Foresight and Perseverance by Sylvia McNeall
Published by Short Stop Press, Sydney, 2014
There have been many memoirs written by Estonians who fled Estonia in advance of the Soviet invasion in 1944 and arrived in Australia after World War ll. Most of them had similar but not the same stories, a hazardous journey to Germany, constantly fleeing west away from the advancing Red Army, years in the Displaced Persons camps and finally the voyage to Australia. There they were confronted by a strange land, strange flora and fauna, a foreign language and a need to start their lives all over again. Most succeeded, some failed.
Foresight and Forbearance is a variation on that story. The Parret family, having Baltic German connections, moved to Germany in 1941 to escape the Soviet threat. With their family background, the threat of deportation was very real.
Throughout the war Georg Parrett managed to keep his family safe by blending in and finally moving them out of Berlin. In 1945, as the Soviet Army pushed further into Europe, it was time to move again. With great courage and perseverance the family moved west again but this time the journey was much more difficult and dangerous. This book tells how George Parret led his family to safety, overcoming setbacks, never giving up and using his talents to enable his family survive in post war Germany. From there they came to Australia to start a new life.
Readers who have experienced wartime in Germany and the long voyage to Australia will share many of the special memories that the author describes in this book. I was too young to remember much about my life in Germany but I, too, will never forget my first taste of golden corn flakes, nothing since has ever tasted so good. The description of the voyage to Australia will strike a chord with all who undertook that journey. The initial impressions of life in Australia, finding a job, setting up home, the first day at school, the lack of familiar food are experiences shared by all the newcomers.
This book will resonate with those people who have had similar experiences and will bring back many memories. But this book is really for our children and grandchildren and friends to help them understand how and why we came to Australia. The extensive appendices put the personal story into the context of the time and provide essential background information for anyone who is interested in the lives of Estonian Australians.
The book, hard cover $39.99, paperback $29.99, e-book $9.99 is available from Short Stop Press email admin@aampersanda.com
Maie Barrow
Archivist
Estonian Archives in Australia
