VOLUME 14 NO 1
Dear Child survivors of the Holocaust, We trust you and yours are well and that 2025 will evolve to be a good year for us all. This edition of Connections, brings some exciting news. Final anthology for Child Survivors
of the Holocaust: Child Survivors of the Holocaust have now successfully created three anthologies. The first anthology, Heirloom, was a collection of your personal Holocaust stories. The second anthology “Silent No More” included your aftermath experience after arriving in Australia. “A Point in Time” created a valuable resource for educational purposes, locating your personal Holocaust stories in the country of your birth. This fourth and final anthology will be titled “In the Sunset of My Days”. We are asking Child Survivors to write a letter to your family or a dear friend or any one you choose to share the wisdom you have gained as you reflect back over the past 80 years. Holocaust lived experience allows Child Survivors to see the world differently; the need is to write your message to those you feel would benefit from your words, including future generations and the world at large. You may wish to include a short version of your life story, so that the readers understand what happened to you and your family. It would be appreciated if you could offer hopeful and supportive words as well, for the generations to come. Your contribution could start with a few words like this: “Dear family members and future generations,
FEBRUARY 2025
I felt the need to write about how my life turned out some 80 years after the Holocaust; I hope by sharing my achievements as well as the difficult times I managed to overcome, my words may bring comfort as well as support for the future. “ Each contribution should be about 3 A4 pages long, around 1,500 – 2,000 words. 2 photos may be submitted to support your contribution. If you want to write less or a bit more, please go ahead. Your contribution will be proof read and copy edited just to make sure the presentation is as the publisher needs for the publication. You will be sent the final copy for your approval. This anthology will be in book form and is planned to be available for purchase from the Melbourne Holocaust Museum library. All proceeds from the sale will go to the museum. An event at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, launching the book with the contributors signing copies, is planned for September, 2025. Please register your interest as soon as possible to viv.parry@bigpond.com or phone Viv 0419 819 131 All contributors will have until the 15th March to submit their story. We look forward to hearing from you very soon, Kindest regards, Viv Parry & Lena Fiszman Co-Presidents
Lena’s Desk: Holocaust survivor felt ‘intoxicated’ by freedom In 1945, following the end of World War Two, 732 child survivors of the Holocaust were flown to Britain to help them recuperate from their ordeal. Among them was a traumatised Polish-born teenager, Abram Warszaw, who was the only survivor from his large extended family. He was among a group of more than 150 youngsters flown by the RAF to Stoney Cross in Hampshire, before being taken to Wintershill Hall in Durley, near Southampton.
His grandson, Liron Velleman, has since visited the stately home to see where his grandfather and the others, who became known as the Southampton Boys, found kindness and safety.
Alec Ward was flown to England following his liberation from Mauthausen.