The Senkowycz Family

48 Enmore Road
Newtown 2048
1955- 1980 (approx.)
Justyna and Dmytro Senkowycz arrived in Sydney, Australia on 27 May, 1949. They boarded
a ship called the Castel Bianco in Genoa, Italy on 27 April of the same year. They arrived in
Australia as World War II International Refugees and part of the Australian Governments
Resettlement to Australia plan. The passenger list of the Castel Bianco contains the names
of over 800 individuals and families that migrated to Australia after World War II from
various European countries including Germany, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Romania etc. Most passengers were World War II refugees or displaced
persons.
Justyna and Dmytro left behind war torn Ukraine as displaced persons. They crossed many
borders trying to flee the onslaught of the German invasion on one side of the Carpathian
Mountains where they lived, and the Soviet invasion on the other. They had no
identification papers, no clothes, no food and what made things worse, was as they crossed
borders to try and get away from the turmoil, they were imprisoned and had to serve time.
Finally good news came their way when they heard that Australia would give them a new
opportunity and a new home. For one month they sailed the oceans to reach their new
homeland. The distant unknown country called Australia. A place where peace and freedom
would become a reality.
On arriving in Sydney, they were placed onto a train bound for Isabella in Oberon. They
were contracted for two years to work on a farm for Mr Alan Whitton, a wealthy sheep
grazier. With limited knowledge of the English language and no clothes, they worked hard
for the Whitton family and were paid for their work. For them, this was the start of a good
future.
At the end of the contracted period, they learnt how to make eucalyptus oil and they
bought their own eucalyptus farm complete with primitive distillation apparatus. It was hard
work. They would manually cut down the eucalyptus trees, strip the branches of their leaves
and in their primitively set up distillation plantation make pure eucalyptus oil which they
stored in drums and sold. They lived in a tent in the middle of the Australian bush. Their
neighbours were Australian wildlife (kangaroos, koalas and many snakes). The postman
would come once a week and bring milk and whatever else they ordered. It was quite a ride
for Dmytro on his pushbike or the family horse, to the letterbox, but the postman was their
only contact with civilisation.

On June 6, 1952 their first son Peter was born. He brought great joy into their lives. Sadly,
the joy did not last long. Little Peter started to get very sick and was diagnosed with
leukaemia. Justyna had to leave all that they had behind to travel to the Sydney Childrens
hospital to allow Peter to get some medical attention. This was in 1955. Doctors Viker and
Hamilton became great friends with Peter. Justyna, sadly, had nowhere to stay and had no
money. While Peter remained in the hospital undergoing treatment, Justyna slept on the
doorstep of Sydney Childrens Hospital until morning when she was allowed to go back into
the hospital to be with her son. What a horrific time this was for Justyna and Dmytro! No
family to support them, limited finance, nowhere to stay and an extremely sick child.
However, human compassion shines when humanity is at its lowest ebb. This is what
happened for Justyna when the matron of the hospital, Mrs Eisenberg, noticed her sleeping
on the doorstep and invited her into the hospital, gave her food and offered her
accommodation in the nurses quarters and a job in the kitchen which allowed her to be
with her beloved Peter when she wanted.
In the meantime, Dmytro sold all that they had in Isabella and came to Sydney to be with
Peter and Justyna. They were fortunate to have saved enough money to be able to put a
deposit on a boarding house at 48 Enmore Rd Newtown, across the road from Newtown RSL
club.
Peter was so happy that finally they had a home to live in. As a boy from the bush, he
couldn't get enough of the beautiful city lights. He attended Newtown Kindergarten for a
few lessons only, and created an Easter card that Justyna cherishes until this day.
Sadly Peter did not get to enjoy life in the city for very long and sadly passed away on 11
November, 1955 at the young age of 4. He died in Justynas arms after looking into her eyes
and saying Mummy do not cry. He passed away in the home in Newtown that he was so
happy that his mummy and daddy had bought.
On June 12, 1957 their second son Bohdan, came into the world. He was the joy that they
needed to keep themselves going. He was born in King George the V hospital, near the
existing Royal Prince Alfred hospital. Two years later, on October 7, 1959, Justyna gave birth
to a daughter, Mary at the Bethesda Hospital in Marrickville.

Bethesda Hospital Marrickville

Peter, Bohdan and Mary, all went to Newtown Primary School.

1967
Bohdan holding the 4A class sign 4th from the left on the bottom row.

Mary in the second row 4th from the left in 2A.

1968
Mary in the second row, 4th from the left in Mr Struchewskys class.

1968
Bohdan holding the 5A class sign 4th from the left on the bottom row.

1969
Mary in Mr Rosenthals 4A class. Mary is seated in the 2nd row 4th from the right.

In talking to my brother Bohdan, we remember the following teacher names:

Mr Catts (our Principal)
Mr Riley who we were all scared of because he used to use the cane a lot
Mr James a wonderful teacher greatly loved by us all.

We had a wonderful time at Newtown. Across the street from what is now the High School
of Performing Arts was a Cheese Shop. The scent of the cheese was heavenly and the store
owners always offered us a slice of some delicious cheese while mum was buying cheese for
the family.

We also remember Anzac Day marches that went right past our place on Enmore Road. The
amazing Christmas lights that were put out by the council men on the streets every
Christmas. What a wonderful atmosphere we had created for us!

We also grew up with the trams rattling by our house. Brennans was a wonderful shop that
sold everything just up the street and the post office is the same today as it was all those
many years ago.

We were surrounded by Milk Bars and we loved getting milkshakes on the way home from
school.
Mum and dad worked very hard rebuilding our house in Newtown and maintaining it
beautifully. They took great pride in owning this residential that housed up to 20 single men
and was our family home.

What we are doing now:

Dmytro Senkowycz passed away on September 11, 2004 from a lung disease never having
smoked a day in his life. We miss him terribly.
Justyna Senkowycz is 88 years old and is doing very well. She lives close to her daughter
Mary in Greystanes.
Bohdan is a dentist. He has a surgery in Mt Druitt. He is married with two boys: Daniel ( a
financier) and Matthew (an architect). He lives with his wife is Helen and son Daniel in
Bossley Park. Mathew is currently working in Sweden.
Mary is married to Jaroslav and they have two sons: Andrew (a pilot with the Flying Doctors)
and Stephen (a doctor at Westmead Hospital). Mary is currently the Deputy Principal at
International Grammar School in Ultimo.

Short memoir written by Mary Duma for Newtown Primary School on 13 May, 2013.