Object numberM2019/012:004
DescriptionPart of the Dirndl worn as a costume by Grete Stern during the 1930’s in Austria; it was later passed on to her daughter Eva Engel (nee Stern). The traditional dress originating in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland is based on traditional clothing of Alpine peasants. Prior to the Anschluss in 1938, Grete and Fritz Stern and their daughter Eva, considered themselves assimilated and were proud to wear the traditional garb of their homeland.
Eva Engel (nee Stern) was born in Vienna, Austria in 1932, only child to Fritz and Grete Stern. Fritz was a successful engineer with his own business and an active member of the Social Democratic Party. The day following the Anschluss, his factory was confiscated by the Nazis, as was the family’s other assets and possessions of value. After assessing the danger as both Jewish and Socialist, the family of three went into hiding, seeking refuge with many of Fritz’s non-Jewish colleagues. Eventually, a contact in Zurich, Switzerland was able to smuggle the family across the border; from there, Eva’s father applied for a job in Australia, where his qualifications as an engineer, tool and die maker were in demand.
After almost a year in Australia in December of 1939, Eva moved with her parents to New Zealand; they travelled on the T.S.S Strathaird and Grete was seasick for weeks. Initially, young Eva was fearful of separation from her parents, but as life in NZ settled, she joined the Zionist Youth League, sang in the school choir and helped some of the displaced youths arriving from Europe and attending the Zionist Youth Club holiday camp. In 1949, the family returned to Australia.
Building on her experience working with displaced youths, Eva continued working in outreach, counselling, migrant integration, and conducting interviews which formed the basis of support groups. In 2002, she received an OAM for her work in community welfare, establishment of Child Survivors of the Holocaust group and volunteer service.
Eva Engel (nee Stern) was born in Vienna, Austria in 1932, only child to Fritz and Grete Stern. Fritz was a successful engineer with his own business and an active member of the Social Democratic Party. The day following the Anschluss, his factory was confiscated by the Nazis, as was the family’s other assets and possessions of value. After assessing the danger as both Jewish and Socialist, the family of three went into hiding, seeking refuge with many of Fritz’s non-Jewish colleagues. Eventually, a contact in Zurich, Switzerland was able to smuggle the family across the border; from there, Eva’s father applied for a job in Australia, where his qualifications as an engineer, tool and die maker were in demand.
After almost a year in Australia in December of 1939, Eva moved with her parents to New Zealand; they travelled on the T.S.S Strathaird and Grete was seasick for weeks. Initially, young Eva was fearful of separation from her parents, but as life in NZ settled, she joined the Zionist Youth League, sang in the school choir and helped some of the displaced youths arriving from Europe and attending the Zionist Youth Club holiday camp. In 1949, the family returned to Australia.
Building on her experience working with displaced youths, Eva continued working in outreach, counselling, migrant integration, and conducting interviews which formed the basis of support groups. In 2002, she received an OAM for her work in community welfare, establishment of Child Survivors of the Holocaust group and volunteer service.
Production date 1930 - 1938
Object namescarfs
Materialcotton
Dimensions
- width: 525.00 mm
height: 510.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Eva Engel