Still Recovering by Maria H.J. Butler is a poignant and personal memoir that offers a unique insight into the post-war Dutch migrant experience in Australia. The book captures the childhood memories of a Dutch, Catholic, New Australian girl growing up in Queenscliff, Victoria.
Maria was born in Gouda, the Netherlands, and spent her first 18 months there before her family emigrated to Australia in 1952. The family settled in Queenscliff, where Maria spent the next 47 years of her life. Her early childhood was, as she describes, very happy and innocent—marked by the simple pleasures and challenges of adjusting to a new land and culture.
The book’s chapters guide the reader through Maria’s formative years, starting with her birth in Gouda and emigration journey, followed by vivid recollections of life in 1950s and 1960s Queenscliff. She reflects on her experiences at St. Aloysius School, her home life at 22 Bridge Street, her encounters with figures such as Father McCarthy, and her time at Holy Trinity Church. The narrative moves through her high school years, family dynamics, friendships, work life, and ultimately her reflections on what she calls the great escape and beyond.
Maria writes with honesty and humility, acknowledging in the preface that her memories may differ from those who shared the same home, family, and experiences. This personal lens makes Still Recovering a valuable account of the Dutch migrant story in regional Australia — one that resonates with many families who made the journey to a new life down under.
Still Recovering is part of the DACC Library collection, where it stands as a record of Dutch-Australian heritage and a resource for those interested in migration history, cultural adaptation, and local histories of Dutch communities in Victoria.
For those wishing to explore Maria Butler’s story, the book can be consulted at the DACC Library, or obtained from the Queenscliffe Historical Museum, where it forms part of their local history publications.
