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Hetty Verolme

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Hetty Esther Verolme (born 24 February 1930 in Antwerp, Belgium) is a writer, educator and survivor of the Holocaust, after being sent to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp aged 13.[1] She now lives in Australia. She has written a book about her experiences in the children's houses in Bergen-Belsen.[2] She is recipient of the Australian "Most Successful Migrant" award.[citation needed]

Early/personal life

Moving with family

In 1931 the Werkendam family moved to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands from Antwerp in Belgium. Eight years later, World War II broke out and May 1940 the Germans occupied the Netherlands. In 1943 Hetty and her family were sent to the Nazi concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen.

WWII

When Hetty was twelve years old, the Werkendam family were taken from their home in Amsterdam. Hetty and her family were transported to Bergen- Belsen concentration camp after a short stay at the Westerbork camp. Hetty Max and Jack were separated from their parents and taken to a different group within the Bergen-Belsen camp. Hetty and her brothers were taken to the section for children. experiencing emotions of abandonment and were left scared and alone in the dark, feeling hungry in freezing conditions. The three of them were moved to Barrack 211 also known as the Children's House which is located in the Belsen camp.

Sister Luba, a Polish prisoner saved the children also taking full responsibility for the group. Due to Hetty's age she was given particular authority to help look after the children of the Children's House. this recognition gave Hetty the title of 'Little Mother for the children', the children adapted to her comforting, caring nature, as well as her survival instincts during the war.

Sister Luba was an outstanding person with characteristics such as charm and persistence. Sister Luba did everything in her will to sustain enough food for the children, although as time went on, things became difficult to keep the surviving children alive. Food was very limited, the conditions of the barrack were poor, there was also insufficient food and water (2010). Hetty relied on other children who were older for support and good spirits amongst the surging children. Sister Luba had other ladies helping her in protecting the children in the camp however conditions were deteriorating rapidly and bodies were piling up in the camp with a high mound right outside the Children's Barracks.

WWII lead to a typhus epidemic break out within the camp, which did not take long to come in contact with the Children's House. Hetty fell sick with the typhus epidemic she became oblivious to the outside world. News broke out the English army were closer to reaching the barrack and being inspected by the army, by this stage Hetty was recovering from typhus. Mid April 1945 a majority of the SS had left the Bergen-Belsen camp, the camp was soon transferred into the rights of the English liberators.

Experiences/death of family and friends

Hetty's high school sweetheart died in Auschwitz on the 22 of October in 1943 along with her school friend Sonia Santiel. 11 months into being placed in Bergen-Belsen Hetty and her 2 brothers Max and Jack were separated from their parents, and taken to a children's house within Bergen-Belsen, where Hetty was a mother-like figure to many of the younger children. After War's end they were returned to their parents eventually, however nearly all extended family were lost. On Friday 2 October 1942 at 8:15 am Hetty's Grandma was taken away along with her Grandpa and cousin, never to be seen again. Later two of Hetty's uncles Philip Van Kamerik and Max Werkendam (b1917) died in Bergen Belsen. Hetty lost over 110 Werkendam family members during the Holocaust, spread through many work and death camps. As recently as 2015, names are still emerging of relatives who perished during the Holocaust.

Post WWII

Once WWII had ended she and her brothers were reunited with their father and mother,they were astounded to see that their family (from three different camps) had survived the Holocaust and the Nazi Army. The many children who survived the war were moved back to the Netherlands with sustainable accommodation and great care from the Red Cross organisation. Post WWII Hetty became quite a successful person working in the industry of fashion, migrating to Australia (1954), working many jobs, such as Waitress to Bus Conductress, Door to door sales person, Real Estate Agent and even becoming a shopping centre developer. Her great success lead her to wonderful opportunities as well as awards and she became very community minded. She became the first female president of the Netherlands Society in Adelaide and was on charity committees such as the Lady Mayoress's Committee and later worked with the Ethnic Affairs Council.[3] She continues her charity work today with as a founding Trustee of a Trust called the Children of Belsen and The Holocaust Trust, formed to help holocaust survivors, their descendants and the continued education of the Holocaust.[4]

Awards and achievements

Awards in Australia

  • 1972 - Awarded "Most Successful Migrant"
  • 1977 - Elected into the Australian Ethnic Affairs Council
  • 2000 - Christina Stead Award - The Fellowship of Australian Writers

Achievements

Migrated to Australia in 1954

  • A founding member of the Australian Ethnic Affairs Council in Canberra - along with the Hon Al Grasby.
  • President of the Netherlands Society in South Australia.
  • Was a Member of the Lady Mayoress Committee in South Australia.
  • Noted in the Who's Who of Australian Women.
  • Devoted to a wide variety of charity and community organisations

Published works

  • The Children's House of Belsen. Published by Werma Pty. Ltd. Perth, Western Australia 2009, 2013 as Trustee for "The Children For Bergen Trust". ISBN 978-0-9922973-0-5. First püblished 2000 by Freemantle Press, Western Australia.
  • Hetty: A True Story, Fremantle Press 2010, ISBN 978-19-2136-133-3

References

  1. ^ Martin, Lucy. "Holocaust survivor Hetty Verolme makes it her mission to ensure atrocity is not forgotten". ABC (Australia). Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  2. ^ Osteroth, Reinhard (September 7, 2007). "Mach den Mund auf, Hetty". Zeit.de. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Origins: Immigrant Communities in Victoria". Museumvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Children Of Belsen And The Holocaust Trust". Holocausttrust.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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