Cees and Ina Huig, along with their three children, migrated from the Netherlands to Australia in 1972, settling in Brisbane. Their journey and experiences have been documented by the National Archives of Australia.
Cees Huig was born on February 25, 1933, in the Netherlands. During World War II, as a child, he endured internment in Indonesia. At the age of 16, he joined the Royal Netherlands Navy, serving during the Korean War. After migrating to Australia, Cees sought employment opportunities, leveraging his naval background.
Ina Huig, born in Amsterdam in 1940, worked as a social worker before their migration. In Australia, she continued her commitment to the Dutch community by running a Dutch language radio program, helping to preserve Dutch culture and language among migrants.
Erwin Huig, one of their children, recalls the challenges and experiences of growing up between Dutch and Australian cultures. He mentions instances like trading his Dutch cheese sandwich for a friend’s Vegemite sandwich, highlighting the cultural exchanges he encountered. Erwin notes that while they were “Dutch on the inside and Aussie on the outside,” the family’s Dutch heritage remained a significant part of their home life.
Additionally, Cees Huig has been involved with the Algemene Vereniging Oud-personeel van de Koninklijke Marine (AVOM), the Association of Ex-Royal Dutch Navy Personnel, serving as the secretary of the Australian branch.
Their contributions to the Dutch community in Australia, particularly in Brisbane, have been significant, with Ina’s involvement in Dutch language radio and Cees’s participation in veteran associations.
