Bitneris Story

Sent in via email by Fred Bitneris in 2015

My family, my mother, sister Christine and I (Fred) moved to Benalla Camp in 1951 via Bonegilla. My sister moved out in 1960, I moved out in 1959 to go to university and my mother stayed until 1969.

We originally came from Lithuania, but during the war we became refugees and stayed at a displaced persons Camp in Traunstein, Bavaria called 'Kurhaus'. We all came to Australia in June 1950.

Fred writes: "The 'camp' has a wonderful collection of memories and history and human stories that you will not find in any media format. The influence that the 'camp people' had on Benalla's culture during the 1950's and 1960's is immeasurable in many ways."