Migrantweb.com Hostels Forum

Hollander · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:22 am Post subject: East Hills Photo 1965

Since joining this forum I've been searching for photos of that time. So far I've only come up with this one:

From l. to r. my mother Sini with our dog Akim, my sister Trudy (standing) and Sylvo, another resident with an unidentified canine.

This photo was taken in 1965, in front of our hut: No. 6. at the far end of the hostel. From the window visible in the photo, you looked straight out into the bush along Williams Creek. That was actually a great walk along the creek. You could follow it right to where it joined the Georges River, opposite Milperra and then follow the River back to the footbridge at East Hills.

Sylvo was one of the few non-Brits on the hostel. He came from what was then Yugoslavia. His wife was German. Other then them and ourselves, I remember only two other continental European families. One was Spanish (my sister was friends with their daughter) and the other was German. A widow I believe, with two teenage sons named Harry & Louie.

Akim the dog was also a controversial character. He'd adopted us as his family and he was always hanging around our hut. When hostel management organised one of their periodic pogroms against the dogs (they did get out of hand), the dog catcher came around to collect Akim as well. I don't think he realised how close he came to joining his past victims in "The Desert". We kept the dog and took him with us when we ultimately left the Hostel.

Ed

stormfour · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:09 pm Post subject:

First time I have ever heard of dogs or any kind of pets for that matter being allowed on the Hostels,it was a strict rule at Altona,and I dont recall having seen any at other hostels that I visited at the time
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Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964

Hollander · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:42 am Post subject:

Pets weren't allowed, but stray dogs kept on gravitating towards the hostel, where kids and others would befriend or feed them. Periodically the hostel management organized for the dogs to be rounded up and taken away. We wouldn't let them take Akim and the management ultimately gave up on the condition that we take the dog with us when we left. We had the support of most of the other denizens of our little corner of the hostel and it was a gigantic storm in a teacup, especially since we had indicated that we would be leaving shortly anyway.

So, we kept the dog and took him with us when we left.

richardhallford · Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 12:05 am Post subject:

There was a dog that hung around the camp all the time when I was at East Hills. He was a German Shephard and everyon called him "shep". I have a photo of him still.
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East Hills Hostel Aug 1966 to 1968. Nissen Huts 81 and 83d

Phyl · Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 12:32 am Post subject:

In the very early days dogs were allowed but it changed as the years went by .Our dear old Kelpie was the last remaining "legal" dog on Commonwealth Hostels Ltd. and he died in 1970 aged 15 years 9 months. cry

We also later had poodles but sad to say they were illegal some of the other managers also had dogs who were not legal too.Ithought it a bit mean as it was our life and we had good fencing but !!!!!!!
If you already had a dog when the ruling was changed you could keep it but you couldn't replace it.
Anyway when we returned to NZ our poodles came with us as did our cats. Very Happy

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Kind regards,
Phyl

jean · Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 3:36 am Post subject:

Hi I am new to the forum I was wondering if the Irene Paterson in the post office photo was my friend who returned to the UK in 1963 I seem to remember she had older brothers who stayed in Australia but I thought they were called miv and mav! Perhaps these were nicknames. I was at the hostel 124A from April till October or November 1963 we flew out here my elder brother John and younger brother Phil my parents and myself Jean Channon. I had a postcard from Irene sent from the Fairsky but unfortunately never had her home address to keep in contact.

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

Hi Eddie. I was your neighbour and lived in the other half of your hut. My name is Glynis ( I was only 9/10 years old at the time.) and my sisters were Elizabeth and Vivien. Mum and Dad are Maurice and Jean Ross. They are still alive and living in Morrinsville NZ. I live in Auckland. I remember you all so well. I loved your Mum and will never forget her kindness. I used to sit and drink tea with her and she had a large teaspoon collection which fascinated me. She stuck in my mind as one of the kindest people I ever met and I'd never forget her. I hope she is still alive and you can tell her this.So wonderful to see your photo and hear from you.Where do you live now?

Hollander · Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2017 11:14 am Post subject:

You have a great memory Ninette!! I'm glad that you have such fond memories of my mother. I've PM'd you separately but I'm having no luck with the photo.