Gerrigje Verkerk (67) travelled to Australia

In the winter of 1959-60, 67-year-old widow Gerrigje van Houwelingen-Verkerk boarded the victory-type cargo schip “Waterman”. The ship was build in the U.S.A. during World War II. After it had been altered and refitted in 1951, it was used to transport emigrants over the oceans.

The "Waterman"

Cabin interior of the ships "Zuiderkruis", "Grote Beer" and "Waterman".

The “Waterman” left Sidney on 17 January 17 1960 and arrived in Melbourne on 18 or 19 January. There, Gerrige van Houwelingen-Verkerk set foot on Australian soil. She may have been visiting or joining her son Jacob who had arrived in Australia in 1956.

2 Sutherland sisters married 2 brothers

Anna Sutherland was born on 15-12-1819 in 's-Gravendeel, Holland, as a younger daughter of tailor Angus Sutherland (±1772-1833) and his wife Adriana Kraak (1784-1833). Anna was named after her maternal grandmother Annetje van Inslagen, wife of Jan Kraak.
Anna had elder surviving brothers George Christiaan (1812-1889), Jan (1814-1886) and Gerardus Sutherland (1818-1902). Her next sibling was a brother Hendrik Sutherland (1821-1893). Their youngest sibling was born on 10-3-1828 in 's-Gravendeel and named Dingena.

On 28-4-1849 in 's-Gravendeel Anna Sutherland (29) was married to workman Joost Rijkhoek (25). He was born in 's-Gravendeel on 29-7-1823 as the eldest son of Leendert Rijkhoek (1792-1852) and Susann Sint Nicolaas (1796-1880). Joost was named after his paternal grandfather, another Joost Rijkhoek (†1798) who was the husband of Annigje Klejnjan (1762-1825). Joost Rijkhoek and Anna Sutherland named their Adriana, Leendert, Susuanna, August, Annigje, George Christiaan, Leonardus and Hendrik.

On  9-5-1857 in 's-Gravendeel - 8 years after the marriage of Anna and Joost - their siblings Dingena Sutherland (29) and Jan Rijkhoek (21) were married. This couple had 4 children named Adriana, Leendert, August and Joost. Remarkably, both couples had a son named August instead of Angus. Also, both brides were older than their grooms.
Jan Rijkhoek was born  on 17-11-1835 in 's-Gravendeel as one of the youngest siblings of Joost. Jan had a length of just 121½ cm.  His eyes were blauw and his eyebrows and hair were brown. His face was oval chaped, his forehead was low, and his chin was round.

A description of Jan Rijkhoek

Dingena Sutherland died on 30-3-1878 in Dordrecht, aged 50. Her widower Jan Rijkhoek (59) was married secondly on 20-12-1894 in Dordrecht to Cornelia Maria Walgers (51). The couple Anna Sutherland and Joost Rijkhoek both died in Dordrecht in 1895: Anna on 23 January, Joost on 24 April. Jan Rijkhoek died on 10 November 1914 in Dordrecht. His widow, Cornelia Maria Walgers, died in 1918.