Latest news with #TetsukoMcKenzie
9 News
6 days ago
- General
- 9 News
Missing a train saved Tetsuko's life. 140,000 others weren't so lucky
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here It was a sunny morning on August 6, 1945, when Tetsuko and her friend decided to take a train to go see a movie. The 16-year-old and her friend from the Japanese city of Kure had just missed a train and had to wait more than an hour for the next one. Tetsuko McKenzie was 16 when Hiroshima was bombed. (Tetsuko McKenzie) "We were mucking around on the platform, and there was a strong ray of light," she told "I said to my friend 'Oh my gosh, what is it?'" Tetsuko had no idea that their destination had been destroyed in an instant. And if they had managed to catch the train they wanted, they would have been in the middle of Hiroshima when the atomic bomb hit. She and her friend watched a giant white cloud emerging from behind the hills, "gradually getting bigger". Still mystified, they got on the next train heading to Hiroshima. But three stops away, the train was stopped and turned around. At that point, nobody in Japan knew what had happened. An estimated 140,000 people were killed when an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. (Supplied) While many Japanese cities had been devastated by US bombings during World War II, there was nothing like this. An estimated 140,000 people were killed in the bombing, and the city was effectively wiped off the map. Tetsuko and her friend had to walk back to Kure on foot, until they were able to hitch a ride on a Navy ute. Tetsuko McKenzie came to Melbourne after marrying an Australian. (Tetsuko McKenzie) "My parents were really, really overjoyed to see me," she said. "They thought I was gone." After the war, Tetsuko got a job as a maid for Australian general Horace Robertson, who was head of the British Occupation Force in Japan. It was there she met her future husband Ray McKenzie, an Australian corporal working for the general. She and her husband moved to Australia in 1953. With Australians struggling to pronounce Tetsuko, she quickly became known as Tess. Eighty years on, the now 96-year-old lives in Melbourne. Hiroshima Japan World War II World Melbourne CONTACT US
SBS Australia
02-08-2025
- General
- SBS Australia
Tess escaped the world's first atomic bomb. Here's what she wants the world to know
Sitting in her Melbourne lounge room, Tetsuko 'Tess' McKenzie flips through faded photographs with her family. But one image has never left her mind — the blinding flash of 6 August 1945 when she witnessed the world's first nuclear bomb strike the Japanese city of Hiroshima. "I was standing on a railway platform when suddenly a strong white light flashed into my eyes," the 96-year-old told SBS News. "And I turned to my friend and asked her, 'What is that?'" "The next thing we heard was a tremendous noise, and then, in a gap between the hills, we saw white smoke rising. Gradually, it formed into a mushroom shape." Tetsuko 'Tess' McKenzie (left) looking at old photos with her granddaughter Eri Ibuki. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell McKenzie was a teenager when she witnessed the devastating moment the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. It was nearly eight decades ago but memories of the event are forever etched into her mind. The 16-year-old was on the way to the city to watch a movie with a friend. By an extraordinary twist of fate, they missed their train — a narrow escape that to this day she gives thanks for. "Oh yes, if we had caught that scheduled train, we would have been right in Hiroshima when the bomb fell," she said. Nicknamed 'Little Boy', the atomic bomb caused widespread destruction and was a major factor in Japan's surrender which ended World War Two. "We had no idea what it was. Then at around midday, the radio stations announced that a bomb fell on Hiroshima," McKenzie recalled. A slightly larger plutonium bomb exploded over Nagasaki three days later, causing more destruction. The explosion marked the first use of atomic weapons in warfare and had a profound impact on the course of history. Credit: Getty An estimated 214,000 lives were lost in the two bombings by the end of 1945, with a majority of deaths occurring in Hiroshima, while thousands more died later from radiation poisoning. "After we saw the cloud, we took another train towards the city but eventually that was stopped and the authorities put us off. We had to walk a long way home, and it took many hours," McKenzie said. Her family in their hometown of Kure, east of Hiroshima, believed she had perished in the blast and were later amazed when she returned home. "From then on, I started believing in God. And even these days, I thank God when I wake up every morning and before I go to sleep each night," she said. Even so, McKenzie and her family suffered the impacts of war. Their port city was razed by allied bombs. "Kure was burned out. The allied bombs fell all night until there was nothing left. "We hid in tunnels, and a night we heard the explosions. And I was crying 'I do not want to die here, I do not want to die." From Hiroshima to Melbourne: Journey of a 'war bride' McKenzie's life took another unexpected turn at 19 when she met an Australian soldier while working for the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces. "I thought to myself, 'Oh, he is good looking'. And he was very good-looking," she said with a giggle. Corporal Ray Murray McKenzie was 22, and soon after, the pair began courting. But it wasn't simple — Japanese girls had been warned to stay away from enemy soldiers. Australian soldier Ray McKenzie was stationed in Japan when he met Tetsuko. Source: Supplied / Tetsuko McKenzie "Some people did not like to see Japanese women with soldiers," McKenzie said. "But they slowly changed their minds when they learned that most Australians were very sincere and had warm hearts," she said. The couple married in 1952 and made a home in Melbourne, marking the beginning of McKenzie's life as a 'war bride' — a term used for women who married soldiers and immigrated to their partner's home country after the war. McKenzie said her husband's family made her feel welcome and helped her establish a new life in Australia, far from home. Tetsuko married Australian soldier Ray McKenzie in 1952 and moved to Melbourne. Source: Supplied / Tetsuko McKenzie But she missed her life in Japan and like many other war brides, worried she would never return. "Life was very hard at first, in this unknown place," she said. McKenzie was among more than 650 Japanese war brides who migrated to Australia after the end of World War Two. Some struggled to settle and McKenzie shared memories of a friend who was rejected by her mother-in-law. 'She suffered harsh treatment and was forced to do all the dirty work around the house," McKenzie said. Tetsuko McKenzie on her wedding day in 1952, in traditional Japanese attire. Source: Supplied / Tetsuko McKenzie McKenzie learned typing and soon started working for the Victorian health department. After decades of marriage, McKenzie lost her husband, Ray, 18 years ago. She remains close to her extended family, especially Eri Ibuki and Tahila Pynt. "When she first told us about her experience, we just couldn't believe it. And she still remembers every detail," granddaughter Ibuki said. "We are all very proud of nanna and the way she radiates happiness and peace. And we are so grateful to still have her with us today," Ibuki said. (Left to right) Eri Ibuki said she was surprised when Tetsuko McKenzie told her about witnessing the falling of the atomic bomb in 1945. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell Like many young people of Japanese descent living in Australia, Ibuki and Pynt are eager to learn about their heritage and regret that, growing up, only English was spoken at home. "I would have loved to learn Japanese and it is definitely something that I would love my kids to learn, to better connect with their culture," said great-granddaughter Pynt, 21. "I plan to visit Hiroshima next year and look forward to touring the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to learn more about the atomic bomb and the devastation that it caused. "I expect it to be heartbreaking, really, knowing that someone from my family lived through that." Tetsuko McKenzie loves to share her stories about her life in Japan with young students. Source: SBS / Scott Cardwell Masafumi Takahashi from the Association of New Elderly in Melbourne, a community group that aims to prevent social isolation among senior members, often brings young students to McKenzie's cozy home. "Her stories and experiences are just so precious and unique," Takahashi said. "It helps to understand about the destruction and the loss of life." McKenzie said the 80 th anniversary of the bombing is a time to reflect not only on the lives lost, but also on the broader consequences of atomic warfare — particularly as nuclear tensions rise in some parts of the world. "We must never forget what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "Yet countries keep making weapons to destroy people. "When I heard that World War Two had ended, I was very happy, but at the same time, so many people had lost their lives. "And what was it all for?" This story has been produced in collaboration with SBS Japanese
SBS Australia
01-08-2025
- General
- SBS Australia
Tess watched as an atom bomb fell on Hiroshima. This is what she wants the world to know
Produced in collaboration with SBS Japanese It may be 80 years since an atomic bomb fell on the Japanese city of Hiroshima but for Tetsuko known as 'Tess' McKenzie, the memories remain vivid. Suddenly stronger lights went to the through eye. I said, 'oh, what is that? What is that now?' And then next thing is tremendous sound. As a teenager, Ms McKenzie was heading to Hiroshima to see a movie with a friend, when the bomb fell. It was August 6th, 1945. 'I said to friend 'what's that white thing?' And then just watching and gradually, gradually that come to and up like mushroom.' From the platform the girls could only stand and stare as the unusual cloud formed above Hiroshima. They had just missed a train – an event that undoubtedly saved their lives! 'Oh yes. If I caught that train, scheduled one, I be right in Hiroshima. So that, we blessed.' At least 140-thousand people died in the first bomb blast. A second bomb released on Nagasaki days later added to the toll. Even now, Ms McKenzie still cannot believe she was spared. 'I started believing in God. And even these days thank God that I wake up morning and then before go to sleep. Thank you God.' It wasn't her only brush with death. During the war, the family's home city was razed by allied bombs. Ms McKenzie vividly recalls the destruction. 'My city of Kure was burned out. We had bombs at night time and burnt out and then nothing there, just nothing in ' Ms McKenzie is proud to share her remarkable story and also to reminisce about her post-war work with allied forces, where she met an Australian soldier, corporal Ray Murray McKenzie, her future husband! 'I just thought 'oh, he's a good looking'. He was good looking (laughs) once that he approached to me and then I never regret. Never regret. He is a very nice, good man.' Their love would change the course of her life. Marrying in 1952, the couple made Melbourne their home during a climate of postwar prejudice against Japanese 'war brides'. 'Some people doesn't like to see that Japanese woman with soldiers.A very hard to attitude!' A loving Australian family helped her thrive in a new land. And giving back has sustained a long and healthy life. Always communicating with people I think that keeps you young. 'I want to make sure world don't ever forget what happened.' A long-time resident of Melbourne, these days Ms McKenzie is surrounded by her extended family. Granddaughter Eri Ibuki among those grateful for her company. 'We are all very proud of Nana as a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing. Now she's getting teary (laughs) but she's just such a strong and resilient person.' Great granddaughter Tahlia Pynt aims to visit Hiroshima next year, to find out more about the day that changed Japanese history. 'I really hope that we can learn our lessons because our nana has been through so much and it's made the person, made her who she is today, and I just hope that we can learn from the mistakes.' Many young Japanese students visit Ms McKenzie's suburban home, some introduced by Masafumi Takahashi from the Association of New Elderly in Melbourne, a community group that aims to prevent social isolation. 'Her stories and the experience is just so precious and unique. And also I feel responsibility to pass what happened before to younger generations.' As nuclear tensions rise in some parts of the world, the human cost of World War 2 continues to haunt Ms McKenzie. 'When I heard that war ended I thought happy to end. At the same time, so many people lost life. What's that for? ' amid ongoing global conflicts, she has this warning. 'Why have to make that things to destroy people? Never end, never end. It's very sad. Honestly.'
