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Australian Commonwealth Employment Service to Alex Nypl, 24 January 1949

Date1949

Object numberANMS0286[001]

NameLetter

MediumPaper, ink

DimensionsOverall: 335 × 210 mm, 0.02 g

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Alex Newman

Terms

DescriptionRecently arrived Czech migrant Alex Nypl is directed by the Australian Commonwealth Employment Service to travel from the Bonegilla Migrant Camp on the 26th of January 1949 to Woomera, South Australia, to start work as a labourer at the Department of Works and Housing on the 27th January 1949.HistoryThe letter reminds Alex Nypl that under the terms of his migration via a Certificate of Exemption he is required to underake whatever employment the Minister of Immigration directs. In this case he is directed to work as a labourer at the Department of Works & Housing at Woomera, South Australia. His provisional passport issued on 15 September 1948 lists his occupation as clerk but has he had no English his skills were not transferrable. Significance'In two days, I will be celebrating anniversary of 40 wonderful years in this lovely country and I will always be grateful to the Commonwealth of Australia and its people, for giving me the opportunity to start new life here, after the horrific years of Nazi occupation in
1938-1945 and then again the Communist putch in February 1948 and persecution and jail one had to go through, which has hurt lot more as it has been inflicted by our own countrymen and in many cases by friends.

The start over here, not speaking the language, not having any trade or profession,without a penny to my name, has not been easy, but with hardwork and learning English quite quickly, I had a good life, have made a lot of Australian friends and consider Australia home'.

Alex Newman (Nypl), 20 December 1988, letter to the Australian National Maritime Museum.