- NAME
- Teunissen, Joseph (Jos)
- BIRTHDATE
- 16-5-1932
- PLACE OF BIRTH
- Weert, The Netherlands
- NATIONALITY
- Dutch
- RELIGION
- (Roman) Catholic
- OCCUPATION
- clerk
- Teunissen, Josée (Josje) – 22-10-1936 – wife
- Teunissen, Joanna – 4-2-1939 – sister –
- Teunissen, Tanya – 8-8-1957 – daughter
- Teunissen, Sharon – 14-6-1959 – daughter
- Teunissen, Christine – 14-9-1961 – daughter
- Teunissen, Lisa – 8-11-1962 – daughter
16-5-1932
Birthday
Joseph was born in Weert, the Netherlands more info
His daughter remembered him as “a manly man, but with charm, attractive and reserved about his emotions”
Joseph Teunissen
26-3-1956
Selection
During the selection process, Joseph left a good impression on the immigration officials. He spoke English very well more info
5-11-1956
Migration AU
The family arrived in Sydney
5-11-1956
Scheme
The family had an assisted passage under the Netherlands Australian Migration Agreement
13-11-1956
Employment
Joseph found a job at James Kirby, a post-war manufacturer of consumer goods read more 
18-1-1961
Employment
The consulate provided Joseph with a reference for his application to be an accountant at United [Nations]
1962
Government Propaganda
Photo of Joseph building his own house in Berowra. The Dutch and Australian governments propagandised emigration to Australia by taking photos of carefully selected Dutch emigrants to showcase their ‘success’ stories more info
Tanya: “Joseph did not have any experience in building houses. So he learned it all by himself, during the construction process”
1962
Government Propaganda
Photo of Joseph and Josée in their kitchen more info
Tanya: “The only thing I can imagine in Australia is that almost everyone who had the opportunity built their own home. There was plenty of space, you could make it completely to your own liking. […] They [Joseph and Josée] had been saving right from the start. They rented a space to save as much as possible. Living small and as soon as they had four thousand guilders, they could buy a piece of land and start building on it”
Private Family Photo Collection
Jos and Josje together
The exterior view of the self-built home
Jos and Josje in their home
1962
Government Propaganda
Photo of Josée entertaining her Australian friends in front of the house more info
Tanya: “On the plateau in front of the house it was customary to open large Christmas packages from the Netherlands. All kinds of wonderful things came out of it, such as a banana plant which actually grew bananes. I also remember my little sister, who was still in the stroller and that I saw a snake around the wheels of the stroller. I screamed loudly for my mother. She then came to chase the snake away. All these things happened in this house”
Private Family Photo Collection
Jos in Australia
Tanya and her sisters
22-5-1963
Support
Joseph visited the consulate for the nomination of his parents-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Cox for a possible migration to Australia
4-6-1964
Travel AU
The sister of Joseph, Joanna, came to visit the Teunissen family in Australia. She flew with KLM and was travelling under a tourist visa more info
20-7-1964
Support
The sister of Joseph, Joanna, visited the consulate to request information about a permanent residence in Australia. There is no mention of her staying permanently in Australia more info
2-1965
Migration NL
Joseph requested passports for himself and his family to return to the Netherlands. They left Australia the same year
22-8-1965
Deathday
The Teunissen family had a car accident after their return to the Netherlands. Josée, Sharon, Christine and Lisa died during the crash. Joseph and daughter Tanya survived, but were heavily wounded. The tragic accident was reported in several Dutch national newspapers and even in Australian newspapers read more more info
28-1-1967
Marriage
After the death of his wife Josée, Joseph married Brigitte van Oostrum. They had two children, Gitte and Joep
22-10-2019
Deathday
Brigitte died in Eindhoven in 2019
2022
Interview
Joseph’ daughter Tanya was interviewed by Nienke Teunissen (the granddaughter of Joseph Teunissen) about the life of her father Joseph
Listen to ‘JOS de Podcast’ (in Dutch) on SoundCloud or on Spotify
“He was a very warm and sweet dad. If you would lie or cheat or do things that were not allowed, then he would be very strict. He was always a father who would carry you on his arm or on his shoulders or lift you on top of things”