All posts by Hetty

hetty-bnai-brith-three

Hetty Recognised by B’nai B’rith in Jerusalem

Uncategorized

In recognition of Hetty’s bravery during the war in helping 42 young children survive in Bergen Belsen, B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem in Israel, have given her a citation this month. The decision was made in June 2020 however Hetty only just received her framed Citation and her Medal this week by post. Unable to fly to Israel for the ceremony this was the only way she could accept her award. It says – This is to certify that a Jewish Rescuers Citation has been conferred in recognition of the devotion, courage and heroism exhibited but Hetty Esther Verolme Werkendam in rescuing fellow Jews during the Holocaust. Images courtesy of Julia Ray

* 1972
Recognition and awards · 1972 – Awarded “Most Successful Migrant” by the Department of Immigration. 

* 1977
Appointed to the inaugural Australian Ethnic Affairs.

 

 

 

hetty-at-hale

Uncategorized

Hetty visited Hale School yesterday and was so well received she was surrounded by a group of lovely students, who couldn’t thank her enough for coming to their class to talk about her life as a Migrant in Australia.

Hetty who came to Australia in 1956 as a Migrant talked about her journey right to this day which was eagerly received by the young lads. Hetty spoke about the time she was awarded “The most Successful Migrant Award” in Australia in 1972.

The discussion then naturally lead to her success as a writer and that two of her books are read widely by many students in WA and the all over the country and indeed around the world.

Nice one Hetty!

hettys-portrait

Hetty Presented with her Portrait by Perth Artist Gai Saunders

A Chat with Hetty

This day will be remembered by Hetty as one of her very favourites for sure. As she answered the bell for the front gate and looked into the monitor, she saw two smiling faces gleaming back at her. Within minutes, low and behold a very large piece of artwork was being carefully walked up the driveway, by the same pair of lovely ladies, who were still beaming from ear to ear.

Once inside the real fun began and the unveiling of the enormous canvas (oil on wood) began. As the painting came to light we were astounded by the detail and great care to capture certain characteristics, that were most definitely all Hetty. Gai explained “There is a little bird around Hetty’s shoulder and the cloud that Hetty mentions in her book” all lovingly portrayed in the portrait, by the Perth artist.

The inscription reads:

This painting was presented to Hetty Verolme on Tuesday 30th July 2019 by Artist Gai Saunders.” and saying  it was completed in 2015.

hettys-portrait

Hetty thanks Gai for her generosity and also to her daughter Peppa for helping deliver it safely.

Hetty and Gai proudly showcasing Gai’s fabulous portrait of Hetty.

zaanse-schans-delf-blue

Hetty’s Books at the Dutch Shop in Guilford

Uncategorized

How annoying it is when you walk into a book store in Perth only to find Hetty’s books and they have not restocked their shelves. Very!

We are going to tell you of a little secret. If you are down Guildford way – you will find both books – “Hetty” and “The Children’s House of Belsen” – available in The Dutch Shop.

Don’t be surprised if you walk out with some yummy Dutch licorice. We’ve all been there and done that!

The Dutch Shop – Shop 5 – 121 James Street Guildford WA

N.B the featured picture above of the Delf Blue Crockery is just a generic image taken on Hetty’s latest trip to Amsterdam

The Spectator UK a Politics and Culture Online Magazine, rated the radio programme in which Hetty recounts her life in Bergen Belsen, as the most inspiring  radio this week.

Hetty’s programme aired around the world on BBC World Service, just this week. They mention it, as “a week of extraordinarily direct and honest radio on the world service”.

The most inspiring voice on radio this week belongs to Hetty Werkendam, or rather to her 15-year-old self as she talked to the BBC correspondent Patrick Gordon Walker in April 1945. He was with the British soldiers who entered the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and witnessed the horrors of that scene:

 

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2018/10/a-week-of-extraordinarily-direct-and-honest-radio-on-the-world-service/

 

 

 

 

The Children of Belsen

This is not a sad story. Is the opening line to this radio programme.

 

Here is the full version of the BBC World Service, radio programme, produced for the Children of Belsen documentary filmed in April 2018, including the voice of Patrick Gordon Walker, from the BBC radio archives from 1945. Walker, a British journalist was one of the first to enter Bergen Belsen and he recorded the voices of three of the children of the camp. One of them of course was Hetty.

This is a very personal look at the story of Hetty and her brothers Jacky and Maxy but also discusses some of the history of the inmates of Bergen Belsen. Hetty has been sharing her account with as many others as possible over the years, however, interviewer Mike Lanchin retraces the story of Hetty’s journey over a few days of intimate discussions. It includes singing of the children of Belsen at liberation and interviews of other children, now elderly people, who give their own insight to their experiences. Lastly it also includes interviews of Hetty’s daughter and grandson who talk out for the first time about being part of family, with a holocaust survivor.

A beautifully produced programme that will be a wonderful legacy for Hetty’s family and the world. Hetty begins by saying  “This in not a sad story ” and actually believe it or not – she is quite right!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csxhjr

Courtesy of Mike Minchin from our friends at the BBC

Hetty with Mike Lanchin Senior Producer Witness BBC World Service

Hetty on TV, Hetty's Tour April 2018

The Month of April 2018 was a very busy time for Hetty. There was the opening of the Children’s Exhibition in Bergen Belsen, the flight over, in itself, quite a long journey from Australia and BBC Documentaries to be made about remembering Belsen, (the British liberated Belsen), a Radio piece and a segment for BBC World Service, Witness with Hetty as the subject.

During her stay at Jan Tabak in Bussum, Mike Lanchin a Senior Producer/Presenter at the BBC World Service for Witness came ahead for a few days to interview Hetty to begin the process of discussing a difficult topic. After a few days of getting to know each other the two became friends. There is a lovely image of the BBC Crew but nothing with Mike and so we would like to share a lovely picture of Mike with Hetty, after those few days of the pre amble for the shows ahead.

another-bbc-hetty-and-crew-photo

Image – courtesy of our friends at the BBC

a-photo-of-hetty-at-belsen

Hetty’s Portrait Chosen as an Entry in the National Portrait Gallery for a Photographic Prize

Uncategorized

We all believe, this is such a wonderful shot of Hetty sitting alone within the stark lines of the new Bergen Belsen Memorial Museum sitting silently at the Glass Wall. We are proud to announce this will be entered into a competition at the National Portrait Gallery in London this year.

Tamsin Barber – Digital Archive Producer for BBC World Service has entered  this image of Hetty taken in April by the BBC crew, saying she had “chosen this particular one of Hetty, as she thought it was thoughtful and serene”.

The image was chosen as her entry in the National Portrait Gallery for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Prize: https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/twppp-2018/exhibition/

We wish all the organizers and the entrants the very best of luck.