Gallery – Polish refugees in New Zealand

1st Anniversary Invitation – Pahiatua

The Polish Children's Camp's ambulance with some of the New Zealand soldiers who looked after the vehicle fleet.

Article on 1st Anniversary – Pahiatua

The Waione boat excursion on the Wanganui River during the children's holiday in August 1945. This was one of the many activities organised for them by the city.

arewelling Father Wilniewczyc on his departure from the camp upon his transfer to the Polish children's refugee settlements in Lebanon, 5 December 1947. (l-r): Zofia Kołodzińska, Zofia Reder, Maria Pietrasińska, Petronela Ostrowska, Weronika Snarska, Stefania Jasionowicz, Salomea Szymczycha, Father Michał Wilniewczyc, Jadwiga Żerebecka, Ludwika Sójka, Helena Białostocka, Stefania Kozera

Farewelling the popular Polish priest Father Michał Wilniewczyc at the Polish Boys' Hostel, Island Bay. Back (l-r): Bronisław Nawrocki (hostel head), Henryka Nasarzewska, Janina Nawrocka, Aniela Adach, Zofia Czochańska, Józefa Wrotniak, Rozalia Manterys, Maria Węgrzyn, Krystyna Wojciechowska Front (l-r): Krystyna Wołyncewicz, Genowefa Dźwiniel, Leokadia Bełczącka, Father Michał Wilniewczyc, Wanda Rzepka, Alicja Tarnowska, Irena Bartniczak

Back (l-r): Ewa Benasiewicz, Szczęsny Zaleski, Maria Dajnowska, Teodozja Woźniak, Stefania Jasionowicz, Weronika Maciejowska Middle (l-r): Janina Krystman, Maria Hajduk, Janina Świerczyńska, Janina Dajnowska Front (l-r): Wiktoria Dajnowska, Stefania Benasiewicz, Kazimiera Hajduk, Maria Woźniak, Halina Woźniak

Two weeks' holiday (from 17 to 31 August 1945) was arranged for all the children from the Polish Children's Camp to various parts of the country for a taste of life in New Zealand. This group of 225 children visited Wanganui, where they received a very warm welcome from the local community. Each child was given a commemorative certificate of their visit.

Noel Jackson, a much-loved soldier, used his camera to record the life of the camp. It is thanks to him that many of the former children have a record of their years there.

The New Zealand army staff who initially ran the Polish Children's Camp until most of the day-to-day functions were taken over by the Polish staff.

The New Zealand soldiers next to the camp's vehicle fleet. One of the Polish children, Kazimierz Markowski, is 4th from right.

A group of first-generation Polish New Zealanders with some of the former children refugees dressed in Polish national costumes at Pahiatua's centenary parade in 1981. Standing (l-r): Stefan Lepionka, Zbyszek Wypych, Tereska Kozera, Piotr Wypych, Alal Manterys, Michał Mendruń, Helena Zawada, Conrad Zawada, Anton Zawada, Stefan Sondej, Adam Manterys, Alinka Przychodźko, Bela Przychodźko, Danusia Choroś Sitting (l-r): Czesława Markowska (Gazdowicz), Zofia Czochańska, Jadwiga Domańska (Lendał), Janina Kowalczyk (Niedźwiecka), Teresa Sapińska, Irena Gibbs, Dorota Gibbs, Helena Juchnowicz (Przychodźko), Aniela Gibbs, Maria Wypych (Węgrzyn)

(l-r): Andrzej (front), Stefan, Maria (seated), Janina (front), Wanda, Wiktoria, Helena

(l-r): Zofia, Janina, Alfreda, Helena, Maria

The Kotlicki Family in one of the camp's staff huts. (l-r): Elżbieta, Mieczysław (junior), Mieczysław (reading the Listener)

(l-r): Stefania, Rozalia, Stanisław, Krystyna, Anna

(l-r): Władysława, Jan, Stefania, Helena (mother), Helena

(l-r): Julia Rolińska, Paulina Jania, Janina Dmochowska, Józef Holona, Teresa Dmochowska, Zofia Sprusińska

The New Zealand teaching staff at the Polish Children's Camp who gave the children their first formal introduction to the English language, not to mention the fair game of rugby. (l-r): Andy Nola, Alexander Henderson, Mary Sergent, Frank Muller, Joan Hay, Mary Eising, Hugh McKinnon

Some of the New Zealand personnel, 1947. Back (l-r): Mary Sergent, Eddie O'Keefe, Frank Muller, Joan Hay, Marion Parker Front (l-r): Andy Nola, Mary Eising, Bill McPartland

(l-r): Grzegorz Treder of Konini (born in Carterton 1897, from an earlier Polish settlement, he could still speak some Polish and was very popular with the older people in the camp), Maria Korczak-Bucewicz, Stanisława Danielewska, Olga Sygierycz

The camp's ever-smiling hygienist Maria Kasperowicz.

Camp Commandant Major Finny (left) with the Polish Delegate Szczęsny Zaleski

A group of the camp's teachers and caregivers. Back (l-r): Leon Rudolf Rosenberg-Łaszkiewicz, Waleria Zatorska, Maria Węgrzyn, Stefania Nawalaniec, Ewa Banasiewicz, Elwira Kundycka, Paulina Jania, Julia Rolińska Front (l-r): Zofia Sprusińska, Stanisława Kołodyńska, Father Michał Wilniewczyc, Janina Kornobis, Weronika Woźniak, Helena Białostocka, Zdzisława Blaschke, Balbina Wojtowicz

Polish staff relax in the camp's dining room. (l-r): Jerzy Białostocki, Antoni Kozłowski, Janina Dąbrowska, Karolina Pytlos, Józef Holona, Bolesława Połeć, Stanisława Lewandowska

(l-r): Zofia Piotrkowska, Petronela Ostrowska, Zofia Kołodzińska

The Polish Children's Camp hospital was a very important place as the children's health needed attention from their years in exile. Thanks to the staff's devoted care, the children soon recovered. Back (l-r): Stefania Jasionowicz, Bert Ford, Sister La Hore, Sister Leaming, Elwira Kundycka, Zofia Pantalejew, Weronika Maciejowska Front (l-r): Zofia Szysz, Sister Johnson, Helena Szymulska, Dr Eugenia Czochańska, Maria Sawicka

(l-r): Archbishop O'Shea, Polish Delegate Szczęsny Zaleski, Apostolic Delegate to Australia and New Zealand Archbishop Panico, Prime Minister Peter Fraser

The youngest children form a guard of honour as Prime Minister Peter Fraser makes an inspection tour of the camp. He considered the children's well being his personal responsibility.

The Prime Minister, Peter Fraser (centre) meets some of the 732 Polish children he invited to New Zealand. With him is Mrs Fraser and the Polish Delegate Jan Śledziński