Story of emigration of Piet Bijvoet and family, told by his son Bill Byvoet
On the 28th of October 1953 the family of Piet Bijvoet, left Holland on the Sibajak from Rotterdam to Australia. The family consisted of Piet and Annie Bijvoet-de Boer, with their children Bill (Wim) Peter, Kees and Lisha. The family of another Obdammer, Jan de Reus was also on board. For our departure there were some family and friends on the dock to wave us goodbye. I still remember all the streamers and the odd tears.
But for me it was the beginning of a great adventure.
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Piet Bijvoet and family on board of Ms. Sibajak leaving Holland.
In the middle Wim Bijvoet (in Australië named Bill Byvoet)
The 29th of October my 9th birthday was the beginning of a new era for me. That is when I found there was more to see than the lush green landscape of the West Fries Polder. Cruising through the English Channel we could see the white cliffs of Dover. Then as we turned into the Mediterranean, we passed the rock of Gibraltar. Both were fairly impressive sights. During the 30 day plus cruise we children had a good time; it was just like a holiday. We could explore the decks, or go to the playground. While looking over the railings sometimes you could see dolphins, or flying fish. At the end of the Mediterranean was our first stop, Port Said. Because of the Suez crisis we had to stay on board.
In the port, vendors in small boats would come on side to trade their wares. The items would be placed in a basket tethered to a rope in order to pull it up. Also young boys would dive for coins that people would drop down to them. Travelling through the Suez Canal was the first time I saw a sandy dessert with palm trees. The only activity there I can remember seeing is the British soldiers waving to us, and some local workers carrying baskets of sand on their heads, whilst repairing the banks.
Our next stop was Aden. As I remember, it was dry and dusty. There I drank my first ever drink of coca cola. I also saw a camel pulling a cart. After Aden, we travelled the Indian Ocean heading off to our first stop in Australia, Fremantle. In doing so we crossed the equator, where the ship's crew put on a performance, with one person playing a part dressed up as Neptune.
On the 2nd of December 1953 we disembarked at Port Melbourne.
From there we travelled to Ballarat by steam train. The train travelled across the plains, over and around the hills. It was a landscape different from North Holland. It was a warm day with a blue sky. There were eucalyptus trees, and the grass was the colour of straw.
At the Ballarat station we were met by a catholic priest, who drove us for about 20 km to Creswick. There we stayed in a former hotel that had been converted into a migrant hostel.
Creswick is nestled in a valley on the other side of the Great Dividing Range from Ballarat. The population was about the same as that of Obdam. It was a great place for a young boy to grow up. There was a creek, some hills, tracks through the forest, a railway line, and of course the swimming pool. Being an old gold mining town, there were also some mullock heaps (mine extract waste). This environment gave the family an opportunity for pleasant Sunday walks and other activities. As boys we would roam and explore all over. We would ride our bikes through town and along forest tracks, catch rabbits, catch yabbies (Australian fresh water crustation) in the creek, or go fishing. When the weather was suitable we would go swimming at the pool or some water hole. The pool had two spring boards and a 10 mtr diving platform, so we kept ourselves busy. The birds were different to the ones in Holland. The rosellas, lorikeets, grass parrots and magpies were brighter and more colourful.
One hot day while still residing in the hostel, the sky was red. This was caused by sun filtering through the high dust cloud, blowing over by the wind. This dust was dry soil lifted by strong winds long distance away. One day on a visit to the grocer mum asked for some eggs. The grocer found her accent difficult to understand her, so he placed a brand new axe on the counter. (Well they nearly sound the same.) Because the Australians had a lot of difficulty pronouncing the name Bijvoet, dad altered the spelling to Byvoet.
After a couple of months, uncle Franc and aunt Emie Vleugel, mum's sister arrived. A house in Creswick was purchased, we left the hostel and both families moved in. After a couple of months, uncle Franc and aunt Emie Vleugel, mum's sister arrived. A house in Creswick was purchased, we left the hostel and both families moved in.
There we had a big vegetable garden and some fruit trees. Behind the house there was a chook run, and we children had a small garden plot each. Also, by that time my English became proficient, so no more communication barriers.
Our home in Creswick
There we had a big vegetable garden and some fruit trees. Behind the house there was a chook run, and we children had a small garden plot each. Also, by that time my English became proficient, so no more communication barriers.
Once a year we would be granted a plot to chop for firewood. We could help dad and uncle Franc chop down the trees, and chop them into 1.50 mtr lengths, ready for transport. The best part was when we built a fire to burn the tops and scraps.
November 5 was Guy Fawkes Day; for weeks before hand the neighbourhood children would collect anything suitable for a bonfire. To get the extra money towards buying the fireworks, we would search for empty bottles for the refund money. It always turned into a great night for everyone. In November 1956 the Olympic rowing was held in Ballarat. I got a lift on the back of truck to get there. When we got there, because of all the people inside the fence, we couldn't see. Then, someone made a hole in the fence allowing us to sneak in and watch from there.
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| Garden of our home in Creswick | First car of my father |
In 1957 when I started secondary school, the Byvoet family moved into Ballarat. Dad bought a house in the middle of town. We helped dad renovate the house, and built a new garage. Life was much the same as it was in Creswick. Ballarat was a town of about 40,000 people and growing. It had three picture theatres, plenty of swimming pools and sports fields. So there were plenty of places to keep us occupied. Our bikes went everywhere. For the summer holidays we used to take a caravan to the beach.
By now some relations from Holland came to visit us. This included opa and oma de Boer. It was really great to see and to be with them. Opa was in his element, he did not have to go to Purmerend, for the cattle sales. Here the sale yards were only 400 mtrs from our house. There were a lot of visitors; these included friends and relations from Holland and Australia. Also mum and dad quite regulary visited Holland.
One day after one of those trips out of nowhere dad popped me a question, "what do you think of us going back to live in Holland?" I replied that; should we go back to Holland, I could not guarantee I would stay. With mum it was a straight out no, one of her reasons being that the moral revolution in Holland was more advanced than in Australia. But I think she mainly feared the possibility of the family breaking up.
Piet Bijvoet Annie de Boer, parents of Bill
In Juni/July 2001, mum was already suffering from Alzheimer's and was in nursing accomodation. Her communication in English deteriorated, she would revert to West Fries, and her conversation wasn't very cohesive. That is when I accompanied dad to Holland. We stayed with my uncle Klaas Bijvoet and his wife Ans. Being in Obdam really lifted dad's spirits, it was part of him, and he belonged. Listening to the conversations with his old friends about their exploits in their younger days, I found enlightening, and sometimes humorous. The first morning before breakfast I walked around Obdam. It was exhilarating, the sun was just up. The buildings were impressive, and the nature also green. Later when I explored again, some of my Obdam was missing; the big chestnut tree in het bos, the playground, the knotty bridges, and dad's workshop. The garage of opa Bijvoet was relocated to the Braken. I wanted to walk to the windmill, but het kerkpad was gone.
As I drove dad around visiting friends or relatives, he would ask me to drive along the back roads. He wanted the feel of the district as he remembered it. For me the best part of the visit was the bonding with family. That special feeling is still with me. Intending to take some photos, Ans Bijvoet her brother and I gained access to the church tower. During the climb I saw the church bell. The first time I saw that bell, it was on the truck that injured my brother Keesje. He died of his injuries some hours later. I mention this because, dad once told me every time the bell rang it reminded him of the incident. And this was one of his reasons for considering emigrating.
In the ongoing years, the next generation of the family came to visit us. It was great, to share our wonderful country with them. Dad was proud to meet them. When dad slowed down he moved into hostel accomodation. To keep fit he would walk around the shopping centre next door, with his walking frame. He would meet and talk to people as he went. Around this time mum had also passed away. Approaching his 90th birthday his health began to wane. He stopped driving his car, and he felt depressed. When my wife Margaret called in on him one day, he asked her to remove a scenic painting of Obdam, because it saddened him when he looked at it. Some months after his birthday, he was hospitalised. His health did not improve and he was subsequently transferred to a nursing home. He passed away a few months short of his 91st birthday. Piet Bijvoet had a good eventful life, but towards the end he did wonder how life would have been had we had remained in Obdam.
I have now retired, so we now have a little more time on our hands. So for the first winter of my retirement we went north for the European summer. Of course we came to Obdam and there we were greeted with open hearts. We stayed with my cousin Lidy and Henk Karsten 95 Dorpsstraat is where I was born. My cousin Anja lives there now with her husband Timo Hoffer. While visiting them we went outside to look at my old backyard, there were now houses blocking the outlook. No more green fields or the tree lined road of Spierdijk for us to see. Besides visiting family, we cycled around the Berkmeer, through Hensbroek, Ursem and Spierdijk. We visited Schagen, Volendam, Egmond aan Zee and Alkmaar. All this beautiful country was new experience fot Margaret and she loved it. It was great that I was able to share something of my formative years with her. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end so we said goodbye, hoping to see one another again and we went home.
This previous winter we travelled to warmer pastures. We went north with our caravan in a trip of 14184 km that took us two months. We went to Kakadu, Darwin, Ayers Rock and all places in between. It was great. In the coming winter we hope to do the same, and maybe visit the Great Barrier Reef. Australia is a vast beautiful country, and we haven't yet seen it all. But I yearn see Obdam again and maybe have a game of golf with Henk and Timo.
YOU CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF OBDAM
BUT YOU CAN NEVER TAKE OBDAM OUT OF THE BOY
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