Dunera anniversary
The "Dunera Boys", as they became known, included musicians, artists, philosophers, scientists and writers.
THE last surviving Dunera Boy appeared remotely from Canberra to unveil a plaque signifying the official opening of a Tribute Museum on Sydney’s Jones Bay Wharf.
Bern Brent, who turns 100 later this year, was unable to attend the Dunera Association’s 82nd anniversary function on Sunday, leaving Leah James and Muriel Barber – widows of Dunera Boys Henry James and Herbert Barber respectively – to physically unveil the plaque.
A model of HMT Dunera, which transported internees to Australia, was unveiled by its creator Tom Wolf alongside his son and wife Sandy, who was the daughter of a Dunera Boy. Wolf dedicated the model to Dunera Boys Alfred Katz and Erich Strauss.
In September 1940, 2542 “enemy aliens” from Britain disembarked HMT Dunera in Melbourne and Sydney. Most were Jewish refugees who had fled Nazi persecution in Germany and Austria. They were interned in camps near Hay and Orange in NSW and Tatura in Victoria.
The “Dunera Boys”, as they became known, included musicians, artists, philosophers, scientists and writers. Following their release in 1941 many chose to remain in Australia, making a significant contribution to the nation’s economic, social and cultural life.
Sunday’s event at Doltone House event was co-hosted by Paul Signorelli, who single-handedly established the Tribute Museum – not only honouring Dunera Boys, but also all migrants who disembarked at Jones Bay Wharf, including his own parents from Italy.
The function was addressed by Louise Anemaat, chief curator of the State Library of NSW. She emphasised the important role of libraries in establishing collections, including items that may not appear significant, but that are important in the context of a collection. Through Anemaat’s agency, the State Library of NSW is now a major investor in Dunera artefacts and papers.
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