Migrantweb.com Hostels Forum

irene_61 · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:27 am Post subject: Heathcote Hostel 1961

We arrived in 1961 moved to Easthills Hostel, mum and dad were horrified, goodness knows what they expected but the huts werent it. We stayed there about 6 weeks and then moved to Heathcote to be near some friends who had immigrated before us.

As kids we loved it, I remember my the lunch bags we collected every day to take to school, you could always tell the hostel kids Very Happy

it was like our badge of honour. We used to build massive bonfires (crackers were legal then). Monica Schofield went missing while going across the desert and was found murdered. Sad time for everyone. We stayed on the camp two years and it was great

Irene

Phyl · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:05 am Post subject:

Enjoyed your post Irene.

We were at Berkeley Hostel when Monica Schofield was murdered but it rings a bell with me ,the name does. Sad

Very sad and tragic.
_________________
Kind regards,
Phyl

irene_61 · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:22 am Post subject:

I was one of Monicas close friends she had a brother Peter and the irony is that they found her body at Dead Mans Creek since been renamed, I sometimes wonder what happened to her family whether they stayed or left. Guess I will never know, but it was a terrible tragedy she was a lovely girl.

Len · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:46 pm Post subject:

Hi Irene, welcome to our forums.

It�s always sad to here about things like this �Monica�. Did they apprehend the attacker?

irene_61 · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:54 am Post subject:

Yes they did fortunately

GinaKate · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:50 am Post subject:

What a terrible tragedy for a family hoping for a better life, I vaguely remember hearing something about this when we arrived in January 1965. I remember being told never to go anywhere alone.

Years later a little two year old girl went missing from Dundas Hostel, 1966/67, maybe Phyl's husband was still manager at the time? Folk came in from the neighbouring streets and joined the massive search party. To everyone's relief she was found days later by two school boys, alive and well fed and unharmed, wandering all alone in a field in Mt Druitt. That really upset the security of the hostel for months.

ninette · Active Member Joined: 19 Sep 2017 Posts: 14

I was living at East Hills when Monica was murdered and there were so many stories and rumours going around amongst the kids as to what happened. Whenever I hear the song Blue on Blue it reminds me of Monica. I never forget her. I can't imagine what it must have been like for her family.