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…