Migrantweb.com Hostels Forum

[Elisabeth]

Hi Everyone,

My family travelled on the Strathnaver, from England July 4th, arriving Sydney August 9th 1957. Stayed at Balgownie Hostel for 4 years before settling in the Woonona Beach area (where I still live!). The family consisted of my parents, Joan and Don Crowe, brothers Alan and Bob (Robert), and sister Alison. I was born while we were on the hostel. Dad was a brickie at AIS.

I have quite a few photos I could share if I only knew how!

[Mick Atkin]

Our family must have been the previous voyage to you leaving Tilbury/ Britain on the 1st April 1957 on the 'Strathnaver'. We were 12 year old twins Michael and Peter Atkin. I remember that all the other families on our voyage also got new housing at Woonona beach area - the Fishers, the Jones etc.
We would also have been housed there but unfortunately our mother died four months after our arrival so Dad built in Lake Heights next to friends who kept a eye on us.
Those four years on the hostel were a blessing for our single Dad who was able to work overtime knowing that his kids were being fed in the canteen.
We were heavily into hostel sport organised by the 'Skip' (Richard Townsend) and I look back with very fond memories of those adventurous hostel years and the great lifelong friends I developed and still have.
Even now, when I occasionally drive past the old hostel site (now the Wollongong University East Campus) my mind wanders back the 58years to those halcyon days of fun and carefree childhood happiness.

[rabbitoh64]

I think I know Alan. If he has red hair. My grandfather was a manager at the hostel. We lived in Cowper. I have a photo of alan with a dog.
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Wayne