Object numberM2010/096:001
Creator Mark Tedeschi (photographer)
DescriptionBlack and white photograph of Greta Allen standing in a garden, taken by Mark Tedeschi, 1992. As a baby she was given to a non-Jewish Dutch family for safekeeping.
Greta was born to Rebecca and Abraham Matteman in May 1942 in Holland at a time when Jews were desperately seeking hiding places to avoid being sent to Nazi death camps. When she was 7 months old, they gave her to Filippus and Anna Jüch for safekeeping. When their neighbour was arrested by the Gestapo, the Jüch's feared that he might reveal that Greta was Jewish. They sent her to Jacqueline Reinink, a widow, with 7 children of her own. When she became ill, she gave Greta to Francis and Lewis van der Meulen and she became their 5th child. Greta stayed till the end of the war.
In 1946 she immigrated to Australia to become part of a 5th family, that of her uncle, Appie van Rooijen and his wife, Joyce. It would take until she was an adult to piece together the story of her childhood and to understand the courage and sacrifice of the righteous families who saved her. Her parents and sister did not survive.
Greta was born to Rebecca and Abraham Matteman in May 1942 in Holland at a time when Jews were desperately seeking hiding places to avoid being sent to Nazi death camps. When she was 7 months old, they gave her to Filippus and Anna Jüch for safekeeping. When their neighbour was arrested by the Gestapo, the Jüch's feared that he might reveal that Greta was Jewish. They sent her to Jacqueline Reinink, a widow, with 7 children of her own. When she became ill, she gave Greta to Francis and Lewis van der Meulen and she became their 5th child. Greta stayed till the end of the war.
In 1946 she immigrated to Australia to become part of a 5th family, that of her uncle, Appie van Rooijen and his wife, Joyce. It would take until she was an adult to piece together the story of her childhood and to understand the courage and sacrifice of the righteous families who saved her. Her parents and sister did not survive.
Production placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Subjecthiding, survivors, child survivors
Object namephotographs
Materialphotographic emulsion, paper, paper
Dimensions
- height: 240.00 mm
width: 305.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mark Tedeschi