- NAME
- Feddes, Fred
- BIRTHDATE
- 9-10-1957
- PLACE OF BIRTH
- Groningen, The Netherlands
9-10-1957
Birthday
1967
Migration
Fred’s parents began to actively explore the idea of emigration. In 1967 they visited their relatives who had migrated to Ontario, Canada. Under the guise of a summer holiday they investigated the options of moving there themselves. Two years later they decided to move to Australia.
1968
Selection
As a devout Protestant family, they attended information evenings at the Protestant Christelijke Emigratie Centrale (CEC or Christian Emigration Center). The CEC had application centers and did the pre-selection in the Netherlands. Once selected the application file was sent to the Nederlandse Emigratie Dienst (Netherlands Emigration Service) and the Australian immigration officers, who did the final selection. The CEC also got them in contact with fellow church people in Australia who could offer practical advice and help.
7-4-1969
Migration AU
The familie arrived Fremantle per Ellinis 7 April 1969
12-4-1969
Housing
After a trip by train and bus of 5 days the family was housed at Glenelg Migrant Hostel read more 
19-4-1969
Support
Fred remembers they were allotted a bedroom and a sitting area in Glenelgh Migrant Hostel. It was an interim stay for only a week while they waited for the house the church contacts had organised to vacate.
20-4-1969
Housing
The rental house on Clapton Road that the church had found for them, belonged to an army man serving in Vietnam. When he returned early after being wounded, they had to move, and Fred’s parents bought a house on nearby Yarmouth Road.
5-1969
Employment
Fred’s dad hoped to work with a radio station, but this did not happen. He ended up repairing radios as he had done in the Netherlands for Philips.
1971
Migration NL
When Fred’s parents moved to Australia they intended to stay, but from the start they also regarded the NAMA two-year contract as a test period. Within six months they decided Australia was not the place they wanted to live permanently, and it would be better – if only for their children’s education – to return as soon as possible after the two-year period had ended. They started saving money for the return trip.
1971
Travel
The family traveled by SS Australis, a sister ship to the Ellinis. Fred didn’t like the trip as much as he had done two years before. He felt less comfortable, and more conscious of the abrupt change.
1981
Education
Fred finished the School of Journalism in 1981 and was in involved in free lance writing.