Suddenly Paddington leaps off the couch and rushes to the door, barking excitedly as Jennifer’s younger daughters Elise and Lauren come into the house, laughing and chattering. Showing me some of their paintings and sketches, she says, ‘It’s interesting that my brother and I both chose helping professions—Stefan is a specialist physician—but all my daughters are very creative. They don’t feel the need to rescue the world; they feel free to explore their artistic talent. Although they respect their grandparents and know what happened to them, the Holocaust does not rule their lives. They feel secure. There’s a lightness about them, an absence of guilt and anxiety.’
In her capacity as a psychotherapist, Jennifer counsels couples and individuals, helping them to improve their communication and self-esteem and to deal with anxiety and depression. As a result of her own experience, she is currently setting up workshops for Holocaust survivors and their children, to help them deal with the issues that she has resolved in her own life. ‘Part of my reason for becoming a psychotherapist was to make a difference, to give something back and help to create a better world. But I have never stopped working on myself, so my own journey is still continuing.’
EPILOGUE
The pageant at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games linked all Australians in a series of tableaux depicting the past. From tribal Aborigines enacting Dreaming legends passed down for thousands of years, to migrants and boat people seeking more recent refuge on our inviting shores, the ceremony paid tribute to all the ethnic strands woven into our multicultural quilt.
To evoke the migrant experience in the presentation program, the Olympic Committee selected an extract from my book Mosaic: A Chronicle of Five Generations. It seemed an extraordinary coincidence that they had chosen to quote my first impressions of Australia shortly after arriving on the Derna, just at the time when I was researching the voyage.
But as I reflected on this apparently fortuitous set of circumstances, it began to assume a significance that transcended mere synchronicity. It was as though, from the moment I stepped aboard the Derna, I was destined to tease out the strands of the past and become a voice of the post-war immigrants.
Some journeys lead us far beyond our destinations and I came to understand that the voyage that began with the postcard from Marseilles came full circle in the Olympic program. On 30 August 1948, my parents cast off from the world they knew with the hope in their hearts that, transplanted in a new land, I would push up through the darkness and brush off the crumbs of soil clinging to my head as I emerged into the sunlight.
Footnotes
* My Polish name.
* Her name has been changed at her request.
* Her name has been changed at her request.
* His name has been changed at Ella’s request.
* The basic weekly wage was five pounds.
* The basic weekly wage was five pounds.
PASSENGER LIST
This is a transcript of the passenger list. Some names were incorrectly entered or mis-spelled.
EMBARKED IN MARSEILLES
Abrahamsohn Irene
“ Eva Maria
“ Gretchen
Altman Lejbus
“ Rozalia
Ament Leon
Ancsel Andor
Antmanis Janis
“ Zinaida
Asz Justina
“ Anna
“ Chil
Aufrecht Margot
Augul Rosalie
Bacher Bodriska
Barasz Bela
“ Gucia
“ Miriam
“ Toba
Bendik Salomon
Berger Blima
“ Dany
“ Madelene
Berkhut Zelig
Bernstein David
“ Bertha
Bevc Franz
“ Johanna
Birnbaum Herta
“ Barbara
Blok Marek
“ Helena
“ Josef
Blonski Marian
“ Hella
Bode Richard
“ Martha
“ Harry-James
Boguslawski Henryk
“ Bronislawa
“ Danuta Julia
Borenstein Bella
Borensztajn Roman
“ Miriam
“ Jacob
Braun Herman
Brausendorf Gisela
Bogarska Chana
Bukszpan Chaim
“ Berta
Bunzl Adolf
Busel Mordchaj
Czalczynska Matylda
“ Karmela
Czarnes Izio
“ Sara
Czuszak Alexandra
Darin Emanuel
“ Raisa
Duzenman Ala
“ Zelik
Diament Leon
Dzonsons Laimdota
“ Arilde
Eliadis Alexander
“ Fela
Engel Jachat Chaja
Espere Rudolf
“ Ida
Falek Jankiel
“ Ida
“ Jojne
“ Maria
“ Jadwiga
Feigin Marek
“ Fela
“ Daniel
Fellner Fryderyk
“ Wanda
Feingesight Chaim
David
“ Leah
“ Perec
Feinmesser Halina
“ Zdislaw
Felman Szmul
“ Szaja Josef
“ Ruchla
Ferszt Moses
“ Cyla
“ Slawa
Fiszman Esther
“ Srul
“ Maria
Fleischer Bertha
Fogel Adam
Frant Henryk
“ Zofia
“ Christine
Friedmann Moniek
Freiberg Sulek Pinkus
Frenkiel Israel
“ Mina
Frid Mosze
“ Berik
“ Gitl
“ Zisia
Gewurz Anna
Ginzburg Naum
“ Anna
“ Sawa
Glassman Chaim
“ Bronia
Glaubermann Pola
Gold Abraham
“ Louise
Goldberg Abraham
Goldschmid Karel
“ Felix
Goldstein Menhart
Gottlieb Samson
“ Gizela
Grisczajew Peter
Grossbard Josef
Grosz Alexander
“ Bela
“ Erna
Grunschlag Abraham
“ Moses
Grunstein Eugen
“ Irena
Grynberg Abram
“ Pesa
Gurwicz Szala
Halm Otto
Heller Jindrich
Herzog Kurt
Hitter Martin
“ Jeno
Hochrat Szyja
“ Luba
Hof Ilse
“ Elfriede
Holan Jiri
Holandova Vera
Jarvisto Oskar
Jendler Sewerin (misspelled, should be Tendler)
Juni Berta
Juurik Leonhard
“ Lilli
“ Georg
Kadak Villem
“ Vilja
Kahan Antonia
Kalowski Mieczyslaw
“ Halina
“ Stefan
Kapp Harold
“ Alide
Karp Zofija
Kaufmann Jozef
Kappel Antonina
Klausenstock Ruth
Knopf Klaus
“ Maria
Kohan Jeno
Kohn Boruch
“ Rifka
“ Moses
Kopelovic Mendel
Korman Abraham
Kotek Isak-Berisz
“ Jochwet
“ Jozef
“ Szajndl
Kosakiewicz Selina
“ Josef
Kowadlo Josef
“ Anna
“ Etla
Krajsky Pavel
Kraus Imre
“ Klara
“ Peter
“ Paul
Krausova Marketa
Kucharski David
Kuczynski Szymon
“ Guta
“ Rywka
“ Szymon
Kula Janis
“ Lilija
“ Arnie
“ Anna
Kuplis Elmars
“ Auguste
“ Ewalds
“ Rozalja
Lamensdorf Oskar
“ Bronislawa
Lander Emil
“ Sysel
Lebovic Katerina
Lell Arnold
“ Alide
Lerner Salomon
Leppere Juban
“ Magdalena
Lewkowicz Estera
Libek Ignacy
“ Stanislaw
“ Balbina
Liivat Karl
“ Aino
Lindemanis Sigride
“ Alma
“ Rita
“ Eduards
“ Ansis
Lipszitz Simon
“ Christina
Lopata Abram
“ Regina
Lubawski Natan
Lubawska Nysella
“ Irena
Lustig Laszlo
Luzerovici Josub
“ Zisla
“ Macs
“ Rosa
“ Relu
Mannik Arnold
“ Hilja
Makowski Zygmunt
Makowska Helena
Mardus Uno
Margolis Boruch
“ Miriam
“ Maurice
Marcovicz Wilem
Masalskis-Surins
Nikolajs
Matussewich Vassily
“ Olga
“ Alexander
“ Nikolaj
“ Anastasia
“ Alexandra
“ Veronica
“ Vassily
“ Nina
“ Olga
Maulics Nikolajs
“ Lidija
“ Ligita
Meder Elisabeth
“ Lars
Metschersky Nadine
Metz Marthe
Michalowicz Szimon
Miller Chana
Minski Moses
Morgenlender
Stanislaw
“ Sara
“ Anna
Moskwer Lolek
Neufeld Karel
Neustatl Josef
Niemann Maria
Nittim Helle Mall
“ Andrus
“ Selma Julie
“ Maret Liis
Ohtra Arnold
“ Linda
“ Tiia
“ Lea
Orenstein Abraham
Osetek Tomasz-Michal
“ Irena
“ Marguerite
Ostroburski Szolem
Ostroburska Enia
Ozolins Juris
“ Karlis
“ Irina
“ Andrejs
Pataky Ignatz
“ Elsie
Panelz Hertha
Pawlyszyn Roman
(Lusia Pawlyszyn has been omitted)
Peedo Leo
Perl Erwin
Pich Hermann
“ Nelly
Pilichowski Henryk
Pilichowska Apolonia
“ Rozalia
Poczebucki Sameul
“ Tania
“ Anna
“ Alexander
Potok Salezy
“ Alina
Ptak Solomon
“ Rosa
Puurand Verner
“ Friida
“ Hans-Verner
“ Mart-Jaan
Rae Silva
“ Tarno
“ Anneke
Rafalowski Chaim
Rafalski Theodor
Rakfreldt Willem
“ Leida
Rakusan Jiri
Reich Kurt
“ Magda
Reichman Jakob
“ Sara
“ Bluma
Ritter Dorothea
Rogozinski Salomon
Rogozinska Selda
“ Edith
Rosenwasser Paul
“ Frieda
Rossler Ludwik Peter
“ Hanus
Rotschyld Salek
Rozenberg Maurice
Rosenberg Dina
Sachs Georg
“ Hedwig
Salinger Ilse
Salcberg Chaim
Schlomo
“ Sara
Samonov Cyrill
“ Jylia
Sapojnikofe Boris
Schmatlock Mariana
Schnur Sala
“ Anna
Schroder Hilda
Schwartz Otto
Seitz Valentine
“ Pauline
Sigal Max
Skorupa Moritz
Skowron Henryk
“ Giza
“ Michal
Silberstein Alfred
Singer Villiam
Slibar Josef
“ Alexander
Spiethoff Alzbetta
Soostar Hans
“ Juta
“ Jutta Stern Usher
“ Lea
“ David
“ Jacob
Stockholm Uno
“Helene
“Friedrich
Szteinberg Henryk
“ Wanda
Strom Leopold
“ Blume
“ Anna Aurelia
Sumin Helene
Surkis Juniu
“Friedrich Vilhelm
“ Fritzi
Szabason Joseph
Szafir Szymon
Szput Henryk
“ Anna
“ Ruth
Sczwarcberg Josek
Szwidowski Waclaw
Tohver Bruno
Szwartzbard Mendel
Thieberg Henryk
“ Mary Ada
“ Ewa
Tonuma Juhan
“ Linda
Schwartzbard Burich-Maier
“ Enn
Treufeldt Herman
“ Elfriede
“ Eha
Vaidas Helju
“ Juhan
“ Selme
“ Mare
Vink Johannes
“ Ida
“ Helbe
“ Villi
“ Lidia
Virve Adeline
Vogl Franz
“ Maria
“ Helena
Wajs Ginette
Wajsbord Ginette
Waiselbaum Leon
“ Henri
Weile Alfred
“ Hedwig
Weinberger Andrej
Weiner Pola
“ Isak
“ Mordchaj
Weiner Abraham
“ Rosa
“ Max-
Mordchaj
Weiss David
Welner Jacob
“ Salomon
Weyrich Harry-Ernst
“ Selma
Wierzba Choma
Witting Carl
Zalcberg-Zwolska
Alice
Zilberger Maurice
Hershaw Ogden
Escorting Officer IRO
EMBARKED IN PORT SAID
Bobilak Roman
“ Helena
“ Henry
“ Rudolf
Bartolo Carmela
“ Henry
“ Mario
Bellia Christina
Cachia Mary
“ Lillian
“ Joseph
Calfas Alexander
“ Calliroe
Casira Marie
Cassimatis Marie
“ Stamatiki
“ Annette
Catapodis Evangelos
Cilia Michael
“ Lucy
Cominos Jean
Condoleon Panagiota
Cosma Calliope
Cumpi (or Platis)
Dorothea
Coutalianos Evangelos
Coutsourkios Antoine
“ Catherine
Diacomanoli Vassiliki
“ Athina
Dianos Constantine
Durhan Guiseppina
Fatseas Pierro
“ Marie
“ Panagiotitsa
“ Vassiliki
Fiorentino Erminia
“ Mary
Georgiadis Photis
“ Germaine
Giorgiou or Savas
George
Grima Rita
“ Josephina
Hansel Pavao
“ Yael
Hazak Edmee
Kaliou Ekaterini
Kamaratos George
Karanzia Despina
Leonardos Nicolas
Macri Valentine
Makrilos Emanuel
Michailidis Jean
Mouglalis Nicolas
“ Catina
“ Olga
Marcotis Athanase
Musto Rudolf (Ralph)
“ Ina
Nasr Elias
Novello Romulo
“ Emilia
“ Dorotea
“ Ivor
“ Maria Teresa
Papakyritsi Marica
Pepi Sebastian
“ Paola
Pizel Felice
“ Sylvia
“ Albert
“ Robert
“ Gilbert
“ Eliane
Plowman Jeannette
Procida Maria
“ Giuseppe
Provitis Leonidas
Sabath Ludwig
Richard
Saccheti Marius
Saghredos Chrissi
Samson Mariane
Saul David
“ Lorice
“ Salomon
“ Joseph
Scicluna Domenic
“ Imelda
“ Antoinette
Smith Mathilda
Spiteri John
Travassaros Stamatios
“ Koula
“ Catherine
“ Stamata
Vakalaki Kyriacoula
Vassalo Joseph
“ Josephine
Vassalo Fortune
“ Silvia
Zarocostas Elias
“ Despina
“ Joan
“ Melpomene
Zourlos Apostolos
EMBARKED IN ADEN
Marino Dafne
Sorotos Joannis (John)
Xynis Alexander
INDEX OF NAMES
The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.
* Indicates names changed by request. Names in brackets indicate a passenger’s married name.
Abrahamsohn (Tamura), Eva 393–401
Abrahamsohn, Gretchen 393–98
Abrahamsohn (Valentine), Irene 119, 140, 210–12, 393–401
Ament, Leon 131, 160, 210, 258
* Anton 204–5, 212–13, 337–38
Barasz (Reading), Bella 11, 110, 128, 525
Barasz (Leski), Miriam 11, 525