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.

Gerrige was born on 9 May 1892 in Ammerstol, Holland. Her parents are Barend Verkerk (1861-91) and Arigje Kooij (1866-1913). Gerrigje was married on 21 June 1911 in Schoonhoven, Holland, to Pieter van Houwelingen. Pieter was born on 7 May 1885 in Oud-Alblas, Holland. His parents are Jacob van Houwelingen (1856-1928) and Deliana Erkelens (1861-1906).
In 1911 Pieter van Houwelingen worked in a factory in Schoonhoven. In december 1915 he moved with his family to Rotterdam. Pieter died - during World War II - on 8 August 1944 in Rotterdam.
Gerrigje Verkerk and Pieter van Houwelingen had at least 9 children:

1. Deliana was born on 17 November 1911 in Schoonhoven. Deliana was married on 15 August 1934 in Rotterdam to Simon Barendregt (1905-1939) and they had a daughter named Willempje.
2. Arie was born on 26 August 1913 in Alblasserdam.
3. Jacob was born on 1 June 1915 in Alblasserdam. Jacob travelled on the ship "Johan van Oldenbarnevelt" and arrived in Melbourne on 17 August 1956. 
4. Arigje (1) was born on 2 December 1916 in Rotterdam. She died there on 23 March 1917.
5. Barend was born on 20 December 1917 in Rotterdam. He died there on 27 March 1918.
6. Arigje (2) was born on 22 April 1919 in Rotterdam.
7. Jan was born on 12 December 1920 in Rotterdam.
8. Pieter Gerrit was born on 6 October 1923 in Rotterdam. He died there on 16 January 1946. 
9. Hendrik Willem was born on 17 September 1929 in Rotterdam (see image below).

De Maasbode (newspaper), 18-9-1929

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, NationaalArchief.nl, Emigrantenschepen, Wikipedia.org, House-of-cards.nl.