Object numberM2019/016:011
DescriptionLetter, from A. Constance Duncan, the Director of Victorian International Refugee Emergency Council, to Lothar Markiewicz in Tatura Internment Camp, 12 September 1941.
Miss Duncan informs Lothar that Miss Ballance has supplied funds to the Council to buy a typewriter for him. This typewriter, a secondhand Corona, which cost 6 Pounds and 10 shillings will be delievered to Lothar via Miss Margret Pierce of the Society of Friends (The Quakers). She advises Lothar about the working of the machine and that further assistance can be recieved from Mr. Hans Oppenheim, a fellow former Dunera and Hay Internee, also at Tatura. She concludes the letter that in the next week they will send some typewriting paper and 'carbon', as well as a copy of Fisher's History of Europe.
The Markiewicz Collection consists of private letters, official documents and personal papers which record the survival stories of three family members, Lotte, a single mother sending her two children, Lothar and Ellen on a Kindertransport to England, then her escape into the Berlin Underground. Ellen was looked after by Quaker families in England for the duration of the war but the teenage Lothar, aged 16, was shipped as an ‘Enemy Alien’ on the Dunera to Australia. He was rapidly released from internment and sent back to England. Light is also shed on the Quaker efforts for his release and return to England.
Lotte married Max Markiewicz, and had two children, Lothar born on 9 January 1924 and Ellen, born 18 August 1926, in Berlin. Lotte and Max separated shortly after Ellen’s birth, after which the children had limited contact with their father, usually meeting once per month. Max was murdered in Theresienstadt Ghetto 1943. Lotte survived in hiding in Berlin underground, moving to England after the war, and later settled in the United States with Ellen. Lothar married and settled in England until 1993, when he moved with his wife to Australia, to be closer to his son Michael and grandchildren.
Miss Duncan informs Lothar that Miss Ballance has supplied funds to the Council to buy a typewriter for him. This typewriter, a secondhand Corona, which cost 6 Pounds and 10 shillings will be delievered to Lothar via Miss Margret Pierce of the Society of Friends (The Quakers). She advises Lothar about the working of the machine and that further assistance can be recieved from Mr. Hans Oppenheim, a fellow former Dunera and Hay Internee, also at Tatura. She concludes the letter that in the next week they will send some typewriting paper and 'carbon', as well as a copy of Fisher's History of Europe.
The Markiewicz Collection consists of private letters, official documents and personal papers which record the survival stories of three family members, Lotte, a single mother sending her two children, Lothar and Ellen on a Kindertransport to England, then her escape into the Berlin Underground. Ellen was looked after by Quaker families in England for the duration of the war but the teenage Lothar, aged 16, was shipped as an ‘Enemy Alien’ on the Dunera to Australia. He was rapidly released from internment and sent back to England. Light is also shed on the Quaker efforts for his release and return to England.
Lotte married Max Markiewicz, and had two children, Lothar born on 9 January 1924 and Ellen, born 18 August 1926, in Berlin. Lotte and Max separated shortly after Ellen’s birth, after which the children had limited contact with their father, usually meeting once per month. Max was murdered in Theresienstadt Ghetto 1943. Lotte survived in hiding in Berlin underground, moving to England after the war, and later settled in the United States with Ellen. Lothar married and settled in England until 1993, when he moved with his wife to Australia, to be closer to his son Michael and grandchildren.
Production date 1941-09-12 - 1941-09-12
Subjectrefugee experiences in Australia, charitable organisations, Treatment of Aliens, education, Hay internment camp
Object nameofficial correspondence
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 205.00 mm
height: 263.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Michael Markiewicz