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ARTS AND CULTURE

Those among us: Three stories

  • 12 June 2006
Gunther Laws (1930 – 2005)

Born in Hamburg in 1930, Gunther moved to Australia 50 years ago to pursue a career as a joiner/carpenter during a time when the Australian Government was recruiting tradesmen to build public housing in Geelong. Upon arrival, Gunther worked as a builder in Geelong, sleeping in an abandoned hospital with other foreign tradesmen. The hospital had dirt floors, and often flooded with water. Gunther found living in Australia difficult. He struggled to make friends, missing the sense of community and especially the food from his hometown.

He was married after placing an ad in a German personal column stating: 'person living in Australia and wanting a female.' With such obvious charm, Gunther was quickly wed, and the blushing bride returned with him to Australia. Gunther was once passionate about Scientology and I pressed him as to why he no longer believes. He replied: 'I am no longer interested,' with a bland matter-of-factness. Just prior to his death, Gunther surrounded himself with small objects of personal nostalgia. During my visit, his cook brought him some Bratwurst sausages as the interview came to a close. Outside, his beloved caramel Volkswagon Beetle sat quietly under a makeshift carport. Inside, old telephones dotted around the house created a link to his much-loved homeland.

Nassar and Alaweeya Elsheik

Nassar was born in Sudan, Africa. The son of a high-ranking military official, Nassar was named by his father when the British and their Allies were fighting the Germans on the Libyan Front in the Battle of Allemaigne. Nassar’s father won the Victorian medal for bravery, and gave Nassar his name as it is the Sudanese word for ‘Victorious.’ Nassar was destined for great things in the eyes of his father. He quickly moved up the army ranks and became a Sudanese Army General. His position has since seen him work both in England and the United States of America as a Defence Attaché. His position became compromised when his moral beliefs conflicted with the beliefs of the Sudanese political party then in power, and he was subsequently thrown into jail. Realising the severity of the punishment, and due to Nassar’s high-ranking status, he was offered exile to another country. In 1991 Nassar went to Egypt to establish a business that quickly failed. Egypt was a difficult place for Sudanese. The Egyptians were shrewd and savvy businessmen and made business deals difficult
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