EVERYDAY PEOPLE - Josephine Krebs - Memories of a child

JOSEPHINE Krebs, affectionately known as Josie by her friends, celebrated her eighty-sixth birthday on Christmas Eve last year. Despite her cheerful disposition, she grapples with the inevitable aches and pains that accompany aging and also suffers from some mobility issues.

For nearly fourteen years Josie has called Pialba home, a decision made to be closer to three of her four sons, particularly following the passing of her husband, Des, sixteen years ago. She has seen the area grow along with the many changes. Josie cherishes those family connections.

Josie reminisces often about the years that were. Born in St Lucia, Brisbane in 1937 (two years before the start of WWII), Josie was the youngest of two siblings. She has thoughts and memories stretching back to her early childhood at the age of about four. These include recollections of an air raid shelter made by her dad and food rationing. It was a different time, well before refrigerators, computers, or emails.

During WWII Brisbane became the centre of operations in the fight to stop the Japanese invasion of Australia. St Lucia University was the headquarters.

Despite the challenges of aging, Josie maintains a resilient spirit, finding humor in life's quirks. She has been actively engaged with the Halcro Community Centre for nearly eleven years, participating in some of the many activities that take place there. Now she mainly just goes on Thursdays for coffee and a chat and treasures the friendships she has made.

Last year, Josie wrote a poem about the memories of war through a four-year-old girl's eyes and would like to share her poem with our readers.

“When you get older you have more time on your hands. Little thoughts come into your head, and it is surprising what you remember.

“Whether it is factual I don’t know, but it was to a four-year-old girl”.

By Kim Parnell 

From What's On Fraser Coast

Memories Of A Little Girl In The Time Of War

By Josephine Krebs

This young girl remembers the war knocking on Australian shores,

As the Japs came closer to cause us fear.

Life in our hometown was a constant concern for what we held dear,

As our safety and freedom was threatened by this impending war.

Not for this young girl who was all of 4,

Felt safe with her parent's love and care,

Who were her one and all.

But clearly remembers our everyday lives with

Rationing of sugar butter and many things more,                                                      

Short supply of goods galore at our corner store.

Black curtains adorned our windows, to block our lights

From enemy planes that may drop bombs on our homes and destroy our lives.

An air raid shelter was dug by hand as my poor dad used shovel and pick,

No fancy tools for the endeavour.

There was a time when the sirens rang out with

My mum taking me to shelter, in our dug out.

It may have been a practice run, but

This had to be acted on.

The Yanks came to save us from war and camped

At the university at St Lucia not far from our back door.

A soldier or two would leave their bikes on our front porch

To make a getaway to a dance in town and woo our ladies from all around.

We were rewarded for this good deed with treats galore,

Such a feast for our poor souls.

The end of the war eventually came with great jubilation and

celebrations from families and soldiers from towns and shores.

These memories are still in store.

As this little girl still remembers all.