14.
A New Life in Wellington
Happiness comes
To those who trust in it.
Springs of Islamic Wisdom
Our home in Berhampore in Wellington was a
large, old-fashioned building with exterior walls of
weatherboard and a corrugated iron roof. It was owned by
an elderly couple who occupied a self-contained flat at
the rear of the old building. They sublet individual
rooms to a number of tenants, who shared the communal
kitchen, laundry and toilet facilities. Everyone
contributed payment for the gas, electricity and
telephone. Hot water in the bathroom and laundry was
metered. The weekly rent for a room was five pounds. All
the rooms were off a long corridor. My mother and I
occupied two rooms, one of which was our bedroom, while
the other served as a dining and living area. This was
our first home together in New Zealand.
While Mother continued her nursing career as a midwife at
the maternity ward of the Wellington Public Hospital, I
obtained a clerical position In the Head Office of the
Health Department. My particular task was the sorting of
health warrants in numerical order. In those days doctors
claimed payment for their patients' consultations by
completing the relevant details on special forms provided
by the Health Department. The health warrants were then
forwarded to the Head Office in Wellington, where
payments to the doctors were authorised. The stamped
warrants were then filed numerically and stored In large
tin cabinets, as records of medical benefits. My job was
boring, but I was glad to have employment as a civil
servant.
Meanwhile, the Polish Children's Camp at Pahiatua had
almost served its purpose as the older children were now
assuming the responsibilities of young, working adults.
Some of the children had now been reunited with their
fathers, older brothers and cousins, most of whom were
Polish ex-servicemen from Britain. They too were
resettled in New Zealand after World War II, when the
Polish army was demobilised. Many of these new arrivals
settled with their families in Wellington. A Polish boys'
hostel was established for the young working men in
Hawera and in Island Bay in Wellington. In 1947 Father
Kavanagh, the Catholic priest in charge of Polish
children in the capital, purchased on behalf of the
Catholic church, a large property at Lyall Bay,
'Ngaroma'. A government subsidy was made available for
the new Polish girls' hostel for young, working women.
This large, stately home was transformed into
accommodation for 60 girls initially, and after the
closure of the Pahiatua Camp in 1949. it was enlarged to
cater for 120 boarders. The last group of 90 children
left the Pahiatua Camp on 15th April 1949. To ensure the
welfare of all the remaining orphans, Mrs. Ellinor
Zaleska was appointed their guardian, through the Child
Welfare Branch of the Department of Education in
Wellington. She continued her dedicated work until April
1956. She was the wife of the late Polish diplomat S.
Zaleski, who was appointed by the Polish
Government-in-Exile in London to be the delegate of the
Polish Children's Camp at Pahiatua. That position was
later filled by his wife, after his sudden death In
Wellington.
In 1948, my first year in Wellington, the Polish
Association in New Zealand was founded. Working Poles
contributed generously towards the purchase of the
'Polish House' In Wellington, where all compatriots
living in the capital could meet. Later another Polish
House was bought in Auckland. The aim of the Polish
Association in this country was to foster a close
cultural link between all Poles resident in New Zealand.
I enjoyed meeting other young Poles In the Polish House,
where we attended many enjoyable social evenings and
dances. My circle of friends continued to widen. The
Skwarko family also settled in Wellington, so we were
able to keep In touch. Happily, we renewed our friendship
with the McCann family, our fellow travelers on the
Chyebassa from India. They too lived in the capital.
My contacts with Polish friends were especially important
during this period of gradual integration into the
relatively homogenous British culture of the post-war era
in New Zealand. The Polish community in Wellington gave
us all a strong sense of unity and emotional security,
which decreased the impact of culture shock. Although New
Zealanders were friendly and most sympathetic about our
deprivations and exile during the war years, we were
regarded as foreigners, not simply 'new, New Zealanders'.
At that time, with the vast immigration from continental
Europe to Australia, people there were more flexible than
In New Zealand. They were not only prepared to accept
large numbers of Immigrants of diverse ethnic European
origins, but they actively encouraged them to preserve
their own cultures in Australia. The new arrivals were
always referred to as 'new Australians'. Their different
cultures were seen as enriching the Australian nation, as
the Immigrants made their contributions In the new land.
New Zealanders were still insular. Many regarded
foreigners with suspicion and failed to comprehend that
other cultures could enrich this young nation. That view
developed much later here. The New Zealand immigration
policy severely restricted the intake of people of
non-British origin. The New Zealand Maori were still
largely rural, and few completed tertiary education.
Although Intermarriage was common between the two
cultures from the earliest time, there was much prejudice
against Te Tangata Whenua. It was deemed necessary to
integrate the Maori and others of different ethnic
cultures Into the dominant British society.
During World War II New Zealand servicemen were exposed
to foreign cultures abroad, which consequently broadened
their view of life in general. They realised that 'God's
Own Country' was, after all, an isolated part of the
world and that New Zealanders had much to learn from
other nations. However, these people were then in a
minority. Immigration of Pacific Islanders was just
beginning on a larger scale. They too felt displaced,
alienated from their cultural roots, as did the urban
Maori and continental Europeans at that time. Employment
was easy to obtain, but It was often difficult to find
decent accommodation because of the strong prejudice
against foreign-born people. Several of my Polish friends
were told frankly, 'Sorry, we don't rent rooms to Maoris
and foreigners'. This promoted a feeling of Insecurity
among foreign-born settlers.
During the post-war years New Zealand experienced
prosperity and a continually rising living standard. Our
farm products fetched high prices abroad, especially In
war-devastated Europe and in Britain, which traditionally
imported a great proportion of New Zealand's primary
produce. Britain usually purchased raw materials from the
colonies and their dominions at low prices and processed
them in Britain, selling the manufactured goods In those
countries at a substantial profit. Wool for example, was
exported to Britain, where it was dyed and processed into
knitting yarns and cloth to be sold in New Zealand at a
very high price. However, most New Zealanders at this
time regarded this as normal and the wisdom of those
policies was not widely queried. Moreover, New Zealanders
still referred nostalgically to Britain as the 'Mother
Country'. This strong sentiment was reflected in the
early New Zealand literature, which was permeated with a
profound nostalgia for the land of the British migrants,
and later New Zealanders' forebears. Also, British
immigration was greatly encouraged after the war to fill
the many vacant jobs. In the early 1950s, because of the
great shortage of unskilled labourers in New Zealand,
over 30,000 Dutch immigrants, mostly unskilled workers
and farmers, were accepted here. The Dutch were regarded
as resourceful, industrious people, who were capable of
successful integration into the British culture of New
Zealand. Unskilled Pacific Islanders were also encouraged
to migrate here. Some displaced Europeans from refugee
camps In France and Germany were also accepted as new
settlers in New Zealand.
Gradually, more cosmopolitan communities were established
in Wellington, Auckland and other urban centres. I became
a member of the newly established United Nations Society
In the capital. New Zealanders traveled abroad more
frequently. They were gradually becoming accustomed to
trying new products such as yogurt, cottage cheese, and
other varieties of imported or New Zealand manufactured
cheeses. Different bread recipes were also tried and
continental sausages such as salami, liverwurst and
rookwurst became popular. Young people, on completion of
their tertiary education or apprenticeships, wanted to
travel overseas, especially to Britain, the European
continent and to Australia. In these countries they saw
people of diverse cultures living alongside each other,
learning from their neighbours, without forfeiting their
own ethnic Identities. Slowly the attitude towards
foreigners In New Zealand underwent a metamorphosis,
though some distrust of people from other cultures
remained.
Rugby continued to be regarded almost as a religion in
New Zealand, and the 6.00 p.m. pub closing probably
accounted for the many excellent rugby forwards in this
country. New Zealanders had plenty of practice in the
serums for a quick beer or two after work before the pubs
closed at 6.00 p.m. Weekends had a special status in New
Zealand. Streets were deserted as all shops were closed.
During the weekends, especially on Saturday mornings,
everyone seemed to mow their lawns. The noise of motor
mowers resounded in Wellington suburbs. It was In this
prevailing cultural climate that we started our lives in
Wellington. By 1950 I felt more integrated into our new
country. I had several good friends among the Polish
girls who resided at the Lyall Bay Ngaroma Hostel near
our newly-rented accommodation in that suburb, and I had
a Polish boyfriend, Janek. Through a good nursing friend,
Mrs. Burl Nees, Mother managed to find rooms in a
two-storeyed house In Lyall Bay. Here, in addition to two
large rooms with open fireplaces, we had our own kitchen.
Laundry and toilet facilities were shared with another
family downstairs. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison and their three
sons lived upstairs. Mr. Morrison was a high school
teacher at Rongotai College.
In 19501 enrolled for evening classes at the Wellington
Technical College, while continuing to work during the
day at the Head Office of the Health Department, where I
was transferred to the Registered Nurses Records
Division. My direct supervisor, Mr. Taylor, gave me
increased responsibilities in reorganising this branch,
where four other women worked. Contrary to advice given
by the supervisor of evening classes at Technical
College, I decided to undertake two levels of study
simultaneously. I enrolled for both, the School
Certificate and the University Entrance courses In one
year. This was indeed a formidable task for anyone
studying on a part-time basis, and especially for me,
since both my primary and secondary formal education was
incomplete. However, I was highly motivated towards the
goal I had set myself. I attended lectures every evening
after work until 9.00 p.m. and on Saturday mornings from
9.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon. After my lectures I studied late
into the night with great determination. Saturday
evenings and Sunday afternoons I kept free for outings
with Janek. This was a necessary diversion, which kept me
sane.
Meanwhile, my brother Alek transferred from St. Bede's
College In Christchurch to St. Patrick's College In
Wellington. He had completed Forms 3 and 4 in
Christchurch and was now in Form 5. Unfortunately, he did
not settle down at St. Patrick's College, so Mother
transferred him to the Wellington Technical College as a
day pupil. Mother continued her nursing career in the
Maternity Ward of the Wellington Public Hospital. This
entailed shift-work. Alek needed special assistance with
his studies, but both Mother and I were preoccupied with
our own daily tasks. Consequently, Alek soon gave up and
left school without any qualifications.
Over the years ahead, as I grew to understand the impact
of one's experiences on the shape of one's life, I came
to realise that Mother had been unable to integrate her
war experiences with those of her youth and had also
never accepted the tragic loss of her husband. She had
lost her own father in her adolescence during World War
1, and after his sudden death she had assumed the heavy
responsibilities of caring for her mother, two younger
sisters and a brother. This meant a constant struggle for
survival for an adolescent at a most vulnerable stage of
her life. I believe that my mother was unable to work
through the traumatic experiences of her youth, to which
her painful experiences of World War II were added. She
was a survivor, who coped well In difficult
circumstances. However, in middle age she became
psychologically disturbed and this made life at home very
difficult for both Alek and me. My strong Christian faith
and close friendships sustained me during that difficult
period and gave me spiritual strength.
Among my close friends was Mrs. Ellinor Zaleska and her
daughter Elizabeth, who also lived in Lyall Bay. I
greatly valued their support and friendship and that of
my other Polish friends and the McCann family. We kept in
touch with our old friends the Skwarko family, whom we
visited on several occasions.
In November 1950 I sat both the School Certificate and
the University Entrance Examinations. When the results
were announced in January 1951 I was delighted to learn I
had passed both national examinations. Before my
examination results were released I applied for the
Wellington Teachers' Training College. The selection
panel soon informed me of my acceptance for teacher
training, subject to achieving favourable examination
results. My selection for teacher training and the
examinations success boosted my self-confidence and I was
now even more determined to continue with my tertiary
education. During my first year at Teachers' Training
College I commenced further studies at Victoria
University, where I took two papers of stage one
Education. I received much encouragement from both
Professors Cohn Bailey and Hugh Crawford Somerset. who
took a special interest in me as a student. I found my
university and Teachers' College life very stimulating
and I made new friends and explored new horizons, both
intellectual and social. I joined the University Annual
Students' Extravaganza performance and attended square
dancing socials, which were then popular. Life became
more enjoyable and I was always ready for a new
challenge. Gradually. I began to relate to New Zealanders
and began to feel myself citizen of New Zealand. This
sentiment strengthened when on 27th February 1951 my
mother became a naturahised New Zealander and a British
subject. Alek arid I were automatically registered as New
Zealand citizens. Being minors we were never required to
apply personally for citizenship. As a New Zealander I
was now able to take the necessary Oath of Allegiance to
the Queen upon my entry for training as a teacher.
Alek's life followed a different pathway. He tried an
apprenticeship in moulding for a time and a variety of
casual jobs, including work as a porter at the Waipukurau
TB sanatorium, then as a Forestry and Rabbit Board worker
before he left for the South Island. I continued to enjoy
my teacher's training and university studies. I also
joined the Catholic Tramping Club in Wellington. Through
that club my circle of friends widened. I participated in
organised trips to the Ruahines, Mt. Ruapehu and to the
Great Barrier Island during the long summer vacation. The
regular club meetings were fun and the spirit of
friendship and adventure in the club was tremendous. We
felt as one happy family as we sang while we walked,
boiled our billies and cooked stew and potatoes, either
over a bonfire or In the trampers' huts in New Zealand
bush country.
With the increasing numbers of immigrants from Europe, a
special Catholic New Settlers' Club was formed in
Wellington. Among the new arrivals were many single Dutch
people, who missed their families left in Europe. For
them weekends were especially lonely times. They were
predominantly men and many felt isolated in the new
culture with only poor English skills. They lived in
rented rooms, which included few home comforts and
certainly lacked the atmosphere of family life.
The Catholic New Settlers' Club met on Sunday evenings.
At that time a strict code of behaviour was observed in
New Zealand. No sport meetings or public dances were
permitted from midnight on Saturdays until midnight on
Sundays. Therefore, this club's Sunday social needed to
Incorporate a religious observance. Each club Sunday
social commenced with music provided by a pianist,
accompanied by a piano accordion and guitars. Men usually
stood at the rear of the hall as was customary at New
Zealand's public dances, while girls sat along the walls.
Dances started with the usual announcement, 'Gentlemen
take your partners for the Gay Gordons'. This was the
signal for the men to approach the girls. As there was a
surplus of men, girls were assured of dancing partners,
but many men missed out. The atmosphere was friendly and
relaxed and there was much laughter. It was stimulating
to make new acquaintances. Interesting conversations
developed as everyone discussed their own background,
reasons for immigrating to New Zealand and their present
employment and interests. Halfway through the evening the
music suddenly stopped, while a priest addressed all
assembled, calling us to attention. A short sermon was
generally followed by the reciting of a decade of the
rosary, for which we knelt. On completion of this
religious interlude, dancing recommenced.
I attended these Sunday evening socials in the company of
my Polish friend Elizabeth Zaleska and Jose Moers, a
Dutch friend from the tramping club. On one such evening,
before the Dutch community's celebration of Queen
Juliana's birthday, Jose met Wim van der Linden, who
later became my husband. She invited him to the Catholic
tramping club meeting a few days later. There we were
introduced and agreed to attend the special ball to be
held in Queen Juliana's honour at the Majestic Cabaret on
the following Saturday evening.
On that occasion José Moers, John Matthews, Wim and I
shared an enjoyable evening at the Majestic Cabaret,
where we danced to an excellent band and listened to many
Dutch songs, which I heard for the first time. This was
the beginning of the romance and friendship between Wim
and myself.
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