Object numberM2018/018:058
DescriptionLetter from an unknown "great personal friend" of Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivors Laszlo and Ilona Sarkadi, written as a guarantee for their accomodation and support in Australia (along with their daughter Emily [b. 1947] and Ilona's mother Margit). Sent to an Immigration Officer in Melbourne c. 1957-8. A hand written note on the reverse side of the letter states the address of the Jewish Aid Society in Melbourne.
Ilona and Laszlo's sons Joseph (b. 1934) and Stephen (b. 1938) had already migrated to Australia in 1957, and Joseph was acting as the nominator for the remaining family members.
The Sarkadi family in the mid 1950s became a focus of Communist persecution, which forced them to flee to Australia.
Laszlo had spent the majority of World War II in forced labour, while Ilona and her sons fled to Budapest. Joseph and Stephen were eventually placed in hiding, sometimes separately. Both carried the trauma of this period with them for life.
The family lost many loved ones to the Holocaust. After the war, they rebuilt their lives in Budapest. Joseph and Stephen returned to school and were involved in Communist youth activities. Joseph attended university in Budapest for 2 years.
By 1958, the family had all migrated to Melbourne. They operated a restaurant from 1960-63.
Joseph was devastated by the death of his grandmother in 1963, and died in a car crash that same year.
In 1972, Stephen, Laszlo and Ilona received reparations from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Laszlo died in 1986, Stephen in 2004, and Ilona in 2010.
Ilona and Laszlo's sons Joseph (b. 1934) and Stephen (b. 1938) had already migrated to Australia in 1957, and Joseph was acting as the nominator for the remaining family members.
The Sarkadi family in the mid 1950s became a focus of Communist persecution, which forced them to flee to Australia.
Laszlo had spent the majority of World War II in forced labour, while Ilona and her sons fled to Budapest. Joseph and Stephen were eventually placed in hiding, sometimes separately. Both carried the trauma of this period with them for life.
The family lost many loved ones to the Holocaust. After the war, they rebuilt their lives in Budapest. Joseph and Stephen returned to school and were involved in Communist youth activities. Joseph attended university in Budapest for 2 years.
By 1958, the family had all migrated to Melbourne. They operated a restaurant from 1960-63.
Joseph was devastated by the death of his grandmother in 1963, and died in a car crash that same year.
In 1972, Stephen, Laszlo and Ilona received reparations from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Laszlo died in 1986, Stephen in 2004, and Ilona in 2010.
Production placeMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Production date 1957 - 1958
Subjectsurvivors, child survivors, migration, Post-War Life, sponsorship
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- height: 146.00 mm
width: 209.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ester Sarkadi-Clarke