Suitcase of Dreams

by Tania Blanchard

  ‘Look, more Vietnamese boat people,’ I said as he joined me on the lounge. Saigon had fallen to the communist regime a year earlier. Finally the war was over but thousands of civilians had fled the country, refugees risking their lives in tiny fishing boats, looking for sanctuary wherever they could find it. Many had reached Australian shores, looking for safety and security, and a future for their families.

  ‘Remember what it was like when we came out?’

  ‘I remember, tesero mio,’ he said softly, grasping my hand. ‘I think it’ll be difficult for these new people to find their place here.’

  ‘It’s a multicultural country now, different to what it was back then, and people are a lot more accepting and inclusive,’ I said, remembering how doggedly Erich had fought. ‘Perhaps it’ll just take time.’

  I stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows over the shadows gathering on Lake Burley Griffin, the setting sun casting a golden glow over the white façade of Parliament House and the Brindabella Mountains beyond. I loved living in the nation’s capital, at the centre of it all, and I knew that Erich would be proud of the life I’d made for myself.

  ‘Like it did for us,’ agreed Marco, kissing my hand and threading his arm around my waist.

  I looked at him adoringly, hardly able to believe that we were this happy.

  ‘It was hard for a long time but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,’ I said, smiling, ‘Australia has given us everything – and no matter where we go, this is home.’

  Author’s note

  Suitcase of Dreams is inspired by a true story—my grandparents’ story.

  Many of you may wonder how much is truth and how much is fiction, so I wanted to share the true stories and historical background that has lent authenticity to the migrant experience of the 1950s and 60s and has brought Suitcase of Dreams to life.

  My grandparents arrived from Germany on the Skaubryn in 1956. They docked in Fremantle before disembarking in Melbourne and taking the train to Bonegilla, near Albury on the Victoria–New South Wales border. My grandfather was an aeronautic engineer and was also promised work in Australia, but like so many educated and professional migrants, he found out that his qualifications weren’t recognised once he arrived. He travelled up to Sydney to find work and my grandmother and their children later joined him in the Villawood hostel where they stayed for about nine months. He worked as a mechanic and in factories, including the disastrous stint with the engineering firm.

  My grandmother was trained as a photographer in Europe, but didn’t work professionally in that field until she arrived in Australia. She began painting while at the Abercrombie River—she loved the Australian bush, the flora and fauna, and the landscapes. She was a talented painter, and I have some of her works on my walls at home. She later also began painting on fabric, adorning tablecloths, table runners, scarves, T-shirts and even umbrellas with Australian animals and plants.

  Her mother did in fact travel on the ill-fated last journey of the Skaubryn. She, like all the passengers, lost everything on that voyage, including the valuables she kept in the captain’s safe. Not long after, my grandfather’s mother came to Australia, to spend her twilight years with her son and grandchildren – a courageous thing to do so late in life.

  After my grandfather was involved in the terrible car accident described in the story, my grandmother and the children moved from their rented semi-detached house to the garage he had built at the ‘farm’. The injuries he sustained were extensive enough that the doctors believed he’d never have full use of that leg again – and yet he did.

  My grandfather did start up his own business after the accident but although his father had a furniture shop and made furniture in Germany and my grandfather could do woodwork, he turned his hand to taxidermy – a specialised craft he had seen as a young man surrounded by the mountains and forests of his youth. He learnt the art from scratch and built up a successful business which my grandmother learnt and continued for a time after his death.

  While I had family stories, photographs, letters and firsthand accounts to draw on, I wanted to research further to understand what Australia would have been like for them when they arrived. I discovered that it was a fascinating time in history. Up until the period of post-war migration, the Australia culture and way of life had been predominantly British. As Europeans began to arrive in Australia, the cultural landscape slowly changed, but this change didn’t come without resistance and its challenges. ‘New Australians’ were the engine room of the economic growth stimulated after the war, but they were often discriminated against and taken advantage of.

  That was no surprise to me, but when I began researching communism and the union movement of the 1950s and 1960s, I was amazed to discover what a hothouse of intrigue this period was. Communism was rearing its head across the globe, threatening western democracies and instigating the widespread fear of ‘Reds under the bed’. In Australia, diplomatic scandals like the Petrov affair and the Skripov incident rocked the belief that Australia was far from such problems of the world. Suddenly we were thrust into this global crisis. And with our involvement in the Vietnam War and our increasing ties to the United States, we were no longer seen as a provincial backwater but embedded fully in world politics. The time of Australia’s innocence was over and with this came the massive social changes of the 1960s. The fight for civil rights for all people, especially minority groups, took centre stage and political and social awareness grew rapidly across the general population. Women discovered that they had a voice, too, and the feminist movement was born. This turbulent time of change touched all people and Lotte and her family were no exception.

  Migrants certainly played a vital role in the changes sweeping Australia. Researching the role of migrants in the union movement proved how important they were in pushing for a fair and equal nation. They were prominent in this fight, determined that their voices should be heard. The Bonegilla Riots of 1952 and 1961 were prime examples of the discontent many were experiencing. Some joined the unions as a way of speaking up and fostering change and many also joined the Communist Party, which promoted equality, freedom of speech and anti-discrimination. I was fascinated to learn that some of these people became known to the government as suspected or known communist troublemakers and were placed on a secret migrant blacklist. They were often placed under surveillance, photographed at political or union meetings, rallies, protests and even social gatherings. In some cases, mail was censored and citizenship denied for years.

  Research helped me place the lives of migrants into this fascinating period of history and also gave context to my own grandparents’ story. I couldn’t help but use what I had learned, and through Lotte and Erich’s association with the union movement and activism, it helped me illuminate the struggles many migrants encountered in their quest to make Australia a better place and the multicultural nation it’s now become.

  Like most migrants, my grandparents had many ups and downs but they never gave up and they continued to push on towards better times. I’m grateful that my grandmother saw me grow up, go to university, have a career, get married and have my own children. She watched my life unfold and must have marvelled at the endless opportunities that being Australian and living in this country offered all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was home for her and, despite all the difficulties, she would have been proud of the decision they made to come to Australia.

  Reading group questions

  1. Lotte has lived a big life – surviving wartime and postwar Germany and then forging a new life on the other side of the world with her young family. How common do you think stories like Lotte’s are in multicultural Australia?

  2. Does your own family have a story that might match the trials and tribulations of Lotte’s as she struggles to find her place as an Australian?

  3. What kind of memories of past trauma do Lotte and Erich carry with them from their experiences in the war, and do you think they are able to fully shake them
off?

  4. Lotte and Erich’s relationship is put through a lot as they move from one side of the world to the other. Do you think they were as happy as they could be?

  5. There is so much social and political change that Lotte must absorb and respond to in her life journey from Germany to Australia. What are some of the big movements that help shape her identity?

  6. How do you think Lotte’s life would have been different if Erich had lived a longer life?

  7. Lotte tries to provide a better future for her family in Australia, but works long hours to get ahead. How do you think the girls felt about Lotte always working?

  8. Do you think Greta and Johanna consider themselves Australian? Do you think it’s different for each of them? What events do you think might have shaped their sense of identity?

  9. Lotte has a very complicated relationship with her mother. Do you think the war or the experience of migration affected their relationship, or is it a common mother–daughter relationship?

  10. What is it about Lotte’s friendship with Claudia that is so important to her? What makes it an enduring friendship?

  11. Both grandmothers were very different from each other and carried very different values and attitudes. What do you think the relationship was like between Amelia and the girls? What about between Karoline and the girls?

  12. Do you think Lotte’s daughters knew much about her past in Germany, and how do you think they might have felt about it? What about their father’s past? How might they think differently about his experiences?

  13. Lotte’s attitudes and values are shaped by the privileged upbringing she’s had as well as her own life experiences, and Erich’s were shaped by his own background and what he saw in the war. How do you think Lotte and Erich’s attitudes and values shape the lives of their daughters? Do they accept or reject them, or mould them to their own needs?

  14. Many of Lotte’s generation were indoctrinated by Nazi teachings as children during school and through the activities of the Hitler Youth or League of German Girls. With Germany’s defeat, they were forced to acknowledge that these teachings were lies and that Hitler had betrayed his people. How do you think this background may have affected them in adulthood and in their relationships with their families? How might someone who has migrated to a new country deal with their past?

  Acknowledgements

  Since this is Lotte’s story, the first person I have to thank is my grandmother – Oma. Without her stories and her careful keeping of detailed documents, letters and photos that chronicled her life in Australia, I couldn’t have written Suitcase of Dreams. She has been the source of my inspiration, the one who always supported my writing journey even when I was a child. She was my very first reader.

  My grandfather passed away when I was little and I only have vague flashes of memory of him. However, I came to know him again through the letters and writings he left behind and by following his story here in Australia. I was delighted to find his writing style so familiar – it’s just like mine. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to reconnect with him and learn about the man that he was.

  Without my grandparents taking the brave step of coming to Australia in the 1950s to make a better life for their family, I would not be here. Through their example and through my parents, both child migrants, I have understood the value of determination, hard work, perseverance and courage. Because of them, I’ve been able to follow my dreams and do what I love – write. I can never be thankful enough for the gifts they’ve given me.

  As always, my brilliant team at Simon & Schuster Australia has elevated this story to the next level and transformed it into the book it’s become. Their support and belief in me is precious and I can’t thank them enough for that. Special thanks to Dan Ruffino, Fiona Henderson, Kirsty Noffke, the amazing sales and marketing team, Kylie Mason, Michelle Swainson and most especially to my publisher Roberta Ivers, who helps me strive to be the best writer I can be. Her support and guidance means a lot to me.

  Thank you to my agent Selwa Anthony for her encouragement and wisdom. I’m very lucky to have her friendship.

  This journey wouldn’t have been complete without my mother, Giselle Brame. It was very special to follow my grandparents’ story in Australia with her. She’s the one who has helped fill in the blanks for me; translated letters, brought details to my attention, retold stories, delved back into memories of those early days in Australia. Her insights have helped this story remain authentic and through her I was able to see her parents with new eyes. I will be forever grateful for her support and the many hours she has spent on this project with me.

  Thank you to all those who could shed light on the life of migrants in the 1950s and 60s, especially Roswitha Pisch, Lisa Bootham, Stefanie Michel, Manfred Schueler, Domenic Martino and Agota Watt. Your stories were fascinating.

  Thank you to all those who contacted me after reading The Girl from Munich, with your own stories, insights and kind words. It inspired me to work harder to bring you the best possible story in Suitcase of Dreams. Connecting with my readers always brings a smile to my face, especially when I’m writing, which can be a solitary business. It reminds me that this book is for you.

  Thanks to my family and friends who have been so encouraging and supportive, especially Jane Kurta, my dear friend and first reader, Christine and Terry Blanchard, my gorgeous in-laws, and my fabulous husband Chris Blanchard for his practical support and advice, and expertise on all things related to carpentry and building.

  Finally, I have to thank my number one cheer squad – my wonderful family. They wish me a good day of writing as they head off each day, they’re the first ones I tell whenever I have exciting news or that I’ve reached the next deadline or milestone, they’re the first to celebrate with me or listen when I have writers’ block. They put up with me when I’ve disappeared into my story for hours at a time and are the first to tell me ‘Good job’ when I’ve achieved what I’ve set out to do. My heart swells with gratitude and love to see their pride in me. If nothing else I’m proud that I’ve shown my children that it’s important to follow your dreams and with hard work, determination and perseverance, anything can happen! I wouldn’t be here without the understanding and love of my husband and children. They make it all worthwhile.

  Tania Blanchard

  If you enjoyed Suitcase of Dreamsyou'll love the unputdownable bestseller The Girl From Munich, also by Tania Blanchard

  The haunting bestseller about love and loss in wartime Germany, inspired by a true story

  The The Girl from Munich

  * * *

  ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

  About the author

  Tania Blanchard was inspired to write by the fascinating stories her German grandmother told her as a child. Coming from a family with a rich cultural heritage, stories have always been in her blood. Tania was discovered at one of bestselling author Fiona McIntosh’s masterclasses. Her first novel, The Girl from Munich, published by Simon & Schuster Australia, was a runaway bestseller. She is working on her third novel. Tania lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

  SIMON & SCHUSTER

  simonandschuster.com.au

  Authors.SimonandSchuster.com.au/Tania-Blanchard

  Have you read Tania Blanchard’s The Girl from Munich, where Lotte Drescher’s story began?

  Read on for the first chapter and be swept up in a gripping tale of love and loss in wartime Germany, and the decisions that would change Lotte’s life forever . . .

  1

  Munich

  July 1943

  ‘Times have changed, Mutti. The war has made sure of that. Look at all the women who work to help the war effort – Heidi von Schmitt and Catherina Dollmann are both working for the Wehrmacht and their parents haven’t died of embarrassment. I want to make a contribution.’

  My mother stared at me with frosty blue eyes. She was beautiful, her wavy blonde hair glinting with auburn highlights in the sunlight, even though
she sat there unmoved, sipping her coffee. I jumped up from my seat and went to the window, wishing I had her poise, her elegance and her tight control. I always thought better when I was moving.

  I gazed out at the tree-lined street. It was hard to believe that war raged in affluent, cosmopolitan Schwabing. It wasn’t far from the centre of München, where now the ravages of war could not be missed. A couple strolled past, holding hands, oblivious to anything but each other as a woman dressed in a tailored skirt and jacket moved briskly towards them, no doubt on her way to useful employment of some kind. I shook my head and turned back to face my mother. Why couldn’t I have what I wanted? Time for a more forceful approach.

  ‘I’ve heard the Ministry of Labour wants to change the conscription laws again. Unless I take action and choose what I want to do, I’ll probably be drafted into cleaning the toilets at an army office somewhere like Poland. Is that what you want for your daughter after all her hard work to qualify as a photographer?’

  ‘Charlotte Elisabeth, stop!’ My mother put her cup down and the sharp clink it made told me her patience had reached its limit. ‘When your father comes back from Berlin, I will discuss the matter with him and Heinrich’s parents.’

  ‘Muttilein,’ I pleaded, sinking into the chair again. ‘All I want to do is take photos and help the war effort. Karin Weiss graduated last year and got a job as a photographer with the army straightaway. I’ll get a job easily.’ I knew I sounded like a petulant child but I couldn’t help it. The Bavarian State Institute for Photography had the best reputation in the country. Students came from all over Germany and from abroad to study there.