Dunera Boys

This panel tells the story of a group of around 2,400 German and Italian refugees, mostly Jewish, sent to Australia from Britain during WW2. They endured terrible conditions, packed together on the ship. The British Guards who searched them, stole their things. There were only a small number of toilets and they only got 30 minutes on deck every day. 

On arriving in Australia were interned as enemy aliens. Australian Friends blew the whistle on their treatment and supported them.

A number of them remained in Australia becoming prominent intellectuals and artists. Some became Quakers.

The embroidery was completed in 2022, in Kendal by the Kendal Quaker Tapestry friends for the Australian embroidery project.

The panel was researched by Roy Wilcock, designed by him and Bridget Guest. It was stitched by Janet Bagot, Carole Butcher, Jill Crowther and Mel Winstanley