Speech at Refugee day 2009 "My family story"

As my first blog, I'd like to share a talk that I did for new Refugees in Sydney.The speech was well received and some were even weeping by the end. Many of the people at the speech had similar experiences that were much more recent. I was glad to perhaps help the healing.

Good Morning to all on this fine day.

My name is Steven Kryzius. My Father, Aunty and grandparents were Refugees from Lithuania, during the Second World War. They fled their Homeland, leaving everything behind because they feared being killed or worse, being sent to Siberia in exile, to work in the frozen wastelands.

Let me first explain a little about Lithuania. Lithuania is a small Country, about the size of Tasmania. Lithuania borders with Poland to the South, Latvia and Russia to the North and The Baltic Sea to the East.

During the Second World War Lithuania was occupied by Russia. During that time many people were arrested in the middle of the night and sent to work in the labour camps in the frozen wastelands of Siberia to work in Labour camps. Anyone who was educated or had a position in the country was a target. People were so afraid that they would sleep in the forests at night and only come back to their home during the day. One day, Germany lead by Hitler and his Nazis, took over Lithuania. The Germans were seen as Lithuanians saviours, saving them from the Russians, but they soon realised that the German Nazis were killing all their Jews. You see, there used to be a lot of Jews living in Lithuania at the time. The German Nazis committed such heinous crimes against humanity; they quickly became a new enemy.

My Grandparents married at this time. My Pop was just released from the army. He was very thin and sick. Nannas family arranged to marry my Pop because they thought it would be safer for her during the war. It wasn’t a marriage of choice. My Nanna loved another man and was waiting for him to get out of the army, but it was war time and she had to marry the one that was chosen for her. This was a marriage of necessity. Nana nursed Pop back to health in time.

In July 1944, the people heard that the Russians coming back so Nanna and Pop borrowed a horse and cart and left with their 18 month old baby, Irena Dana. They left their home, friends and family behind to flee to safety in Germany.

It took them 4 months to travel the 870 kilometres to Schwerin. They lived off very little in those days. Only a bit of fat or sugar was all they had to keep them going. They gave a ride to some barefoot German soldiers on the way. Pop had to get Nanna and Baby Irena Dana out of the cart at a German checkpoint so they could see the baby and weren’t sent to a labour camp. Nanna and Pop had to trade the horse and cart for food before they got to Schwerin.

Little Baby Irena Dana died here in Schwerin. Nanna , Heartbroken but still fearful, had to bury Little Irena Dana and continue travelling, this time by train to Lauda.

The Americans came into town at Easter the next year and they surrendered to them. My Aunty was born here on the 2^nd of May, 1945. Just 6 days before the end of the war. My Dad was born a year later when the camps were set up by the Americans.

My Nanna, Pop, Aunty and Dad lived in the camps for another 3 years living off potato peelings and meagre food. It was 4 years after arriving in Germany that they finally got approval to migrate to Australia. They were transported to Naples in Italy and, on the 24th of April, 1949 they set sail for Australia. On the 25^th of May, they arrived at port Melbourne and were transported by train to Aubury/Wadonga. It was here at a camp called Bonegilla, that became their first temporary home since leaving their dear country. At Bonegilla, the department of immigration provided Social workers, English Classes, Translating services and information to help migrants settle into this new country.

It wasn’t long before my dad and Aunty were separated from their mother, my Nanna. They were sent to a camp in Cowra. Pop worked as a shoemaker in the camps before he was sent out to work his 2 year contract. This was done by all men over the age of 16. They had to do this to pay for their passage to Australia. Pop worked in several Factories while Nanna looked after the sick children in the camp in Cowra. It was May 1950 that Nanna and the kids were reunited in a camp in Victoria called Sommers, near Frankston. Nanna worked in the kitchen there and even got paid. It was here that Nanna lost another child. Jonas(John) Kryzius was born, lived 40 days and died on the 10^th of may,1950. It was a very painful time for Nanna, as she didn’t get to bury him.

Pop was sold some land at Deer Park and told to, ”build something and get your family out of the camps. Pop built a Bungalo, no water, no electricity or roads, but it was theirs and they were finally all together again, safe.

From then on, My Nanna got work and Pop built several houses and saw their own kids grow up,prosper and have kids of their own here in Australia. I am proud to be one of  Onute and Zenonas Kryzius' grand children.   .

My grandparents, Dad and Aunty were but 4 of the 320 000 people that passed through Bonegilla.

Many thousands of people have found security and a good life in Australia. Many people were displaced by the Second world War, came to Australia and contributed many things to this country and in return were given a new safe home with so many opportunities to succeed and prosper.

I hope this Story of my own Families struggles as Refugees will encourage all People who have had to flee their home, that there is hope now that you’re here, for a safe prosperous life where your kids can grow without fear.