"You Are Welcome in Australia" with Daina Pocius

Daina has found an undated, unsourced news clipping, about the Lithuanian First Transporters' first couple of days in Australia after they disembarked in Fremantle.  Here is her translation.

"You Are Welcome in Australia"

After a long, 30-day journey, on November 28 the first DPs (Displaced Persons) arrived from Germany.  One DP writes about his experiences in the new place.

Our first stop in Australia was Fremantle. Government representatives, press and film correspondents welcomed the arrivals on the shore.  After greetings and some brief information about future goals, we boarded the bus.  Slowly large cars move through the streets of the small seaside town, along the edge of the sea.  The feeling is a little strange, but still good, because we clearly feel that we are no longer illegitimate DPs, but full members of humanity again.

Shed A on Victoria Quay, Fremantle, was where the First Transport passengers encountered their final processing for entry to Australia: identity documents checked for immigration purposes and suitcases checked for quarantine breaches and
any customs payable (likely to be nil).  The shed was one of four built in the 1920s for preparing WA-grown fruit for export.  The 1930s photographer had a high vantage point where the WA Maritime Museum is located now.

Source:  Fremantle Ports

Like in a motley film strip, oleanders are blooming all around, near strange snow-white residential houses with verandas and carefully maintained lawns.  A large palm tree grows near each house, under which lounge chairs sit.  The palm tree here is considered the sanctity of the house and is seen everywhere.  Our first impression is excellent.  After 9 miles of travel, we reach our destination.  Instead of the expected wooden barracks, we are accommodated in beautiful tin houses with 3-4 or 6-7 people in each.  They were built for the soldiers.  The walls are painted white, and the roofs are made of white or red tiles.  The interior of the building is very reminiscent of a hospital.  Beds are covered in two sheets and several blankets.  The organisation is exemplary.

After washing off the travel dust, we go to lunch.  The dining hall is large with self-service equipment.  A pleasant surprise is the Australian government’s written greetings and wishes for each new arrival. Its content is approximately as follows: ‘Australia says welcome.  You are the first European DPs to come to Australia.  You are temporarily without your homeland, and we want to help you as much as we can. If you are kind and obedient, we will do more for you.  You are invited and welcome in Australia.  Signed: Minister of Immigration commissioned by the Australian Government.  After reading these heartfelt lines, tears appear in some eyes.

Then the eating begins.  Our first lunch in Australia consisted of soup, steak with vegetables, fruit compote, pudding, oranges and other fruits.  In reality, we have to say that we have not been interested in eating for quite some time.  This is followed by the message that we are free and can go and do what we want.  We just can't forget that at 6 o'clock, we must return for dinner.

Firstly, we go and explore the city.  We wander the streets and look through the shop windows into full shops.   Almost everything can be bought without ration cards, with the exception of some textile goods, for example, woollen materials, foreign contractor silk, etc.

The Australians have been well informed about our arrival.  Wherever possible, they come and tell us a lot about themselves and how they came to be in Australia.  Many came here with only a few suitcases, but now have a house and car.  Those who want to work and live sensibly will be able to settle comfortably in a short time.  They reassure us not to get dismayed because everything will be fine. Australians are happy to help new migrants.

There is a lot of traffic on the streets.  People are well dressed.  The first night we visited the cinema.  It looked like we would get into the hall, but there was a surprise. The walls of the "Room" were not only lined with rows of living palm trees, but blue clouds were overhead.

We will leave Fremantle by boat in a couple of days for Melbourne, where we will be assigned work.  Today, the first Australian commission arrived and will inform us about the working conditions.  The authorities are very polite, and you can speak to them openly.  They ask what we did in our homeland, in Germany, and what we would like to do in Australia.  They did say we may not be happy about the work at first not corresponding to our professions. (LZ)

Searching both the National Library of Australia's Trove and a Lithuanian-language equivalent, Spauda.org, produces no results for this article.  Can you help us source it?

About the author:  The two passengers on the General Stuart Heintzelman, the First Transport, with the initials 'LZ' were both Latvians.  Tracking down the author may be even harder than pinpointing the publication details.

Notes:  1.  About the 30 days for the Heintzelman to sail to Australia being "long", it was in fact something of a record short journey.  Most ships sailing to Australia from northern Europe at that time were taking something like 6 weeks for the same journey.

2.  Click on either image to see enlarged versions of them.