sister – AuntyUta

Peter’s sister Ilse lives in Berlin. In 1999 she came to visit us here in Australia. She stayed for two months: From the end of February to the beginning of April. Caroline, who was twenty at the time, had already given up her studies at Sydney University. She had a job as a waitress in a Pizza Restaurant in Kiama. Being already a good car-driver, she had no problem driving home in the dark after work. Ilse was very fond of Caroline. We went on a lot of outings with Ilse, and Caroline did often come along with us.

Ilse was still in mourning for her husband who had died a year previously. But she liked her stay here with us. I thought it was great to have her around. She is a beautiful person to get along with. She was happy to meet all our family during her two months stay here. She very much cared for all of them. When she left, she said she’d like very much to come back for another visit.

We went with Ilse and Caroline up to the highlands, parking the car near an old cemetery. — We went with Ilse and Caroline up to the highlands, parking the car near an old cemetery –

and had a picnic on the lawns next to the old gravestones! — where we had a picnic on the lawns next to the old gravestones!

Having a rest in the Chinese Gardens in Sydney

There are many beautiful things to see in these Chinese Gardens in Sydney.

Here we are on a walk with Monika and her three daughters to the playground at the back of our property.

Krystal turned two on the 5th of April of that year 1999.

This picture with Ilse and Gaby was taken on the 18th of April 1999.

I think David probably took this picture of all of us with the Opera House in the background.

Two of the photos were taken in November 1965 in Sydney’s Prince Henry Hospital, when Gaby was eight years old. She types with a mouthstick on an electric typewriter. During the day she is strapped in a high chair, her hands in braces.
The night she spends in an iron ‘cage’ with only her head outside it on a cushion.
Since 1961, when she was struck down by polio, she has been in Prince Henry Hospital’s Respiratory Ward. During the day she attends the hospital school class. Gaby is a quadriplegic, which means she cannot move her arms or legs.

From January 1967 till September 1974 Gaby was able to live most of the time with her family, Mum, Dad, sister Monika and brother Martin. We took her on outings to the pool and to the beach. Peter, her dad, fastened her wheelchair to the back of our VW Beetle car.

In the pool I hold Gaby (13), Monika is 12 and Martin behind us is 11. I am 36.
In the photo Peter carrying Gaby out of the car and onto the beach, Gaby is probably 11 and Martin beside the car door is 9.

As far as I renenber we took Gaby right into the water at the beach only this once when she may have been only 10. Gaby was too scared of the waves. Even to the pool she didn’t want to be taken anymore later on.