Margaret Dworjanyn | Retired Dental Nurse

I was born in 1930 in Peakhill Hospital out in the sticks, 300 miles west of Sydney. As a child I don’t have any memories before the war, as it was always there. But it was ‘over there' and didn't reach us here at all. It didn't really make any difference. We'd all gather around the radio and we all listened and listened and enjoyed it—both the good things and the funny things and the music. When you didn’t have anything else you didn't know. I just remember always sitting at the fire. We all sat around and ate oranges. We had an orange orchard and we ate a lot of oranges and just enjoyed it. You see it's very cold in Peakhill, when it’s not stinking hot.

He was so good…that's why he died early I think. He'd done his good deeds.

Orest was a good husband. He was so good. He was just beautiful. You know he'd do the washing up at night time and all that sort of stuff. He was a great husband. All the time he just fitted in, and he’d ask me: 'you want me to do the washing up or you want me to do something else?' He was so good…that's why he died early I think. He'd done his good deeds. He was a lecturer at the university in Chemical Engineering. He was a very smart man. And he walked down to the University always from our place just to get his exercise.

I forget what he actually died of but he died quite suddenly. I think it was his heart. He was lovely. He was Ukrainian. We brought a house together and I think he decided he'd had enough and just died. He was 58 or something. And he left me with five little pickanniny kids who were always good. One daughter and four sons.

My husband was buried over at Botany Cemetery. I haven't been to visit in ages but as soon as I get a bit better I'll get my daughter to drive me out. A few of us can go and just have a look at his grave. I've been thinking about it a lot so I'll go soon and have a look at him and see if he's doing the right thing. He's just spitting distance away from my sister who's buried out there too so I’ll go and see the two of them at the same time. I forget what he died of. It was a shock being left with five kids but it was a good trip. I enjoyed it because the kids were always good. I had no problems with them at all. They weren't cheeky—just got on with what they were doing. So you can be lucky.      

What is death? What happens when we die? That's a difficult one, isn't it because I really do not know what happens when we die because I haven't experienced it yet. It's very difficult, isn't it? I don't think you just close your eyes. I think more happens 'cause you’re dying and I can't really get a grip on what that is.

In regards to the afterlife…I think I just sort of wander off into the great unknown and find my place there

I have strong beliefs. I believe that I just gradually shut down and don't talk anymore. And I just sort of ‘think’ my way to wherever I'm going. That's what I feel. I just sort of close down and I just gradually pass away and nothing much happens to me—but to my brain (or whatever it is that's doing the thinking), it just sort of gradually goes. I think it will be floating on a stairway to heaven, and I'm hoping I make heaven, but if I don't we'll think about the other place later.

In regards to the afterlife— no, I don't think I'll come back. I think I just sort of wander off into the great unknown and find my place there, whatever it is. It will be pretty peaceful and happy and all good things. See I've had a good life and why would it be otherwise that I didn't wander off into this great unknown and enjoy it because that's what I think will happen…very peaceful.

—Margaret Dworjanyn (2024)

Editor’s note: Margaret’s letter was transcribed from a series of audio interviews and lovingly handwritten out by her daughter, Rosalie.

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