Extracts from a book by Andrew Gaczol (soon to be published)
Otto Gaczol grew up in Silesia and lived through the German occupation of Poland just 30 km away from the concentration camp Auschwitz. In January 1945, just 14 years old he fled, just ahead of the Red Army and made his way to Berlin. His son, Andrew, wrote down his story.
Australia calling: populate or perish
After WWII the Australian government was anxious to populate this vast and largely empty continent. The threat of an invasion during the war had alerted them to their potential defencelessness and the labour shortages would lead to economic disaster. Otto Gazcol headed the call, alongside about three million other European immigrants who arrived between 1945–1975.
Otto Gaczol grew up in Silesia and lived through the German occupation of Poland just 30 km away from the concentration camp Auschwitz. In January 1945, just 14 years old he fled, just ahead of the Red Army and made his way to Berlin. His son, Andrew, wrote down his story.
Australia calling: populate or perish
After WWII the Australian government was anxious to populate this vast and largely empty continent. The threat of an invasion during the war had alerted them to their potential defencelessness and the labour shortages would lead to economic disaster. Otto Gazcol headed the call, alongside about three million other European immigrants who arrived between 1945–1975.
Arriving in Melbourne
(Photo 1 – Station Pier)
“Waiting to disembark, I (. . .) retrieved my binoculars to take a proper look at the city. I was stunned by what I saw. There was public housing and cars – all of which looked old, run down and dated from before the war. I thought: “Holy cow! – where on earth have I landed?!”
Otto decided to take a look anyway – he could always return to West Germany. He had signed a contract with the Immigration Authority to stay for two years, if he broke the contract he would have to pay back his fare.
Arriving at Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre
(Photo 2 Bonegilla)
“We arrived at the railway station in the late afternoon of Sunday, 20 February and were asked to line up in rows by the Australian Federal Police as one would be asked as a soldier in the army. Even though we could see the camp from where we were standing and asked if we could just walk there – it would have taken about 20 minutes – we were told to wait until a bus arrived which would take us there. A couple of people started to walk off but the officer politely but firmly called them back.”
(All extracts from Andrew Gaczol, One life, three countries: The story of a ‘New Australian’ [book cover, photo 3] © 2015; quotes pp. 104 –105 ; all photos © Otto and Andrew Gaczol)
(Photo 1 – Station Pier)
“Waiting to disembark, I (. . .) retrieved my binoculars to take a proper look at the city. I was stunned by what I saw. There was public housing and cars – all of which looked old, run down and dated from before the war. I thought: “Holy cow! – where on earth have I landed?!”
Otto decided to take a look anyway – he could always return to West Germany. He had signed a contract with the Immigration Authority to stay for two years, if he broke the contract he would have to pay back his fare.
Arriving at Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre
(Photo 2 Bonegilla)
“We arrived at the railway station in the late afternoon of Sunday, 20 February and were asked to line up in rows by the Australian Federal Police as one would be asked as a soldier in the army. Even though we could see the camp from where we were standing and asked if we could just walk there – it would have taken about 20 minutes – we were told to wait until a bus arrived which would take us there. A couple of people started to walk off but the officer politely but firmly called them back.”
(All extracts from Andrew Gaczol, One life, three countries: The story of a ‘New Australian’ [book cover, photo 3] © 2015; quotes pp. 104 –105 ; all photos © Otto and Andrew Gaczol)
