Mama
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2012 Marijke Lockwood
Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English or any other language, or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright holder is prohibited
Printed by Digital Print Australia
135 Gilles Street
Adelaide
SA 5000
For information address [email protected]
First Printing 2012
ISBN: 978-0-9873069-7-5
PRINTED IN AUSTRALIA
Published by The Mickie Dalton Foundation Kempsey, NSW Australia
Dedications
Margaretha Wegman-Dobber 1921–1958 - Mama #1
Josina Wegman-Dobber 1920–current - Mama #2
Some people are lucky to have been given a wonderful mother. How lucky am I to have had two amazing women I had the privilege to call ‘Mama’
Acknowledgments:
Lidy van Soest
Ineke and Harry van der Hoogte
Michael Davies
Thank you - without your support, encouragement and input, this book would not have been completed or published.
Foreword
This book is based on my recall of events from 1958 to 1962 (and some flash-backs prior to this period). Some of the details may be disputed by others, but they are as I recall them.
Some of the names of the characters in this book have been changed due to my young age when these events took place, I am unable to recall all the names of the people involved. Although the events/conversations are vivid, some names escape me or are confused in my memory (especially those of the nuns at the orphanage and schools).
Throughout the book I use my siblings’ ‘Australian’ names. Some, like me, kept their Dutch names, for others it was easier to have their call-names translated into Australian equivalents:
| Dutch Name | Australian Name |
| Willie | Wil |
| Ans | Ann |
| Joop | John |
| Marijke | Marijke (Ma/ray/ke) |
| Arnold | Arnie |
| Truusje | Trudy |
| Greetje | Margaret |
| Lidy | Lidy – (Lee/dy) |
| Ineke | Ineke – (Een/eh/ke) |
| Tiny | Tiny – (Tee/ny) |
(Two sisters who are not mentioned in my memoirs were born after the period of this book: Bernadette - 1963 and Cisca – 1964: a total of 12 children.)
Chapter 1
7 September 1958 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
“Marijke.”
The deep authoritative voice of Sister Geertruida broke into the hopscotch game I was playing with my two best friends at the orphanage; Hennie, a chubby girl with a cute freckled face, and Ursula, a Polish girl. We’d taken the opportunity to play in the playground after we finished our lunch of sandwiches and soup in the dining room. We had to be back in class in fifteen minutes. After two days of rain, we relished the sunshine.
“Mother Superior wants to see you in the visitors’ room,” continued Sister Geertruida.
“But, Sister, I haven’t done anything wrong today, honest.”
My ten-year-old mind was spinning. What did I do this time? I was in trouble often, but I struggled to think of what I could have done that would cause me to have to see Mother Superior. I’d never been sent to Mother Superior before. This must be really bad.
I looked up, expecting Sister to be scowling at me. But instead, her eyes were gentle.
“No, you’re not in trouble, Marijke. Mother Superior and your Papa want to speak with you and your brothers and sisters.”
The Catholic orphanage (De Voorzienigheid) was situated in the heart of Amsterdam. This city, with its famous canals and narrow cobbled streets originally meant for horses and foot traffic, had many attractive old buildings. The orphanage didn’t fall into this category. The long dark brick wall with its evenly spaced windows faced a narrow street. It was four stories high and its only other feature was six long cement steps which lead to a heavy carved wooden front door.
The name, ‘De Voorzienigheid’ was chiselled into a cement block above the door. The Sint Maria School adjoined the orphanage.
The internal playground was asphalted. It had a monkey bar, a sandpit to one side and a large tree near the far wall. The whole area was surrounded by sombre dark buildings and a high brick wall. Although dismal, we made our own fun. In 1958, a lot of areas in Amsterdam still bore the scars of war.
Most other children in De Voorzienigheid were orphans. Our family situation was different in that both our parents were alive. Mama had been ill on and off over the previous five years. Whenever she had been admitted to hospital for surgery or treatment, we went to the orphanage. As there were nine children under fourteen, Papa was unable to look after us as well as work.
Originally the orphanage was for girls only, but from early 1958 boys were accepted. This time my two brothers and five of my six sisters were also there. My eldest sister, Willie, was placed with an aunt and uncle who lived near the high school she attended.
Papa,
