_version..pdf File Size: 787 kb File Type: pdf Download File Dutch migration  assimilation  –  thesis.The link above is to the original version of the thesis, presented as a complete document.  Formatting issues mean that some page numbers may not align, but this is a full, word search, version.  If you

OUR PURPOSE The Dutch Tasmanian Connection exists to promote the cultural and historical heritage that links Tasmanians to the Netherlands. If you would like to help us increase awareness within the Tasmanian community of their historical and cultural heritage, we invite you to become a supporter or member.  See About

01 January 2016 Constitution of the Dutch Tasmanian Connection Inc.An Association registered under the “Associations Incorporation Act, 1964.” NAME1. (1) The name of the organisation shall be the Dutch Tasmanian Connection Inc. (2) The office of the organisation shall be at 14 Maranoa Road, Kingston, Tasmania, and its website will