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1955 flood

Read more about the article Krystyna’s dancing journey from Greta Migrant Camp to Sydney’s Chequers Nightclub
Krystyna over the years. Photos supplied by Krystyna and her son Alex.

Krystyna’s dancing journey from Greta Migrant Camp to Sydney’s Chequers Nightclub

Krystyna Kurzydlo was six-and-a-half when she arrived in Australia in 1950. Her Polish parents had been forced labourers of the German Nazi regime during World War II, and were anxious to escape from Europe. They spent years after the war moving from one "displaced persons" camp to another before finally being accepted by Australia. Krystyna's parents - Tomasz and Zofia - had hoped to go to America, but her father's illiteracy prevented that, and Australia seemed the best chance for the family. Australia wanted cheap labour and population growth, but it also wanted to restrict its…

Continue ReadingKrystyna’s dancing journey from Greta Migrant Camp to Sydney’s Chequers Nightclub
Read more about the article Trucks, DUKWs and surfboats were heroes of the flood at Maitland in 1955
DUKW crew rescuing flood victims in 1955.

Trucks, DUKWs and surfboats were heroes of the flood at Maitland in 1955

Trucks WHEN senior officers at Williamtown RAAF base called for volunteers to take the base construction crew’s big, high-level trucks to help in Maitland on the afternoon of Thursday, February 24, 1955, Corporal Jim Carney, a 24-year-old air force accountant who had served in Korea, put his hand up. He had been planning a visit to the Newcastle Show with his fiancée, Elaine Frear, who was turning 21 next day. “At 10am they asked for volunteers for a few hours,” Jim recalled. “I ended up being there three days. I had a lot of explaining to…

Continue ReadingTrucks, DUKWs and surfboats were heroes of the flood at Maitland in 1955
Read more about the article The great flood of 1955: Part 2
Aerial view of central Maitland during the 1955 flood.

The great flood of 1955: Part 2

This is part two of an account of the 1955 flood, as it affected the Hunter Region, particularly Maitland. For Part 1, see link below. ******************************************************************************************************************** The chaos of Friday and the terrifying night that followed gave way to a slightly more organised situation on Saturday as rescue operations moved into high gear and more volunteers descended on the drowned city of Maitland. But the confusion was still immense and nobody had any real idea of the death toll, which was assumed to be at least 20. People were frantically trying to contact missing family members.…

Continue ReadingThe great flood of 1955: Part 2
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