Short History of the Senkowycz family

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The Senkowycz Family

48 Enmore Road

Newtown 2048

1955- 1980 (approx.)

Justyna and Dmytro Senkowycz arrived in Sydney, Australia on 27 May, 1949. They boarded

a ship called the Castel Bianco in Genoa, Italy on 27 April of the same year. They arrived in

Australia as World War II International Refugees and part of the Australian Governments

Resettlement to Australia plan. The passenger list of the Castel Bianco contains the names

of over 800 individuals and families that migrated to Australia after World War II from

various European countries including Germany, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Poland,Czechoslovakia, Romania etc. Most passengers were World War II refugees or displaced

persons.

Justyna and Dmytro left behind war torn Ukraine as displaced persons. They crossed many

borders trying to flee the onslaught of the German invasion on one side of the Carpathian

Mountains where they lived, and the Soviet invasion on the other. They had no

identification papers, no clothes, no food and what made things worse, was as they crossed

borders to try and get away from the turmoil, they were imprisoned and had to serve time.

Finally good news came their way when they heard that Australia would give them a new

opportunity and a new home. For one month they sailed the oceans to reach their new

homeland. The distant unknown country called Australia. A place where peace and freedom

would become a reality.

On arriving in Sydney, they were placed onto a train bound for Isabella in Oberon. They

were contracted for two years to work on a farm for Mr Alan Whitton, a wealthy sheep

grazier. With limited knowledge of the English language and no clothes, they worked hard

for the Whitton family and were paid for their work. For them, this was the start of a good

future.

At the end of the contracted period, they learnt how to make eucalyptus oil and they

bought their own eucalyptus farm complete with primitive distillation apparatus. It was hard

work. They would manually cut down the eucalyptus trees, strip the branches of their leaves

and in their primitively set up distillation plantation make pure eucalyptus oil which they

stored in drums and sold. They lived in a tent in the middle of the Australian bush. Their

neighbours were Australian wildlife (kangaroos, koalas and many snakes). The postman

would come once a week and bring milk and whatever else they ordered. It was quite a ride

for Dmytro on his pushbike or the family horse, to the letterbox, but the postman was theironly contact with civilisation.


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On June 6, 1952 their first son Peter was born. He brought great joy into their lives. Sadly,

the joy did not last long. Little Peter started to get very sick and was diagnosed with

leukaemia. Justyna had to leave all that they had behind to travel to the Sydney Childrens

hospital to allow Peter to get some medical attention. This was in 1955. Doctors Viker and

Hamilton became great friends with Peter. Justyna, sadly, had nowhere to stay and had nomoney. While Peter remained in the hospital undergoing treatment, Justyna slept on the

doorstep of Sydney Childrens Hospital until morning when she was allowed to go back into

the hospital to be with her son. What a horrific time this was for Justyna and Dmytro! No

family to support them, limited finance, nowhere to stay and an extremely sick child.

However, human compassion shines when humanity is at its lowest ebb. This is what

happened for Justyna when the matron of the hospital, Mrs Eisenberg, noticed her sleeping

on the doorstep and invited her into the hospital, gave her food and offered her

accommodation in the nurses quarters and a job in the kitchen which allowed her to be

with her beloved Peter when she wanted.

In the meantime, Dmytro sold all that they had in Isabella and came to Sydney to be with

Peter and Justyna. They were fortunate to have saved enough money to be able to put a

deposit on a boarding house at 48 Enmore Rd Newtown, across the road from Newtown RSL

club.

Peter was so happy that finally they had a home to live in. As a boy from the bush, he

couldn't get enough of the beautiful city lights. He attended Newtown Kindergarten for a

few lessons only, and created an Easter card that Justyna cherishes until this day.

Sadly Peter did not get to enjoy life in the city for very long and sadly passed away on 11

November, 1955 at the young age of 4. He died in Justynas arms after looking into her eyes

and saying Mummy do not cry. He passed away in the home in Newtown that he was so

happy that his mummy and daddy had bought.

On June 12, 1957 their second son Bohdan, came into the world. He was the joy that they

needed to keep themselves going. He was born in King George the V hospital, near the

existing Royal Prince Alfred hospital. Two years later, on October 7, 1959, Justyna gave birth

to a daughter, Mary at the Bethesda Hospital in Marrickville.

Bethesda Hospital Marrickville


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Peter, Bohdan and Mary, all went to Newtown Primary School.

1967

Bohdan holding the 4A class sign 4th

from the left on the bottom row.

Mary in the second row 4th

from the left in 2A.


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1968

Mary in the second row, 4th

from the left in Mr Struchewskys class.


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1968

Bohdan holding the 5A class sign 4

th

from the left on the bottom row.


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1969

Mary in Mr Rosenthals 4A class. Mary is seated in the 2

nd

row 4

th

from the right.

In talking to my brother Bohdan, we remember the following teacher names:

Mr Catts (our Principal)

Mr Rileywho we were all scared of because he used to use the cane a lot

Mr Jamesa wonderful teachergreatly loved by us all.

We had a wonderful time at Newtown. Across the street from what is now the High School

of Performing Arts was a Cheese Shop. The scent of the cheese was heavenly and the store

owners always offered us a slice of some delicious cheese while mum was buying cheese forthe family.


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We also remember Anzac Day marches that went right past our place on Enmore Road. The

amazing Christmas lights that were put out by the council men on the streets every

Christmas. What a wonderful atmosphere we had created for us!

We also grew up with the trams rattling by our house. Brennans was a wonderful shop that

sold everything just up the street and the post office is the same today as it was all those

many years ago.

We were surrounded by Milk Bars and we loved getting milkshakes on the way home from

school.

Mum and dad worked very hard rebuilding our house in Newtown and maintaining itbeautifully. They took great pride in owning this residential that housed up to 20 single men

and was our family home.

What we are doing now:

Dmytro Senkowycz passed away on September 11, 2004 from a lung disease never having

smoked a day in his life. We miss him terribly.

Justyna Senkowycz is 88 years old and is doing very well. She lives close to her daughter

Mary in Greystanes.

Bohdan is a dentist. He has a surgery in Mt Druitt. He is married with two boys: Daniel ( a

financier) and Matthew (an architect). He lives with his wife is Helen and son Daniel in

Bossley Park. Mathew is currently working in Sweden.

Mary is married to Jaroslav and they have two sons: Andrew (a pilot with the Flying Doctors)

and Stephen (a doctor at Westmead Hospital). Mary is currently the Deputy Principal at

International Grammar School in Ultimo.

Short memoir written by Mary Duma for Newtown Primary School on 13 May, 2013.

Short History of the Senkowycz family

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