
Our Story – Experiences of the Dutch in Queensland
To ensure that the stories of Dutch migrants would be preserved for future generations, the former Dutch-Australian Community Action Federation Qld Inc. (DACA) published a 208 page book ‘Our Story — Experiences of the Dutch in Queensland’ in 2001. Editors: Annelies Zeissink, DACA-President and Rob-Jan Mynarends. The book presents personal

The cartographic migration of Wesel(s) Eijland – Dr. Jan Tent
The Wessel Islands group off the north-eastern coast of Arnhem Land has a rather abstruse history in terms of its naming and ultimate cartographic location. Cartographic evidence, and some primary documentary evidence points to a Wesel(s) Eijland initially referring to an island off the southern coast of present-day West Papua.

The last VOC exploration voyage to Australia – 1756
The text below is a brief summary of a report titled “EXPLORATORY VOYAGE OF THE SHIPS RIJDER AND BUIS, COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT JEAN ETIENNE GONZAL AND FIRST LAVIENNE LODEWIJK VAN ASSCHENS, TO THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA.” This report was submitted by Gerrit de Haan, the “Master Cartographer” at Batavia, on

Book launch of Clogball – Dutch football clubs in Australia
Sydney launch of Clogball The Sydney launch of Clogball, Adam Muyt’s new book on the Dutch and their contribution to Australian football, took place at Berkelouw Books in Paddington on 21 September 2023. Netherlands Consul-General, Hugo Klijn, spoke about the Dutch love of football and the Netherlands Embassy’s International Heritage

Results DIMEX (Dutch Immigrant’s Experiences) surveys – 2004 and 2018
The DIMEX (1) Project undertaken by the volunteers of the DACC in 2004, covering: main reasons for emigration; % house ownership, % naturalised, when and why; membership of clubs; active in Dutch community work; church affiliations; when did the post-war migrants of the 1950s and 1960s leave Holland why; and

The 1705 van Delft expedition to northern Australia: a toponymic perspective – Dr. Jan Tent
During the 17th and 18th centuries the Dutch were quite active in exploring the western and northern coastlines of the Great Southland. Of one of these expeditions, conducted by Maerten van Delft in 1705, intelligence is limited and it is infrequently mentioned in the canon of Australia’s exploration. The only

The curious Van Dijk map of the Gulf of Carpentaria – Dr. Jan Tent
In 1859 the Dutch historian, L.C.D. van Dijk published a book on the voyages of discovery made by Jan Carstenszoon in 1623 and Jean Etienne Gonzal in 1756 to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The book contains a commentary of the two voyages as well as a copy of Carstenszoon’s journal.

Naming Places on the ‘Southland’: European Place-Naming Practices from 1606 to 1803
The history of charting Australia’s coastline is well documented from most perspectives,but not from a toponymic standpoint. Between 1606 and 1803, some nine hundredEuropean placenames were bestowed along the Australian coast. Authors Jan Tent and Helen Slatyer report here on an investigation and analysis of the place-naming practices of the

Naming places: Dutch voyagers and toponyms in the fifth part of the world, 1616-1722
Some of the first Europeans to venture into the southern Pacific Ocean were the Dutch during the 17th and early 18th centuries. The linguistic legacy of these expeditions can be found in a small number of Dutch words adopted into Polynesian languages as well as toponyms bestowed by them. The

Moent and Dubbelde Ree: Two of Australia’s First Recorded Placenames – Dr. Jan Tent
The year 2006 marked the quatercentenary of the first known European charting of any part of the Australian coastline, when the Dutch mariner Willem Janszoon explored 300 kms of the north-west coast of Cape York Peninsula. He bestowed seven placenames, two of which, Moent and Dubbelde Ree have ambiguous meanings

Early Dutch loanwords in the South Pacific
The Polynesian islands share in common the fact that the first European language they came into contact with was the English brought first by Captain Cook, spread by whalers and traders and later consolidated by missionaries. The purpose of the paper below is twofold. First, the authors will present evidence

Dinnings land: a case of mistranscription? – by Dr. Jan Tent
On some early maps of Australia the name Dinnings Land or Terres de Dinning appears near the Swan River. Who or what was Dinning? This article explores this question, and argues it is a case of mistaken interpretation or erroneous transcription. “The crucial word in the description is duyning. What

Dutch names in Australia – Linguist Dr. Jan Tent
Dr Jan Tent was born in Amsterdam, his parents originating from Groningen. Jan’s father worked for IBM in Amsterdam. In 1957 his father was made production manager of the IBM typewriter and punch card plant in Lidcombe (Sydney). The appointment was supposed to be for two years but stretched out

Catalogue of an exhibition (in Groningen) about the history of Australia – 1988
Het onbekende Zuidland naderbij’ by Jaap van der Veen is a catalogue of an exhibition about the history of Australia, the Aborigines and the Dutch explorers and emigrants. It is published by Volkenkundig Museum ‘Gerardus van der Leeuw’ in Groningen in 1988. It contains contributions from Don Grimes and other

Dutch emigration literature in Australia
In previous months we have highlighted Dutch literature in Australia and we continue this month with another collection of interesting and often forgotten books. However, some will recall nostalgic memories from those who arrives as children or as emigrants from the 1950s and 1960s. Land in de verte – 1952
The DACC Library Collection
The DACC Library has a collection of books, magazines, CD’s, DVD’s and VHS tapes. Most are not yet in the online data base. The table below lists the categories and the number of books and magazines in each category. Please contact the DACC for further information.

Emigratie Commissie of the Nederlandse Vrouwen Comité
The Emigratie Commissie was a committee of the Nederlandse Vrouwen Comité (NVC – Dutch Women’s Council). The Emigration Commission of the Dutch Women’s Council, was an organisation in the Netherlands that focused on assisting women and families with the process of emigrating to other countries. The committee operated during the

Stichting Landverhuizing Nederland (Foundation for Emigration Netherlands) – 1913-1967
The Nederlandse Vereniging Landverhuizing (Netherlands Association Emigration) was established in 1913 to promote Dutch emigration. It merged with the Emigration Centre Holland (Emigratie Centrale Holland) in 1931 and formed the Netherlands Emigration Foundation (Stichting Landverhuizing Nederland). The foundation was renamed the Dutch Emigration Service (Nederlandse Emigratiedienst) in 1952. The foundation

The Return of Dutch Migrants from Australia, New Zealand and Canada – 1983
The book The Return of Dutch Migrants from Australia, New Zealand and Canada is a research report written by Wim Blauw and Joed Elich and published by the Netherlands Interuniversity Demographic Institute (NIDI) in 1983. The book is based on a survey of 1,200 Dutch migrants who returned to the

Investigating Lexical Attrition in Long-Term Dutch Expatriates in Australia: A Study on First Language
Dissertation by Ton Ammerlaan (born 1960) Radbout University Nijmegen – 1996 Introduction: Language attrition, the gradual loss of one’s first language (LI) proficiency due to decreased exposure and use, has been a topic of interest in sociolinguistic and linguistic research. This article focuses on the nature of variables influencing lexical

Information from the Dutch Emigration Service – 1953
Nederlandse Emigratiedienst, Australië. Dagelijks leven van emigranten tegen de achtergrond der Australische economie. Recente emigrantenbrieven, aangevuld met enkele belangrijke artikelen, welke de laatste tijd over Australië het licht zagen, themanummer van: Leven en Werken in den Vreemde. Actualiteiten ten behoeve van de Emigratie-voorlichting. Uitgave Nederlandse Emigratiedienst, 12 sept. 1953 This

Study: Why potential emigrants cancelled their plans – 1959
Regeringscommissaris voor de Emigratie, Bureau Onderzoekingen, Annulering van emigratie. Een onderzoek bij 500 Australië-units naar de redenen, waarom zij van emigratie afzagen. ’s-Gravenhage: Regeringscommissaris voor de Emigratie, Bureau Onderzoekingen, 1959. This is a title of a report published in 1959 by the Regeringscommissaris voor de Emigratie, Bureau Onderzoekingen (Government Commissioner for Emigration,

Geschreven portretten van Nederlandse emigrantenpriesters in Australië – 1994
A Book Review: Written Portraits of Dutch Migrant Priests in Australia The book Geschreven portretten van Nederlandse emigrantenpriesters in Australië, translates to Written portraits of Dutch migrant priests in Australia in English. It was edited and adapted by J.W.P. Elferink from the original manuscripts of Theo van der Meel, a

Emigration survey: Inpakken en wegwezen? – 1981
Ministerie van Sociale Zaken, Inpakken en wegwezen? Een onderzoek naar kenmerken en motieven van emigranten naar Australië, Canada en Nieuw-Zeeland. Onderzoek verricht door het Ministerie van Sociale Zaken met medewerking van het Instituut voor Psychologisch Marktonderzoek te Rotterdam en de Nederlandse Stichting voor Statistiek te ’s-Gravenhage. Den Haag: Ministerie van

Thesis: De teruggekeerde emigrant (The Returned Emigrant) – 1966
The document De teruggekeerde emigrant (The Returned Emigrant) is an unpublished thesis written by Heikina R. Scholten in 1966. It is a qualitative study on the reasons for return to the Netherlands of Dutch emigrants from Australia for the purpose of information provision. The thesis was submitted to the Haagse

‘Invisibility and selectivity’. Dutch migration in the 19th and 20th century – 2010
Marijke van Faassen is a Dutch historians who has been involved in several research projects and publications related to migration history. Marijke is a senior researcher at the Huygens Institute for the History of the Netherlands, and has a specialisation in (digital) scholarly editing. She has worked on various topics

Report of the orientation trip to and through Australia and New Zealand – 1957
A. Drost & B.J. Spitholt, m.m.v. J.M. van Delden, Verslag van de oriëntatie-reis naar en door Australië en Nieuw-Zeeland, typescript, 1957 (Koninklijke Bibliotheek Den Haag, sign. NL 94 H 1000). This is a report of a trip to Australia and New Zealand by three Dutch officials: A. Drost, B.J. Spitholt,

Dr. Cornelis Wouters and the Dutch language
In the 1950s, Dr. Cornelis Wouters advocated for more attention to be given to the culture of the countries from which many immigrants had settled in Australia, in the country’s education system. He argued that this could be achieved by broadening the curriculum to include lessons in languages other than

The Effect of Mixed Marriage on Language Shift in the Dutch Community in Australia – 1980
This thesis was written by Anne Pauwels, a linguist and professor. The thesis was submitted as an unpublished master’s thesis at Monash University in 1980. The main focus of the thesis is to examine how mixed marriages between Dutch immigrants and native Australians impact the use and maintenance of the

Dairy cows and dairy products in Dutch-Australian emigration literature, 1945-1965
Melkkoeien en zuivel in Nederlands-Australische emigratieliteratuur, 1945-1965 This is the original article by Prof. Ton van Kalmthout with graphics, pictures and source references in Dutch. Below that is a PDF of the article’s English translation. Author: Professor dr. A.B.G.M. (Ton) van Kalmthout – senior-onderzoeker Literatuurgeschiedenis | Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van

Unpublished transcript: “Emigration from the Netherlands” by Professor Geijl
This particular work is not widely known or may have limited information available, it doesn’t appear in the overview of his extensive list of publications. It is a typescript with handwritten additions, and it is located in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (National Library) in The Hague, under number NL 94 B

Study: Dutch Migrants in Australia: Challenges and Experiences – 1969
A study conducted by Corry Eykman (Eijkman) in 1969 explored the challenges and experiences of Dutch migrants in Australia. The study found that Dutch migrants faced a number of challenges, including the language barrier, the different climate, the unfamiliar culture, the loneliness of being away from their family and friends,

Dutch Women Share Their Emigration Stories – 1960
A book published by the Emigratie Commissie van het Nederlandse Vrouwen Comité (Emigration Committee of the Dutch Women’s Committee) features writings by emigrant women who share their experiences from afar. The book, titled “Ons tweede huis: Emigrantenvrouwen schrijven van verre” (Our Second Home: Emigrant Women Writing from Afar), was released

Dutch emigration literature with regard to Australia 1946 – 1992
The following list of Dutch emigration literature (in a broad sense) includes book titles that specifically relate to emigration of Dutch people to Australia. The list, compiled by Ton van Kalmthout, does not claim to be exhaustive, but forms a first step towards a further inventory of reading materials available

Augustin Lodewyckx introduced the first university course in Dutch in Australia
Augustin Lodewyckx (1876-1964) was a Belgian scholar and professor who made significant contributions to the study of modern languages in Australia. He was born on December 8, 1876, in Booischot, Belgium, the son of Joannes Lodewijckx, a farmer, and his wife, Maria Dymphna Maes. After completing his secondary education in

The Colonial Warship the Doerga explored northern Australia (1825-1826)
In the 1820s the Dutch Colonial naval vessel Doerga (Dourga) the Dutch was sent by Netherlands East indies Government to northern Australia to establish Dutch claims to the region and to investigate the trepang trade. The voyages of the Dutch brig of war Dourga, were recorded by its Captain Dirk

Frank Broeze – maritime historian
Franklin Jan Aart Broeze, who went by Frank Broeze, was a prominent maritime historian and academic who was born on January 20, 1945, in Rijswijk, Netherlands. Broeze grew up in the Netherlands and attended Leiden University, where he earned his Ph.D. in maritime history. Frank Broeze emigrated to Australia in

Anthropologist Mark de Graaf
Mark de Graaf came to Australia in 1958. He studied a Claremont Teachers College and the University of Western Australia to become a geology teacher. He took part in the Perth Drama Festival and the first live television show produced in Perth. He also worked ads a part time actor

Ornithologist Jonkheer Gerard Frederick van Tets
Jonkheer Gerard Frederick van Tets, also known as Jerry van Tets, was a renowned ornithologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of birds and prehistoric life. He was born on January 19, 1929, in London, England, to Dutch parents, jhr. Hendrik Barthout van Tets, heer van Goidschalxoord,

Reindert Meijer on Dutch Literature
R.P. Meijer was born on 18 January 1926 in Amsterdam. He studied Dutch at the University of Amsterdam where he graduated in Dutch language and literature in 1950. He obtained his PhD in Dutch literature in 1958. Meijer has taught and researched at various universities in the Netherlands and abroad.

Three unique Dutch movies during WWII from around Australia
Amateur movies made by Mr. Arie Berger. Source Netherlands Ministry of Defence Movie #3 – 1943 Beeldbank – Department of Defence – Netherlands Movie #4 1943 -1944 Beeldbank – Department of Defence – Netherlands Movie #5 1945 -1946 Beeldbank – Department of Defence – Netherlands See also: The Dutch at

A short overview of the Dutch exploration of Torres Strait
Scroll down and a map shows up with New Guinea connected to Australia but a small missing part on that map shows where in this perspective the Torres Strait could have been. See also: The Colonial Warship the Doerga explored northern Australia (1825-1826) Dutch Explorers in the Gulf of Carpentaria

Proposal to establish a Dutch settlement in South Australia (1717)
Jean Pierre Purry was a Swiss explorer who presented a plan to the Dutch Governor General of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia (now Jakarta, Indonesia) in 1717 to establish a settlement in Australia. His plan was to settle in the vicinity of Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. Purry was

‘Little Groningen’ Dutch settlement at Kingston, Tasmania
In 1950, a group of Dutch immigrants arrived in Tasmania and established a settlement in the town of Kingston, located about 12 km south of Hobart. The settlers were mostly from the province of Groningen in the Netherlands, and thus the – now defunct – settlement became known as “Little

Rupert Gerritsen- influential historian in Dutch-Australian past and Vietnam activist
Rupert Gerritsen (1953 – 3 November 2013). He was born in Geraldton, Western Australia, of Dutch parents. He became an Australian historian who has made significant contributions to the fields of archaeology, anthropology, and environmental history. He has published extensively on the prehistory and history of Australia, particularly in relation

Willem Siebenhaar social activist and writer (1863-1937)
He was born in The Hague on July 28, 1863 and developed a lifelong interest in chess at the age of fifteen and was exposed to Christian anarchist Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis during his early life. After graduating from Delft University, he moved to England in 1884 to become a teacher.

Was there a Dutch colony in Central Australia in the 18th century?
There are a number of stories and myths about a Dutch colony in Central Australia dating back to the 18th century. However, there is no concrete evidence to support the claim that a group of Dutch settlers ever established a colony in the region. The story seems to have originated

Overfishing and Dutch regulations saw an increase of Makassar fisherman in Australia.
Makassar centre of the trepang fishing Trepang fishing, also known as sea cucumber fishing, is a type of fishing that involves the collection of sea cucumbers, which are a type of marine invertebrate. Sea cucumbers are typically found on the ocean floor and are harvested for a variety of purposes,
Dr. Edward Duyker, historian, author.
Dr Edward Duyker was born in 1955 to a father from the Netherlands and a mother from Mauritius. His mother has ancestors from Cornwall who emigrated to Adelaide, South Australia, in 1849. Edward’s father Herman, was born in Schaesberg, Limburg and emigrated to Australia in 1950 and arrived here on

Australia on the Map 1606-2006
Australia on the Map” (AOTM) is the history and heritage division of the Australasian Hydrographic Society (AHS). This website consequently focusses on important themes in Australian hydrographic history and heritage. This includes maritime exploration and the mapping of Australia, and where relevant, New Zealand. As an educational resource, which was

Professor Klaas Woldring – reflecting on Australian politics
Biography This is a personal story from Associate Professor Klaas Woldring the author of six short books on democracy and political changes that are needed in Australia to move forward. Klaas was born on 2nd July 1934 in Groningen. He went to Highschool there, completed two years compulsory military service, worked

Nonja Peters Dutch historian, anthropologist, museum curator and social researcher.
Dr Nonja Peters is an historian, anthropologist, museum curator and social researcher whose expertise is transnational migration (forced and voluntary) and resettlement in Australia. She is the author of several books, museum exhibitions, journal articles, TV documentaries, and government reports. Her achievements and dedication towards raising awareness of the post-war

Huygens Institute – The Netherlands
The Huygens Institute aims to make Dutch history and culture more inclusive. It also provides access to primary source material and text editions on which to base further analytical and interpretive research. In addition, the Huygens Institute takes the lead in developing innovative methods, tools and sustainable digital infrastructure. The

Black Armada: Australian Boycott of Dutch shipping WWII
After the Japanese invasion of Netherlands East Indies, some 20,000 Dutch people fled to Australia, the majority were Indos. They were not well treated and the Australian Unions started to fight for their rights. As they became involved they understood these people wanted independence from the Netherlands. When, after the War, the Dutch wanted to recolonise NEI the Unions blocked all Dutch transport from Australia.

Philips in Australia
Looking for more information. In 1925 Anton den Hartog was send to Australia to establish a Philips office in Australia. The company opened its doors in December 1926, with seven staff members, in a small room in Margaret Street, Sydney. The following year the moved to Clarence Street. Later they

Dutch immigration to Australia, history, stats and other resources
History Already in the 1800 we see Dutch people settling in Australia. A rather famous early immigrant was Willem Hendrik Paling who settled in Sydney in 1853. He established music stores in Sydney and Brisbane, wrote music, was a teacher and a performer. The 1911 caucus lists only 650 Dutch

Dutch involved in marine archaeology in Broome
The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) is currently involved in one project in Australia. In this project, the RCE and the Western Australian Museum in Perth together investigate Dutch amphibious aircraft wrecked in the Australian port city Broome during the Second World War. In the past, the RCE

Revealing colonial interview during visit of Dutch Navy to Sydney in 1910
In 1910 the HNLMS Koningin Regentes undertook a cruise to Australia to show the flag. Lieutenant Pieren was interviewed re the security in the region both in regarding to Japan and the situation in the Netherlands East Indies,

The Battle of Timor – 1942-1943
The Battle of Timor – the Dutch and Australians kept fighting after the surrender of Netherlands East Indies. The bombing of Darwin did bring WWII directly onto the shores of Australia. However, what is less well known is that the reason for the Japanese attack on Darwin and Broome was

Royal Netherlands Indies Airline – KNILM and its link with Australia
KNILM an early aviation pioneer Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij (in English: Royal Dutch Indies Airways) was the airline of the former Netherlands East Indies (NAI). It was founded on 16 July 1928 as the NILM by a group of 32 Netherlands Indies. KNILM was not a subsidiary of the better-known

The invisible immigrants: Dutch migrants in South Australia
Introduction to the publication (2011). ‘God made the world but the Dutch made Holland’ is an old saying referring to the way the Dutch shaped their nation by reclaiming land. It is with this same sense of determination that the Dutch applied themselves to the task of assimilating into the

The Fourth Ally – the Dutch forces in Australia during WWII
by Doug Hurst – 2001 The Fourth Ally tells of the Dutch forces who fought from Australia against the Japanese during WW II. Driven by the Japanese from Indonesia (then the Netherlands East Indies), they relocated ships, aircraft and personnel to Australia. They joined with United States, British and Australian

Allies in a Bind – Australia and the Netherlands East Indies in the Second World War
Early in Roger Bell’s book Unequal Allies,he states: ”Relations between the governments of Australia and the United States underwent fundamental changes during 1941-46…Indeed it was not characterized by general bilateral accord on political, defence and economic matters during war time.” These comments can be equally applied to the Dutch/Australian wartime

Archaeological research launched at Dutch WWII Camp Columbia Brisbane
Late last year the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Queensland Marjon Wind launched the groundwork for the archaeological projected conducted by the University of Queensland at the WWII HQ of the Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile at Camp Columbia in Wacol, Brisbane.

Consuls, Envoys and Ambassadors of the Netherlands in Australia since 1853
Pierre van der Eng, Australian National University It took until 1951 for The Netherlands to establish diplomatic representation in Australia in the form of an accredited ambassador. Depending on the issue, bilateral diplomatic matters were dealt with through the Dutch embassy in London until the 1940s, either through British public

Dutch Migrant History – Queensland
Like everywhere else in Australia there is also a rich history of the Dutch in Queensland. Many Dutch people settled here after WWII. The Netherlands East Indies Government-in-Exile was based in Wacol, Brisbane and that also resulted in Dutch people staying or coming to Brisbane immediately after the war. In

Batavia research at Flinders University Archaeology
Research by Domínguez-Delmás Daly and Flinders Associate Professor Wendy van Duivenvoorde, is carried out on Batavia’s wreck timbers, currently on display at the Western Australian Shipwrecks Museum in Fremantle. Built in Amsterdam in 1628 CE and wrecked on its maiden voyage in June 1629 CE in Western Australian waters, Batavia epitomises Dutch East India

Interview with Anthropologist Ad Borsboom
The interview (podcast) below is in in Dutch Profile Professor Ad Borsboom *Anthropologist; Research area: Aboriginal Australia. *Chair Pacific Studies Radboud University Nijmegen. *Teaching experience at all levels in Anthropology. *Publications for both scientific and general audiences (books, chapters in books, articles), editorials. See f.e. ‘De Clan van de Wilde

Wacol Migrant Centre Remembered 1949-1987
In the immediate post-War World years, refugees from war-torn Europe were resettled in different places across Australia. By 1949, it is estimated that one-tenth of the American/Dutch/Australian Army’s Camp Columbia area became the Wacol East Displaced Persons Holding Camp. In the early 1950s the camp was developed to become the

Nederlands Nationaal Archief – Emigratie database
In het Nationaal Archief vind je antwoorden op vragen die betrekking hebben op jouw leven, de geschiedenis van Nederland ook in relatie tot andere landen, en de samenleving. We helpen je aan nieuwe inzichten door je toegang te geven tot het nationaal geheugen. De Nederlandse consulaten in Australië hielden een

Joris Ivens – Doco Indonesia Calling
Ivens came to Australia in early 1945 as the Netherlands East Indies(NEI) Film Commissioner, to document the re-colonisation effort of the Dutch Indies from Australia. He was employed by the NEI Government Information Service (NIGIS) in Melbourne they had 128 staff—25 of these ‘Indonesians’—(a branch office of three in Sydney),

DACC Paper-based ARCHIVES
The Dutch Australian Cultural Centre was founded in 1983 and gives as its aims and objectives in its mission statement, the collection, preservation, promotion and dissemination of Dutch culture and heritage in Australia. The Centre immediately started the collection of material for the archives and Library and now, after almost

The Dutch at Archerfield Airport, Brisbane
Australian and Dutch history meet at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane. During WWII this airfield played a critical role for the Dutch military who, after the Japanese armed forces occupied the Dutch colony of Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) to neighboring Australia. Over 20.000 people from NEI evacuated to Australia. Poor