Talk: Out of Poland – A Holocaust Story
Part of the AUCKLAND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2017: A H F comes to Howick
Author Jenny Harrison shares the discovery, research and writing of her book ‘Out of Poland: When the best revenge is to have survived’. “For years the brown leather suitcase had lain hidden under the house. Someone had placed it there, away from prying eyes, behind the aching twist of floor joists and gurgling pipes. When it was finally opened it would prove to be a Pandora’s Box. The present-day Siegel family knew nothing of their relatives only that they had lived and died in Poland during WW2. It was only when the suitcase was opened they finally learnt their father’s dreadful secret. He had fled to New Zealand. But did he really escape? Or was he forever haunted by what he had left behind?” Stay for morning tea, meet Jenny and look around the museum galleries.
Wednesday 4th October 10.30 to 11.30am, doors open 10am
Stay after and met Jenny, plus wander the galleries within the museum.
Free entry. All welcome.
Paper cut-outs school holiday workshop $8.00 per person, 7 years plus, relaxing and fun, plenty of ideas given to take home and try more designs!
Come create with paper and scissors. Great activity for the whole family
Polish decorative paper cut-outs belong to the most beautiful in the world. Traditionally they were made by hand, without drawing the lines first, cut with sheep-sheering scissors.
- Take home 2 art works.
- Watch a short presentation
- Designs based on the Lowicz and Kurpie regions of Poland
- This workshop is also available throughout the year, other dates and days, and is ideal for birthday parties too!
Bookings preferred please, phone 533 3530 or 021 107 0169 or email us.
Museum hours Tue to Fri 10-4 and Sun12-5
Discover Archaeology school holiday workshop $8.00 per person, 7 years plus, educational and fun, learn about our local area and Poland
- Take home a craft
- Watch a short presentation
- This workshop is also available throughout the year, other dates and days, and is ideal for birthday parties too! Bookings preferred please, phone 533 3530 or 021 107 0169 or email us.
Museum hours Tue to Fri 10-4 and Sun12-5
Wycinanki is a traditional Polish folk art, try something new, come create with paper and scissors.
This adult group meets on the first Friday each month, looking at various types of wycinanki or cut-outs, using paper and scissors. A warm welcome awaits you
$10pp includes a cuppa.
New members are welcome any time as we work at our own pace, materials and designs provided. Coming for the first time? Please ring me.
Polish decorative paper cut-outs belong to the most beautiful in the world. Traditionally they were made by hand, without drawing the design first, cutting out using sheep-sheering scissors.
- New members can watch a short presentation
- Designs based on the Lowicz and Kurpie regions of Poland
- Beginners workshop is also available throughout the year, gather your group together and make a booking, a date and time to suit you.
- Ideal class for children’s birthday parties too! 8plus, can be available on some Saturdays
For enquiries and bookings please phone 533 3530 or email us.
Museum hours Tue to Fri 10-4 and Sun12-5
Paper cut-outs school holiday workshop $8.00 per person, 7 years plus, relaxing and fun, plenty of ideas given to take home and try more designs!
Come create with paper and scissors. Great activity for the whole family
Polish decorative paper cut-outs belong to the most beautiful in the world. Traditionally they were made by hand, without drawing the lines first, cut with sheep-sheering scissors.
- Take home 2 art works.
- Watch a short presentation
- Designs based on the Lowicz and Kurpie regions of Poland
- This workshop is also available throughout the year, other dates and days, and is ideal for birthday parties too!
Bookings preferred please, phone 533 3530 or 021 107 0169 or email us.
Museum hours Tue to Fri 10-4 and Sun12-5
Hosted Visit, open to individuals and small groups: join our popular guided tour of the galleries. Hear an introductory talk and watch the film ‘Poles Apart’.
The museum will open at 10am, we will serve morning tea and start with a talk at 10.15am, the event will finish around 12noon, with free time to wander the exhibits The museum will stay open till 4pm. Price is $10 per person. Morning tea / coffee / biscuits included. Bookings not required.
‘Poles Apart’ (1 hour) tells the poignant story and background of 733 Polish children and 102 adults who came to live in Pahiatua, New Zealand, 1944. These survivors were forcibly deported from Poland to Russia during World War 2 then evacuated to Persia during a short amnesty. They eventually found a home in New Zealand.
Paper cut-outs school holiday workshop $8.00 per person, 7 years plus, relaxing and fun, plenty of ideas given to take home and try more designs!
Come create with paper and scissors. Great activity for the whole family
Polish decorative paper cut-outs belong to the most beautiful in the world. Traditionally they were made by hand, without drawing the lines first, cut with sheep-sheering scissors.
- Take home 2 art works.
- Watch a short presentation
- Designs based on the Lowicz and Kurpie regions of Poland
- This workshop is also available throughout the year, other dates and days, and is ideal for birthday parties too!
Bookings preferred please, phone 533 3530 or 021 107 0169 or email us.
Museum hours Tue to Fri 10-4 and Sun12-5
Hosted Visit, open to individuals and small groups: join our popular guided tour of the galleries. Hear an introductory talk and watch the film ‘Poles Apart’.
The museum will open at 10.15 am, we will serve morning tea and start with a talk at 10.30am, the event will finish around 12.30pm, with free time to wander the exhibits The museum is open till 4pm. Price is $10 per person. Morning tea / coffee / biscuits included. Bookings not required.
‘Poles Apart’ (1 hour) tells the poignant story and background of 733 Polish children and 102 adults who came to live in Pahiatua, New Zealand, 1944. These survivors were forcibly deported from Poland to Russia during World War 2 then evacuated to Persia during a short amnesty. They eventually found a home in New Zealand.
Set in the industrial city of Lodz, the film tells a story of a Pole, a Jew and a German struggling to build a factory in the raw world of 19th century capitalism.
‘Ziemia obiecana’ was the nickname of the city of Łódź , given by immigrants arriving in the industrial centre, searching for the
prosperity promised by rapid modernization.
The decisive action of the film begins when three dispossessed but industrious men: a Pole, Jew, and German set out to build their own factory. As one of them says, “I have nothing, you have nothing, he has nothing: this means we have enough to start a
factory.” But complicated relations in the world of manufacturers and Karol’s dangerous affair can destroy visionary plans.
Following on from the Auckland Heritage Festival talk by Jenny Harrison talk we are delighted to offer the following film about Ron Jeffery who she mentioned.
Ron Jeffery was described by the Gestapo as “one of the foxiest devils in Europe” His wartime adventures as a courier, spy and even executioner have all the hallmarks of a fantastic spy thriller– but it’s all true.
This powerful film uses mix of documentary, rare archive footage and vivid recreations to lift the secrecy on this story of a courageous British born, New Zealander during his time in Europe during WW2
Ron Jeffery served as a Lance Corporal in the 6th West Kent Battalion and was captured during the Battle of France by the Wehrmacht in 1940. He was transported to prison and then to a camp in Poland. He escaped twice from two camps and finally joined up with the Polish Underground Army in Warsaw.
Using forged documents issued under false Polish and German names, Jeffery began to serve as a courier in the Polish Underground, as a part of several missions to occupied cities such as Vienna, Prague and Budapest.
After WW2, Jeffery emigrated to New Zealand where he ran a business.He compiled his memoirs in the book called “Red Runs the Vistula” published in 1985.
This is his story.
Awards:
In 1943, Home Army General Tadeusz Bor-Komorowski personally awarded Jeffery the Polish Cross of Valour.
In 1996 Jeffery was awarded the Home Army Cross
In 1995, the President of Poland Lech Walesa awarded him the Comander of the Order of Merit, one of the highest honours the Polish Government can bestow on a foreigner.